Instructions
Instructionnstructions for Federally Licensed
and/or Registered Importers.
1. ATFF6A(5330.3C)isrequiredforeveryimportationofrearm(s),ammunition,
and/or defense articles, with certain exceptions listed in 27 CFR Parts 447
and 478.
2. Section I.ImportationInformation.Toobtainreleaseofrearm(s),ammunition,
and defense articles from the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP), the importer may (1) complete Section I of the form, in duplicate,
and present one copy to CBP along with his import permit, ATF Form 6 Part
I (5330.3A) or (2) submit Form 6 and 6A data electronically to ATF via the
Partner Government Agency (PGA) message set. For additional information on
how to submit PGA data to CBP electronically, please see:
https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/atf-supplemental-guidance-ace,. For
assistance in setting up an Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) account,
please cont the CBP Ace Helpdesk at 1-866-530-4172. Questions for ATF
may be directed to: Imports-Helpdesk@atf.gov.Importersarestillrequiredto
send in their copy of the Form 6A to ATF within 15 days of release from CBP
custody.OnlySectionsIandIIIarerequired.Iftheimportincludesarearm(s)
for which the serial number(s) are not known at the time the ATF Form 6 Part I,
Applcation and Permit to Import Firearms, Ammunition and Defense Articles,
the serial numbers must be reported in Section III of the form (see below) within
15 days from release from CBP custody.
Iftheimportisforrearms,theirpartsorcomponents,orammunition,the
importer also must present to U.S. Customs and Border Protection a copy of the
export license authorizing the export of the article or articles from the exporting
country.Iftheexportingcountrydoesnotrequireissuanceofanexportlicense,
the importer instead must present to U.S. Customsand Border Protection a
certication,underpenaltyofperjury,tothateect.
3. Section II. CBPwillreleasetheshipmentiftheyaresatisedthattheshipment
ofrearm(s),ammunition,and/orDefenseArticleswasauthorizedbythe
Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. CBP will no
longer complete Section II of the Form 6A.
4. Section III. VericationofImportation.Within15daysafterthearticle(s)
has been released from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the licensed
and/or registered importer must complete Section III of the duplicate copy
ofATFForm6Aandmailittotheaddressspeciedbelow.
Title27CFRPart478requiresthatwithin15daysafterreleasefromU.S.
CustomsandBorderProtection,eachrearmimportedshallbeidentied
by engraving or casting on it the following: (1) serial number, (2) model,
(3) caliber or gauge, (4) name of manufacturer and country where manufactured,
and(5)thename,city,andStateoftheimporter.Ifrearmsserialnumberswere
not known or reported at the time of import, the importer must report those
serial numbers in an attachment to block 18. He also must post in his permanent
recordsallrequiredinformationregardingtheimportation(27CFR478.112).
Instructions for
Federal Firearms Licensees other than importers.
1. ATFForm6Aisrequiredforeveryimportationofrearm(s),ammunition,and/or
defense articles, with certain exceptions listed in 27 CFR Parts 447 and 478.
2. SectionI.ImportationInformation.Toobtainreleaseofrearm(s),
ammunition, and defense articles from the custody of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP), the importer may (1) complete Section I of the form,
in duplicate, and present one copy to CBP along with his import permit, ATF
Form 6 Part I (5330.3A) or (2) submit Form 6 and 6A data electronically to ATF
via the PGA message set. For additional information on how to submit PGA
data to CBP electronically, please see:
https://www.cbp.gov/document/guidance/atf-supplemental-guidance-ace,. For
assistance in setting up an ACE account, please contact the CBP Ace Helpdesk at
1-866-530-4172. Questions for ATF may be directed to:
Imports-Helpdesk@atf.gov.
3. Section II. CBPwillreleasetheshipmentiftheyaresatisedthattheshipment
ofrearm(s),ammunition,and/ordefensearticleswasauthorizedbythe
Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. CBP will no
longer complete Section II of the Form 6A.
Instructions for Members of the U.S. Armed Forces
1. ATFForm6Aisrequiredfortheimportationofrearm(s)orammunitionor
defense articles authorized for importation on ATF Form 6 -Part II (5330.3B).
2. Section I.ImportationInformation.Toobtainreleaseofrearmsorammunition
or defense articles from the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the
member of the United States Armed Forces must complete Section I of the form
and present it to U.S. Customs and Border Protection along with his import
permit, ATF Form 6-Part II (5330.3B).
3. Section II.CBPwillreleasetheshipmentiftheyaresatisedthattheshipment
ofrearm(s),ammunition,and/ordefensearticleswasauthorizedbythe
Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. CBP will no
longer complete Section II of the Form 6A.
Instructions for Persons not
Licensed by or Registered with ATF
1. ATFForm6Aisrequiredfortheimportationofrearm(s),ammunition,and/or
defense articles, with certain exceptions listed in 27 CFR Parts 447 and
478.
2. Section I. ImportationInformation.Toobtainreleaseofrearm(s),
ammunition, and/or defense articles from the custody of U.S. Customs and
Border Protection, the individual must complete Section I of the form and
present it to U.S. Customs and Border Protection along with his import permit,
ATF Form 6 -Part I (5330.3A).
Record Retention Requirement
FederalrearmslicenseesmustretainthisformaspartoftheirATFrequiredrecords
permanently as prescribed by 27 CFR 478.129(d). Importers registered under the
ArmsExportControlActwhodonotalsoholdaFederalrearmslicensemust
retainthisformaspartoftheirATFrequiredrecordsforatleastthe6-yearperiod
prescribed by 27 CFR 447.34(b).
Privacy Act Information
The following information is provided pursuant to Section 3 of the Privacy Act of
1974 (5 U.S.C. Section 552a(e)(3)).
1. Authority. Solicitation of this information is made pursuant to the Gun
Control Act of 1968 (18 U.S.C. Chapter 44), and Section 38 of the
Arms Export Control Act of 1976 (22 U.S.C. Section 2778). Disclosure of
this information by the applicant is mandatory for the release and receipt
ofimportedrearms,ammunition,anddefensearticles.
2. Purpose. Todeterminethattheimportationofrearms,ammunition,and
defense articles has taken place, to verify that the term(s) was (were) released
to and received by the importer or his agent, and to verify that the items released
were the items listed on the application for importation.
3. Routine Uses. The information will be used by ATF to make the determinations
set forth in paragraph 2. In addition, the information may be disclosed to other
Federal, State, foreign and local law enforcement and regulatory agency
personnel to verify information on the application and to aid in the performance
oftheirdutieswithrespecttotheregulationofrearms,ammunition,and
defense articles. The information may further be disclosed to the Department
of Justice if it appears that the furnishing of false information may constitute a
violation of Federal law.
4. Eects of not supplying the information requested. Failure to supply
complete information will delay processing and may cause denial of the
application.
ATF E-Form 6A (5330.3C)
Revised January 2018