Renewing firearms licence from overseas ?

tfox

Is it possible to renew my firearms licence from overseas ?

I'm currently in Oz and my licences are due for renewal in June. If I get the renewal letters posted to me, can I just sign it and send it back ?

LIFFY FISHING

Shouldnt b an issue, the form is pre populated, so you simply fill it in with current details if applicable and send it back with your fee, however your local FAO could request a meeting with you or your local CPO could want to see where you keep your firearms, so you might be better having a family member speak to them before you fill the form in.

meathstevie

You could always put them in storage ( negotiate a good rate with a dealer ) for the duration of your stay in Oz and that way you don't need to pay a licence fee while you're not here.

When you return you just re-licence your own guns. Ownership does not require a licence but since the guns in the current situation are stored with another person and I am assuming non-dealer it could well be that the Gardai require that person to be licenced on your guns.

ace86

Could you get the family solictor to sign the forms on your behalf saying you are currently out of the country and can't return due to work committments or something?

meathstevie

ace86 wrote: »

Could you get the family solictor to sign the forms on your behalf saying you are currently out of the country and can't return due to work committments or something?

Another problem that may crop up is the lack of good reason to have the licence in the current situation. They can't be used by the owner since he's a few thousand miles away for a significant amount of time. Given the legal requirements to licence a firearm, even if he wanted to, could the local Superintendent sign for the issue of the licences ?

The more I think about it the more I think they should be put in storage or licenced by the person who defacto stores them now.

ace86

meathstevie wrote: »

Another problem that may crop up is the lack of good reason to have the licence in the current situation. They can't be used by the owner since he's a few thousand miles away for a significant amount of time. Given the legal requirements to licence a firearm, even if he wanted to, could the local Superintendent sign for the issue of the licences ?

The more I think about it the more I think they should be put in storage or licenced by the person who defacto stores them now.

I can't really see a problem really he genuinely wants them and has good reason but is in another country working and he can say he will be home the end of the year at Xmas to game shooting or whatever. Don't think the Superintendent will sign his name in case anything like they were stolen etc he is name is plastered all over them and could be in hot water over it. A solictor has the power to act in your behalf so i cant see why a letter from him/her would not be perfectly legal and upstanding in this situation.

tfox

Guns are with my friendly RFD stored at no charge but Id just rather retain the licences instead of having the hassle of reapplying. Ill prob be home in October for a few weeks so wud like to be able do a bit of shooting then etc.

Cass

For firearms a solicitor would not hold any power of "authority" to sign on your behalf. He is not applying for the firearm, you are.

Do not confuse the power a solicitor holds for such things as inheritance (power of attorney), etc. with being able to apply for a firearm on someone's behalf. By signing it for the person they would be doing so. by signing someone else's name they are committing fraud.

The only solution is for the OP to check to see if he can apply while abroad with the Firearms Policy Unit, or leave the firearms stored.

garv123

Cass wrote: »

For firearms a solicitor would not hold any power of "authority" to sign on your behalf. He is not applying for the firearm, you are.

Do not confuse the power a solicitor holds for such things as inheritance (power of attorney), etc. with being able to apply for a firearm on someone's behalf. By signing it for the person they would be doing so. by signing someone else's name they are committing fraud.

The only solution is for the OP to check to see if he can apply while abroad with the Firearms Policy Unit, or leave the firearms stored.

As mentioned above the fact the OP is not in the country would raise questions about where the guns are at the moment, who ha access to them, and would that person be legally allowed to have them in their home or possession if not licensed.

He said the guns are with an RFD so I dont think that would be an issue..

Cass

My bad.

Read above about storing them in an RFD, and for some reason "missed" the OP's post saying they were already there.

Post edited.

ace86

Cass wrote: »

For firearms a solicitor would not hold any power of "authority" to sign on your behalf. He is not applying for the firearm, you are.

Do not confuse the power a solicitor holds for such things as inheritance (power of attorney), etc. with being able to apply for a firearm on someone's behalf. By signing it for the person they would be doing so. by signing someone else's name they are committing fraud.

The only solution is for the OP to check to see if he can apply while abroad with the Firearms Policy Unit, or leave the firearms stored.

Could they not delay the application of the licence until he comes home and with the firearms in with RFD they are in secure storge and not in anyones house or posssesion and not breaking the law really.

Cass

Yes and no.

No they cannot delay the licenses, but yes the OP can apply when he gets back.

What i would do is contact his FO, explain he is out of the country, that firearms are stored in an RFD (give details to confirm), and that he wants to license them when he returns.

Job done.