Gun Law

International Living Postcards--your daily escape

Monday, Jan. 29, 2007

If you're a hunter planning to retire to Latin America, what happens to your gun collection Stateside? What can you hunt in your new country? What guns can you buy? Read on…

Mexico has some of the strictest gun laws in the world. Temporary sportsman's licenses, valid up to 180 days, are available through a hunting organizer who will need your hunting certificate for tourists issued by the Mexican Consulate abroad. The use of guns by Mexican nationals or foreign residents is strictly regulated, and permits are issued for one year by the SEDENA (Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional).

Hunting is illegal in Panama. The process for importing hunting guns may take up to six months: You must surrender your gun to the captain of the plane, declare it at customs on arrival, where it is kept for registration, and pay duties once the importation process is completed. You must then apply for the gun importation and the gun carrying permits, which involve undergoing a psychological test, providing a blood sample, and the results of a lab test for drug use. No more than three guns may be imported in a five-year period.

For Nicaragua, you must be a resident to import or acquire firearms. No hunting permits are needed, just a license for your gun once you are a resident.

Hunting is permitted in Ecuador with the right permits. Carrying a concealed weapon requires registration and a short psychological test. Permits are available to foreign residents.

Hunting is illegal in most of Brazil, with the exception of some places in the north, where there are strict hunting regulations; hunting is only allowed for certain species during certain seasons. Background checks for prospective firearm buyers are needed (no one with a criminal record can possess firearms), and ownership is granted only to those over 25 years old.

Argentina allows hunting with the requisite permit, and if you want to import your firearms for hunting you must send RENAR (National Registry of Weapons) proof of your resident's status, a clean police record, and a copy of your current firearm or hunting license, among other documents. The Introduction Authorization issued can then be used to obtain a firearm license, which must be requested within 90 days upon the arrival of the firearms into the country.

The Savvy Traveler
For International Living

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