For many international hunters, bringing their own rifle is part of the adventure. However, navigating firearm import regulations in a foreign country can feel intimidating. The good news is that Romania has a clear and well-structured process for visiting hunters — and if you’re hunting with a licensed outfitter, most of the paperwork is handled for you.
At Romania Hunting Outfitters, we assist every client from the moment they land, ensuring the rifle import process is quick, legal, and stress-free.
1. Firearm Import Rules for Foreign Hunters
Foreign citizens are allowed to temporarily import hunting firearms and ammunition into Romania for the duration of their hunting trip, provided they meet the following conditions:
- You must be invited by a licensed Romanian hunting outfitter.
- You must hold a valid European Firearms Pass (EFP) if you are an EU citizen.
- Non-EU citizens (for example, from the UK, USA, or Canada) must bring an official firearm ownership certificate issued in their home country.
- All firearms must be registered and declared at the Romanian border or airport upon arrival.
Each hunter can generally bring:
- up to 2 rifles or shotguns, and
- Up to 500 shells or 100 bullets.
2. Documents Required
To ensure smooth entry, prepare the following before traveling:
- Passport copy (valid for at least 6 months)
- Hunting invitation issued by your Romanian outfitter
- Hunting license / permit from your country
- European Firearms Pass (for EU citizens) or ownership certificate (for non-EU) for US it is 4457 form
Tip: Keep all documents together in a folder for easy access during airport checks.
3. Firearm Import Procedure at the Airport
When you arrive in Romania (most commonly in Bucharest, Cluj, or Sibiu airports):
- Proceed to the police firearms office in the arrivals terminal.
- Present your passport, invitation, and firearm documents.
- The officer will issue you a temporary firearm import permit, valid for your stay.
- Your outfitter (one of our team members) will be there to assist you during the process.
The entire procedure usually takes 15–30 minutes, and you’ll then collect your rifle from the secure area with our help.
4. Transporting Firearms in Romania
While traveling inside Romania:
- Firearms must be unloaded and cased during transport.
- Ammunition must be stored separately also in a case.
- Your hunting guide will handle firearm transport between hotel and hunting area.
When leaving the country, the process is repeated in reverse — you return the temporary import permit at the airport.
5. What If You Prefer to Rent a Rifle?
If you prefer not to travel with your own firearm, we can provide modern, sighted-in rifles suitable for any game in Romania — from red stag and wild boar to brown bear.
Rental cost: €50 per day, including optics and ammunition testing before the hunt.
6. Why Hunting with a Licensed Outfitter Matters
Attempting to import or use a firearm without an official invitation from a licensed outfitter is illegal in Romania and can lead to confiscation or legal penalties.
When booking with Romania Hunting Outfitters, all necessary paperwork (license, permit, invitation, and insurance) is handled in advance — you only need to travel and enjoy your hunt.
7. Final Tips for Traveling Hunters
- Always declare your firearm at every airport check-in.
- Use a hard case with secure locks for both your rifle and ammunition.
- Carry your documents in your hand luggage, not with your firearm case.
- If you’re connecting through another EU country, double-check their firearm transit rules.
Ready to Hunt in Romania?
If you’re planning your next brown bear, chamois, roe buck, fallow buck, wild boar or red stag hunting trip to Romania, we’ll handle everything — from firearm import assistance to trophy shipment.
📩 Contact us at contact@romaniahuntingoutfitters.com or visit www.romaniahuntingoutfitters.com to plan your next adventure.
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