Importing Service

PLEASE NOTE: Due to firearm shipping restrictions imposed by WA Police, the cost to ship firearms into WA once imported into Australia is a minimum of $300. We have explored all available options and there is only one WAPOL approved carrier that we can use.

Meplat Firearm Services provides an importing service that allows you to obtain firearms, firearm accessories and ammunition components from overseas suppliers that are not available from Australian retailers or distributors. Let us handle the import permits, export licences and all the Australian Border Force (formerly Australian Customs & Border Protection Service), DAFF BioSecurity (formerly called Australian Quaratine & Inspection Service) and Police importation documents for you.

Below is an outline of the process and requirements, designed to provide you with both understanding and transparency of what is involved in importing. While there is a fair amount of information below, please take the time to read through it, so that you understand the process.

Australian Border Force Requirements for Imported Firearms

Please note that there are some requirements that imported firearms need to meet to comply with requirements of Australian Border Force (ABF), before they are released. All firearms are inspected and safety tested. They must pass the following tests:

1.  Must have an operable safety device  (for lever-action rifles, a half-cock hammer counts as a safety device)

2.  The safety device must be marked with words, letters or colour to denote between fire and safe.

3.  Firearms must have a minimum trigger pull weight of over 11 Newtons (2.5 lbs)  (certain dedicated target firearms may be exempt)

4.  With the safety engaged and the firearm cocked, long-arms must not fire when subjected to a drop-test  (short drop onto a rubber pad with firearm vertical)

New firearms hardly ever have issues passing the import tests. Second-hand / older firearms can sometimes have faulty safety devices, or low trigger pull weights. We can easily mark safe / fire with a red or white dot where no markings exist. We can also sometimes remedy adjustable tirggers where the pull weight is too low. However, where the safety device is faulty, or the trigger cannot be adjusted, a qualified gunsmith may need to be engaged to rectify the issue before ABF will release the firearm. This cost will be at customer expense. As such, it is always best for customers to ensure the functionality and trigger pull weight of the firearm before it ships to Australia.

Importing Costs

Currently, low volume importing is rather expensive due to the low value of the Australian dollar against other currencies, especially the US$ (most of our imports are from the United States), but also the very high international freight costs. It seems that high international freight costs will be with us for the forseeable future. Meplat Firearm Services charge a fee for the importation of firearms and firearm parts due to the work and associated costs involved in arranging the import and export documentation and clearing the items through Aust Border Force. This fee forms only part of the total cost of the imported item. In order to keep costs as low as possible, MFS generally ships individual items as part of a larger consignment, as the fixed importing costs can be spread across more items. This reduces the landed cost of each individual firearm or part, so each customer pays less. You should also be aware that any consignment with a total value of $1,000 or more that is imported is subject to import GST of 10%, charged by the Aust Border Force. This is regardless of whether individual items contained within the consignment are less than that amount, and regardless of whether they are new or second hand.

Currently (as at 19 January 2024) the effective exchange rate we pay is around US$0.645 to the Australian dollar. Don't confuse the official exchange rate with what you actually get when you send money overseas. Depending on your bank, the rate can be reduced by 2 - 4 cents in the dollar. We use a foreign exchange company and typically pay around 1.5 cents in the dollar. Based on the exchange rate listed above, here are some examples of what a single firearm (based on longarms - handguns will cost slightly less) and single firearm parts will cost you delivered, against their purchase costs. We have used default weights of 6kg for longarms, 2.5kg for major parts and 0.250kg for minor parts. Note that actual costs could vary and depend on factors like actual packaged weight, shipping costs at the time and exchange rates at both time of purchase and import:

For low value items, the fixed costs can be more than the cost of the item. Apply a poor exchange rate to that, and the cost of importing the items increases greatly. Single importing (i.e. not as part of a consignment) could cost significantly more. As we always tell customers, if you can buy the item you want in Australia, then do it, as it wll be quicker and cheaper. Typically, items already in Australia have been imported in bulk by a wholesaler or distributor at wholesale prices. This greatly reduces their landed cost per unit. If we import something specifically for you, it is usually at retail cost. However, if what you want is just not available in Australia, importing at least gives you the option of obtaining it.

Costs payable include:

1.       Item purchase price;

2.       US shipping from supplier to exporter;

3.       Export costs from US, including exporter fees (percentage) and State Dept export licence fee (proportional);

4.      Telegraphic transfer fees (proportional - both to send and to receive funds internationally)

5.       Shipping from US to Australia (proportional);

6.       Landing charges (proportional);

7.       Import GST (charged on the combined value of purchase, export fees and shipping, for all items within a consignment of value $1,000 or more);

8.       Import Duty (applicable to some items, see below);

9.       Aust Border Force and DAFF BioSecurity processing and inspection fees (proportional);

10.     MFS import fee (fixed cost); and

11.     Postage cost to your local dealer (unless you can pick up from Adelaide - cost is dependant on your location, and your item size and weight).

12.     GST of 10% on the invoice total (so that the Federal Government can get a slice of the action).

Actual cost calculations depend on a number of factors:

1.       Exchange rates at time of item purchase and import;

2.       Shipping cost depends on the weight of the item and current air freight prices;

3.       Export fees can also vary from exporter to exporter. The exporter used may vary, depending on the origin (supplier) of the goods.

If you were to import the item yourself, you would have to pay all costs except for the MFS import fee (item 10.), and possibly also an import broker's fee on top (depending on which State you live in). However, you would then need to do all the import paperwork yourself and then, either submit your Customs import declaration when your consignment arrives, or (depending on your State) engage an import broker to do the Customs clearance for you. If MFS do the importing, then we handle all the export and import documentation.

Importing though us is usually cheaper than trying to import it yourself. If you were to import the firearm yourself as a single item, you cannot utilise any savings that occur when a consignment is imported. Shipping charges for firearms include various controlled item fees. These fees don't change whether there is one firearm or several. So, if your firearm was one of 10 in a consignment, then you only pay the proportional charges for your firearm, whereas if your firearm was the only item in the consignment, you pay the full charges.

US exporters typically charge export fees in a range between 10% – 20%. The ones that charge lower export fees are generally those who will only export items that they supply themselves. If you want items from more than one supplier and can't import all your items through the one exporter, the cost of importing more than one consignment may outweigh the cost of going with an exporter who charges a higher fee, but will accept items from various suppliers.

Wherever possible, MFS will include as many import items as possible into each consignment (within a reasonable timeframe) to reduce the proportion of fixed costs on each item. This makes the total import cost less for each item, and as such providers a lower total cost to you.

MFS Import Fees

For our work in arranging the export and import paperwork and Customs clearance, we charge you a fixed import fee per item. This fee is not dependent on the cost of the item (i.e. it is not a percentage fee based on the item value). The fee charged per item may be reduced if you order more than one item within the same consignment. Also, firearms are charged at a separate rate from less expensive firearm accessory items (but which still need export & import paperwork & Customs clearance). Please note that the MFS Import Fee is all that we make from the transaction, but forms only part of the total cost estimate that we will provide you. The other exporting and importing costs associated with importing your item (outlined above) are payable by you, and these are included in the total cost estimate we will give you before you commit to the purchase..

Import Fee Notes:

1.    A firearm action with a serial number is charged as a firearm, as the paperwork requirements are exactly the same.

2.    Firearm parts are non-serilaised parts including stocks, barrels, trigger assemblies, magazines, sights etc. The difference between Major parts and Minor parts is size, rather than price. Major Parts are larger items like barrels and stocks, which need to be shipped separately, while Minor Parts are small items that we can easily add to a box containing other import items (i.e. projectiles or other parts).

3.    To obtain the reduced import fee rates for multiple firearms / parts, they must be included in the same consignment, sourced from the same supplier, and be sent to the same customer / dealer.

4.    Multiple identical firearm parts purchased from the same supplier will count as one item (e.g. if we buy 3 identical pistol magazines from the same supplier, they will count as one item, attracting a single import fee).

5.    Import Fee is exclusive of GST. 10% GST will be added to the invoice total.

Extra Costs:

1.    If you are ordering a custom build rifle or stock through us (extra liaison with customer & gunsmiths)        $100

2.    If you are importing a Cat C or D firearm / parts (additional applications and statutory declaration for AG's Dept application)     $75

3.    If you are importing a firearm as a single item consignment                                                             $100

Importing Process

The process for obtaining your required item will depend on the supplier and the exporter. Generally for US imports now, the preferred option once you have located the item you wish to purchase, is to inform us of the details and let us do the rest. Our US exporter will purchase the item on your behalf, and warehouse it until we have a full consignment ready to ship. Many overseas sellers (espicially US private sellers) will only accept payment from US credit cards or US based bank accounts anyway. Many sellers won't want to deal with you if they think that they will have to do the exportng themselves, as very few hold export licences. If you do negotiate the purchase of the item with the seller directly, advise them that payment can be made by a US based Federal Firearms Licence (FFL) exporter, if required. Our exporter holds a Federal Firearms Licence (FFL) to buy and sell in the US and to export firearms overseas. Before the exporter makes the purchase, we will invoice you for the initial purchase costs and once paid, the exporter will proceed with the transaction.

Some exporters are also retailers, but will only export items that they supply themselves and won't accept items for export that have come from another supplier. The exporter that we maily use will purchase and accept goods from various suppliers, and essentially becomes the new supplier once the goods have arrived at their facikity and been entered into their books. When being exported, all goods in a consignment need to be in the name of the same importer, which will be MFS.

Customs Import Duty Rates

Some items will attract Import Duty, applied by the Australian Border Force (as Customs is now called). Items manufactured entirely in the US are subject to the US Free Trade Agreement and as such, are duty exempt. The rates of Import Duty applicable to typical firearm items are listed below:

Requirements of You

The requirements of you are:

1.         Ensure that the item is legal / able to be registered in your state / territory (enquire with your State / Territory Police firearms section);

2.         Provide MFS with details of the item you are after including the model number and where it can be purchased (please note that MFS does not engage in searching for items for you);

3.         Transfer the initial purchase cost of the item to MFS or exporter as directed, so that MFS or the exporter can purchases the item from the supplier;

4.         Nominate a local firearms dealer near you and supply their details (including dealer licence number) if the item is a firearm or controlled firearm part, for MFS to ship to;

5.         Pay the residual amount (shipping costs, landing charges, GST etc.) when the item has arrived at MFS and is ready to ship to you / your local dealer; and

6.         Apply for a permit to acquire the firearm in accordance with your State / Territory laws, as per any other firearm. This will be from your nominated local dealer if the firearm is being sent there.

Note:  MFS will only import firearms for you that are legal in the jurisdiction in which you live, and only provided that you hold the appropriate licence. Before we commence an import, we may request that you provide written permissions from your state police confirming that you are able to register certain firearms and firearm articles.

This should provide you with enough information to be able to determine if importing through MFS will suit your needs. Direct importing from the US through MFS may well likely be  faster than it is to special order items through an Australian retailer (who in turn orders through large distributors). However, importing is still a slow process, thanks to the layers of paperwork and permits required, on top of the time it takes to fill a consignment. It does allows you to obtain items from overseas that no Australian distributor may import.

While individuals can do personal imports themselves, the requisite paperwork is fairly involved and time consuming, and if unfamiliar wth the requirements and process, things can go wrong. In some states it is a legal requirement to utilise an import broker anyway. This is why most people do not import directly themselves.

Call or email us to discuss your importing requirements.