Export Your Firearms from Canada to the USA
Whether you’re looking to sell, relocating to the United States, or holding firearms you can no longer transfer within Canada, Arms East makes the export process straightforward. We handle everything on both sides of the border — you ship your firearms to our Ottawa facility, and we take it from there.
Three Ways to Sell
1. Export & Sell on GunBroker
Send your firearms to our Ottawa facility and we manage the entire process. Arms East Canada handles all Canadian export permits, RCMP deregistration, and CBSA documentation. Arms East USA — a federally licensed ATF importer — manages the US import permit (ATF Form 6), US customs clearance, and the ATF-required importer engraving before listing your firearm on GunBroker, the largest online firearms marketplace in the United States.
Every step is tracked through our consignment portal, so you always know exactly where your firearms are in the process.
You receive approximately 70% of net sale proceeds after auction and engraving fees.
Service fee: $250 USD for the first firearm | $150 USD each for firearms 2–10
2. Sell Directly to Arms East Canada
Want a fast, certain result without waiting for auction? Submit your firearm details and photos through the portal and we’ll send you a purchase offer within 2–3 business days. Accept the offer, ship to Ottawa, and receive payment by e-transfer once we receive your firearm.
No service fee. We buy outright at a fair market price.
3. Transfer to a Known US Buyer
Already have a buyer lined up in the United States — a friend, family member, or colleague? They don’t need to hold an FFL themselves. Arms East USA will transfer the firearm to any licensed FFL dealer of their choosing, anywhere in the United States. Your buyer simply arranges receipt with their local FFL, and we handle the rest.
The regulatory process is identical to our GunBroker export service: Arms East Canada handles the Canadian export permit, RCMP deregistration where required, and CBSA documentation; Arms East USA manages the ATF Form 6 import permit, US customs clearance, and the ATF-required importer engraving. Once cleared, the firearm is transferred directly to the FFL your buyer has chosen — no auction, no listing, no waiting for a buyer.
This option is well suited to private sales already agreed upon, estate transfers to US beneficiaries, or any situation where the end recipient is known and willing to receive through their own FFL.
Service fee: $250 USD for the first firearm | $150 USD each for firearms 2–10
Submit your firearm details and your buyer’s chosen FFL information through the consignment portal to get started.
What We Handle For You
Exporting firearms internationally involves regulatory requirements on both sides of the border. Arms East Canada and Arms East USA work together to manage the entire process:
Canadian Side
- Export Permit Applications — Arms East Canada prepares and submits Individual Export Permit applications through Global Affairs Canada’s Export Controls Online system on your behalf, accurately describing each firearm by make, model, action type, calibre, and serial number.
- RCMP Deregistration — All restricted and prohibited firearms must be formally deregistered from the Canadian Firearms Registry before export. We contact the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program directly — you don’t need to call the CFP.
- CBSA Export Documentation — We prepare all Canada Border Services Agency export declarations and manage the physical export.
US Side
- ATF Form 6 Import Permit — Arms East USA initiates and manages the ATF import permit application. Approval typically takes 60–90 days — we start as early as possible.
- ATF-Required Importer Engraving — Federal law requires any firearm imported into the United States be permanently marked with the importer’s name, city, and state. As a licensed ATF importer, Arms East USA performs this engraving in-house. It’s included in the service.
- FFL Receipt and Processing — Arms East USA is a federally licensed importer and dealer. We receive your firearms, log them into FFL inventory per ATF requirements, and process them for sale.
- GunBroker Listing and Sale — Your firearm is listed on GunBroker to reach the full US market.
What Firearms Can Be Exported
| Category | Notes |
| Bolt-action, lever-action, pump-action | Most straightforward — no unusual complications |
| Rimfire firearms | Consistent US market demand |
| Semi-automatic shotguns | Generally exportable |
| Restricted rifles and shotguns | We handle RCMP deregistration |
| Handguns | Frozen from Canadian transfer but can be legally exported |
| Grandfathered prohibited firearms | Only exportable if Arms East USA was the original US exporter — see note below |
A note on grandfathered prohibited firearms: Firearms reclassified as prohibited in Canada — including AR-15s and similar semi-automatic platforms — cannot be sold to other Canadians. However, these firearms sometimes fail the ATF’s sporting purposes test and cannot be imported into the United States by a standard FFL importer. The exception is the original exporter rule: if Arms East USA was the original exporter of the firearm to Canada, we can receive it back under that exemption. If your AR-15 or prohibited semi-automatic firearm was not originally exported by Arms East USA, it is unlikely to be importable into the US and we will advise you of this before the process begins. Contact us with the make, model, and import history and we’ll confirm eligibility upfront.
An Important Note on US Importability
Not every firearm that can be exported from Canada can be imported into the United States. The ATF applies a “sporting purposes” test — firearms that don’t meet the standard (handguns failing the ATF factoring criteria, semi-automatic rifles with certain features, short-barrelled configurations) are classified as non-sporting and generally cannot be imported by a standard FFL.
When you submit through the portal, we’ll confirm importability for your specific firearm before the process begins — we won’t start a process we can’t complete.
The Process
- Submit through the portal — Create an account and submit your firearms with photos, make, model, calibre, configuration, and condition. Track every stage from the same dashboard.
- Choose your service and agree on terms — Select GunBroker export or direct purchase. We provide a no-obligation valuation based on current US market conditions.
- We start the paperwork — Canadian export permits, RCMP deregistration, and ATF Form 6 run simultaneously to minimize wait time.
- Ship to Arms East Canada in Ottawa — We manage all handling, cross-border logistics, and chain of custody from this point.
- Sale and payment — Your firearm sells on GunBroker and you receive payment per the agreed terms, or e-transfer on receipt for the direct purchase option.
Timelines
ATF Form 6 approval typically takes 60–90 days. Canadian export permits process within a few weeks. Plan for 3–4 months total from submission to completed sale, though this varies by firearm type and processing volumes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does exporting affect my Canadian PAL?
No. Your licence is separate from the specific firearms you own.
Can I export firearms registered in my name in the Canadian Firearms Registry?
Yes. We handle RCMP deregistration as a standard part of the service.
What about magazines and accessories?
Often includable — confirm specifics at the time of submission. Some items have additional considerations depending on configuration and destination US state.
Can you help if I’m relocating to the US and want to keep my firearms?
Yes. Same process — Arms East Canada handles the Canadian side, Arms East USA handles receipt and transfer to you once you’re a US resident.
What is the ATF importer engraving requirement?
Any firearm imported into the US must be permanently marked with the importer’s name, city, and state before it can be transferred to a buyer. Arms East USA handles this in-house. The cost is factored into the service fee.
For the third option, does my buyer need to have an FFL?
No. Your buyer just needs to arrange receipt with any licensed FFL dealer near them — a local gun shop, sporting goods store, or dealer of their choice. They provide us with that FFL’s details, and we transfer directly to them anywhere in the United States.
Get Started
Arms East Canada is fully licensed by the Canadian and US governments for international firearms export. Arms East USA is a federally licensed ATF importer and dealer authorized to import, engrave, and transfer firearms in full compliance with US federal law. Whether you hold a valid PAL or are an estate executor, we’re set up to work with you.
Visit the Arms East Consignment Portal →
For informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Firearms export and import regulations change. Arms East Canada will confirm current requirements for your specific firearms at the time of your inquiry.