This request is in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The purpose of this information collection is to allow ATF to determine if the article(s) described on the application qualifies for importation by the importer, and to serve as the authorization for the importer. This information is mandatory (18 U.S.C. 925(d), 26 U.S.C. 5844, 22 U.S.C. 2778).
The estimated average burden associated with this collection of information is 30
minutes per respondent or recordkeeper, depending on individual circumstances.
Comments concerning the accuracy of this burden estimate and suggestions for reducing this burden should be addressed to Reports Management Officer, Document
Services, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington, DC 20226.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Confidentiality is not assured.
General Information
1.An approved ATF Form 6 - Part I (5330.3A) is required to import firearms,
ammunition, and defense articles into the United States or any possession thereof, except for certain exempt importations prescribed in 27 CFR Parts 447, 478 and 479. A military member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is on active duty outside the U.S., or who has been on active duty outside the U.S.
during the 60-day period immediately preceding the intended importation, should complete ATF Form 6 - Part II (5330.3B) to import sporting type firearms or ammunition for his personal use.
2.Any person engaged in the business of importing firearms or ammunition for
resale must be licensed as an importer under the Gun Control Act of 1968 and, if he is importing firearms, ammunition, firearms parts or defense articles (other than sporting shotguns, shotgun shells, or shotgun parts) he must
also be registered as an importer under the Arms Export Control Act of 1976.
No permit to import such articles for resale will be issued until the importer is properly licensed and registered.
3.A Federal firearms licensee, other than an importer, may make an occasional importation of sporting firearms or ammunition (excluding surplus military)
for himself or an unlicensed person in the licensee's State, provided that the firearms and ammunition are intended for personal use of the person for whom imported and not for resale. ATF Form 6 - Part I (5330.3A) is used to obtain approval for such importation.
4.A permit is not required for a firearm or ammunition brought into the United States or any possession thereof by any person who can establish to the satisfaction of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that such firearm or ammunition was previously taken out of the United States or any possession thereof by such person.
5.A permit is not required for the return of a repaired firearm, or replacement firearm of the same kind and type, to the person in the United States who sent the defective firearm out of the United States for repair.
6.If you are a nonimmigrant alien, do not complete this form. A nonimmigrant alien entering the U.S. temporarily needs to submit an ATF Form 6NIA (5330.3D) (Application and Permit for Temporary Importation of Firearms and Ammunition by Nonimmigrant Aliens) to temporarily import his personally owned firearms.
7.An unlicensed person may obtain a permit to import sporting type ammunition (excluding tracer or incendiary) and firearm parts (other than frames, receivers, or actions) without engaging the services of a Federal firearms licensee, provided that the importation is for his personal use and not for resale.
8.A nonresident U.S. citizen returning to the United States or a nonresident
alien immigrating to the United States, from a permanent residence outside of the United States, may complete and forward the enclosed ATF Form 6 Part I permit application without having to utilize the services of a federally licensed firearms dealer. The nonresident should include a statement, either on the application form or on an attached sheet, that the firearms are being imported for his personal use and not for resale, the date of return and that he is a nonresident U.S. citizen returning to the United States, or is a nonresident alien
nonresident U.S. citizen or nonimmigrant alien immigrating to the United States
on entry into the United States, since once he is in the United States, and has acquired residence in a State, he may not directly import a firearm. He must engage the services of a federally licensed firearms dealer in his State of residence to import the sporting firearms (excluding NFA and surplus military) for him.
9.Under Arms Export Control Act of 1976 regulations in 27 CFR 447.41(c), a permit is not required for the importation of:
a.U.S. Munitions Import List articles from Canada not subject to 27 CFR Part 478 and 479, except articles enumerated in Categories I, II, III, IV, VI(e), VIII(a), XVI, and XX; and nuclear weapons, strategic delivery systems, and all specifically designed components, parts, accessories, attachments, and associated equipment thereof.
b.Minor components and parts of Category I(a) firearms, except barrels, cylinders, receivers (frames) or complete breech mechanisms, when the total value does not exceed $100 wholesale in any single transaction.
Preparation
10.The applicant shall prepare this form in triplicate. Required signatures must be in ink on all copies. Other entries must be in ink or be typewritten.
11.The application should be submitted approximately 60 days prior to the intended importation. All copies shall be submitted to:
Director
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
244 Needy Road
Martinsburg, WV 25405
Attention: Firearms and Explosives Imports Branch
12.Any questions concerning the application should be referred to the Imports Branch at the above address or telephone (304) 616-4550.
13.If a licensee is applying to import an article for subsequent transfer to a known final recipient (e.g., an individual, commercial entity, or government agency), the licensee must complete items 1 through 16, and
identify the final recipient by name and address in item 10.
14.Item 9, Certification of Origin: The purpose of this certification is to determine whether items sought for importation require retransfer
authorization from the Department of State. Applicants should check block
9a if the articles sought for importation were produced for the civilian market and were not associated with the U.S. military. Applicants should check block
9b if the articles sought for importation contain parts or components produced by or for the U.S. military or manufactured with U.S. military technical data or assistance, and the articles were provided by the U.S. government to a foreign government through a grant or foreign military sales program. Applicants should check block 9c if the articles sought for importation
contain parts or components produced by or for the U.S. military or manufactured with U.S. military technical data or assistance, and the articles were sold abroad pursuant to an export license issued by the Department of State authorizing a Direct Commercial Sale (DCS). NOTE: If block 9b is checked, a written retransfer authorization from the Department of State must be attached to the application or the applications will be denied. NOTE: If
block 9c is checked, either a copy of the export license authorizing the DCS or a written retransfer authorization from the Department of State must be attached to the application or the application will be denied.
Approval
15.The Director will approve the application or advise the applicant of the reason for the disapproval. In some cases it may be necessary to request additional information or to have the firearm or ammunition sent to ATF for examination to determine the import status.
(INSTRUCTIONS CONTINUED ON REVERSE)
ATF Form 5330.3A (6 part 1)
Revised December 2019
