The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is responsible for licensing exports of firearms from Ireland to countries outside the EU, in accordance with Regulation 258/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council.
The Department of Justice and Equality is responsible for licensing transfers of firearms within the EU, in accordance with Council Directive 91/477/EEC (Firearms Directive).
Firearms exports to the UK post Brexit
From 1 January 2021, exports of firearms from Ireland to the United Kingdom (excluding Northern Ireland) will come within the scope of Regulation 258/2012 and require a licence from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, exports of firearms from Ireland to Northern Ireland will continue to be treated as intra-EU transfers within the scope of Council Directive 91/477/EEC and will continue to be licensed by the Department of Justice and Equality.
For further information, please see the following guide prepared by the European Commission: Notice To Stakeholders – Withdrawal of the United Kingdom and EU Rules in the Field of Firearms.
How to apply for a licence to export a firearm
If you wish to transfer a firearm from Ireland to another EU Member State or Northern Ireland, please contact the Department of Justice and Equality.
If you are a firearms dealer, or frequent exporter of firearms from Ireland to countries outside the EU, please register on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s On-line Export Licensing Application System, OELAS. Once your registration has been approved, you can apply for export licences.
If you are not a registered exporter and wish to export a firearm as a once-off transaction from Ireland to a country outside the EU, you will need to complete the Firearms Export Licence Application Form and return it, along with supporting documentation, to exportcontrol@enterprise.gov.ie. A hard copy of the form and original supporting documentation should be submitted by post to the following address:
Trade Licensing and Control Unit
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Block C, Earlsfort Centre
Hatch St Lower
Dublin 2
D02PW01
Important Note: A Garda Firearm Export/Removal Order, signed by a Superintendent at your local Garda Station, must be attached with an export licence application form as well as the import licence or authorisation from the importing country.
The following information may be of assistance when completing the military/firearms export licence application.
Box 15 (Commodity Code) -
9303 20 10 00 for the shot gun licence application
9303 30 00 00 for the hunting rifles licence application
9303 20 95 00 for other
Box 16 (Control List Number) - ML1a on all licence application forms
Box 21 (Customs exp. Proc) - Please insert 1000
Data Retention
The Department is required to retain all information relating to the export of firearms for a period of not less than 20 years, in accordance with Article 12 of Regulation 258/2012.