Importing a scope walk through for paperwork process

cody c

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I just got a scope in the mail from the US, I'm gonna give a detailed walk through on the form(s) and process, though its very simple in filling a form broken into 12 steps:


Find a retailer in the US that will send in the export paperwork, I used Euro optic LTD as they were easy to deal with, quick and did not charge a fee to send in for export permit. You should also check as to whether there is any cross border warranty conflicts at this point if it is a concern with your brand of choice.


Step 1.
Find a retailer (who is willing to do export paperwork - check fees), you will need from the retailer:
  • PO number, you need to purchase item(s) before starting the import paperwork
  • owner name (not salesman)
  • address
  • phone number
Request and receive the info, pay and receive receipt first before starting on to next steps



step two:

go here:
https://www.excol-ceed.gc.ca/Main-Principal/Home_Accueil.aspx

and click here (circled):





step three:

if you have the phone number filled out in a different format it will not work (without the dashes) The number chose was from a song "Jenny Jenny, tell me your number!" but you have to use your own obviously.

Then click "submit" at upper middle above tabs




step four:

click this button to autofill the second tab, fill in your info here again and some info at bottom

Then click "submit" at upper middle above tabs




Step 5:

Fill out and submit the third tab, owner name acquired from step 1

Then click "submit" at upper middle above tabs





Step 6:

click the by applicant, it will autofill

Then click "submit" at upper middle above tabs





Step 7:

fill in the PO number and selection tabs (PO number from sales receipt in step 1)

Then click "submit" at upper middle above tabs



After you hit submit (the same screen/tab will stay here, but with a text link about entering item for next step)



Step 8:

click the underlined text "you must enter at least one item" circled below




Step 9:

click "add item" (circled)




Step 10:

add items, use description per sales receipt, and click "accept"

Then click "submit" at upper middle above tabs




Step 11:

and send it! fill in your name (and Hit accept at bottom)





The document will be sent to the government, it took about a week to receive an email which is then forwarded to the vendor (by you via email) so the vendor can now apply for an export permit:

it will look like this in the step below (as a PDF received in an email):

Step 12:

email the import doc to retailer



Essentially you are done at this point, I received a text about 3 weeks later from their shipper (DHL) to allow drop off with out signature, and then a couple days later a text to pay customs fees, meaning the retailer had received export permit.

You may be able to refuse pickup, and pay the customs fees at the nearest customs office to save some of the money. On a $300 USD scope the bill was about $36CAD for me so I just paid it rather than try and save a couple bucks. Google "UPS customs fees" to find out how to save overcharges by UPS or other shippers.( FYI: DHL charged $16 in processing and transaction fees, then $20 GST)

Timelines per my experience:
Pay for item, get info via email 1 day
Submit and then receive paperwork for import 1 week
Export paperwork before item can ship 3 weeks
ship/delivery 5 days

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Some manufacturers have strict agreements and policies about retailers shipping to Canada, you may get a retailer in trouble if you were to announce to say, sales reps at a gunshow in the US or Canada. As per my experience and someone repeating what I'm posting I'm not sure if Euro Optic will sell the specific brand scope out of the US. I would suggest discretion in repeating two pieces of info together (what, and where from) if you find a great deal and would like to share, check if the retailer has any hesitation to announcing online, if you don't know id suggest posting price but not the retailer, if someone else wants to know where they can PM you.

On my specific item I'm about $521 all in in a item that runs about $767 after taxes, so 2/3 local price with a month wait. If you have the funds though do the community a favor and support site vendors if you can. If you find a smoking deal on a discontinued or demo item, make that call yourself, but there is value to local retailers who go beyond to help with service on this forum.
 
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Excellent step by step for a rather daunting task!

Thanks, it was rather daunting initially, but it literally is all above, other than some to/from emails to the retailer to figure it out and get owner name/info. I hope some members here find deals, I'd suggest checking the retailer mentioned and I hope folks mention other good vendors or deals in this thread.
 
Thanks, it was rather daunting initially, but it literally is all above, other than some to/from emails to the retailer to figure it out and get owner name/info. I hope some members here find deals, I'd suggest checking the retailer mentioned and I hope folks mention other good vendors or deals in this thread.

I wrote in the other thread that I purchased a scope from the UK. To get it sent out I had to complete an export form for the UK company that was available on their website, no indication of anything to do on the Canadian side (no Homeland security or similar ITAR issues that you have on the US side). That took 5 mins and they sent the scope out after that. The process seemed a lot more straightforward than the one detailed here but you need to check if the scope is indeed a deal obviously. For me it was, so far I’m at over $200 savings. I’ll wait to see what fees are involved or if indeed there’s a border problem and I have forgotten something as it’s currently in transit. The pound sterling exchange rate and 20% reduction for VAT is pretty good for Canadians right now.

Thanks for the write up OP, it’s good to have options!
 
That’s all good and fine for you to import the scope but how about the company that sold it to you? How did they comply with the ITAR obligations? If you ordered an ITAR controlled item from Brownells for example, they would do the ITAR paperwork and then would just mail the item to you. Is the dealer you ordered the scope from registered and compliant with ITAR?
 
That’s all good and fine for you to import the scope but how about the company that sold it to you? How did they comply with the ITAR obligations? If you ordered an ITAR controlled item from Brownells for example, they would do the ITAR paperwork and then would just mail the item to you. Is the dealer you ordered the scope from registered and compliant with ITAR?

If that’s directed at me, I took the “we now export scopes worldwide” statement on the website I used at face value.
 
That’s all good and fine for you to import the scope but how about the company that sold it to you? How did they comply with the ITAR obligations? If you ordered an ITAR controlled item from Brownells for example, they would do the ITAR paperwork and then would just mail the item to you. Is the dealer you ordered the scope from registered and compliant with ITAR?

I'm assuming so, I asked how I could get it and they said they would do export paperwork, you can find the retailers name in the clips above. They had to fill out export paperwork, you can ask the retailer you choose that question, but bottom line is the export paperwork was done and the scope was shipped, so I assume it is under ITAR requirements as any other shipper like irunguns would do, only I wasn't charged money on top like other companies would do to import it.

Europtic seems to be happy to help others import/export stuff over though. Talk to Keefer.

But really, that's they're concern if they're doing things legal, not ours to check if they have contacted and registered with a government agency in a foreign country. Maybe the guy (POS) who got Richardson Microfit stocks not to sell to Canada anymore can look into that.
 
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One thing to look out for is Warranty. Some companies it would be required to go back to the US as the Canadian warranty center will only warranty scopes sold in canada.
 
I'm assuming so, I asked how I could get it and they said they would do export paperwork, you can find the retailers name in the clips above. They had to fill out export paperwork, you can ask the retailer you choose that question, but bottom line is the export paperwork was done and the scope was shipped, so I assume it is under ITAR requirements as any other shipper like irunguns would do, only I wasn't charged money on top like other companies would do to import it.

But really, that's they're concern if they're doing things legal, not ours to check if they have contacted and registered with a government agency in a foreign country. Maybe the guy (POS) who got Richardson Microfit stocks not to sell to Canada anymore can look into that.

seems richards microfit export again to Canada ...
 
That’s all good and fine for you to import the scope but how about the company that sold it to you? How did they comply with the ITAR obligations? If you ordered an ITAR controlled item from Brownells for example, they would do the ITAR paperwork and then would just mail the item to you. Is the dealer you ordered the scope from registered and compliant with ITAR?

That isn’t his problem. He is submitting all the required paperwork he needs as a Canadian civilian to personally import an item from another country. DFATD is the approving body and if they approve of it, then everything is in order.
 
seems richards microfit export again to Canada ...

I can confirm this - I emailed Richards Microfit a couple of months back to enquire about shipping to Canada; they took a while to respond (the office staff was on holiday, apparently), but they were willing to ship to Canada, for a surcharge of $95 (US).

I was a bit peeved by this surcharge, but it did cover paperwork AND shipping, tho, so I'm still considering it - there aren't too many benchrest stocks available for the prices they are charging.
 
I can confirm this - I emailed Richards Microfit a couple of months back to enquire about shipping to Canada; they took a while to respond (the office staff was on holiday, apparently), but they were willing to ship to Canada, for a surcharge of $95 (US).

I was a bit peeved by this surcharge, but it did cover paperwork AND shipping, tho, so I'm still considering it - there aren't too many benchrest stocks available for the prices they are charging.

It took almost 4 months to get mine, order early.
 
One thing to look out for is Warranty. Some companies it would be required to go back to the US as the Canadian warranty center will only warranty scopes sold in canada.

Vortex Canada handles all Vortex product warranties in Canada.

Recently ITAR purchase price exemption was lifted from $100 to $500; meaning if it's under $500 it can be exported without all the permit paperwork.
 
Vortex Canada handles all Vortex product warranties in Canada.

Recently ITAR purchase price exemption was lifted from $100 to $500; meaning if it's under $500 it can be exported without all the permit paperwork.

I do not believe that applies to things like scopes, bullets, brass and barrels but I could be wrong.
 
I do not believe that applies to things like scopes, bullets, brass and barrels but I could be wrong.

My scope was shipped by Euro Optics in the US with the involved paperwork as per the walk through in the first post, it is at home and in the safe. Others have PM'd me that they are doing the same from europtics or other vendors. Haven't tried barrels bullets or brass yet, but maybe you wanna find someone who will do export paperwork.
 
I do not believe that applies to things like scopes, bullets, brass and barrels but I could be wrong.

At different times I've been told face-to-face by at least three different Vortex employees -- including the service techs -- that if it says Vortex on it and is in Canada, send it to Guelph.

As for ITAR, night vision remains an exception. Dept of Commerce regulates scope exportation.
 
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Hey guys, a bit of a thread revival..

I'm not sure if things have changed at all with scope importation, and I have to apologize for the images in the thread disappearing, I closed the photobucket/flickr accounts.

Currently I am looking into getting import/export docs together to bring an optic back with me from the US rather than ship it. I reached out to Europtic again to see if they had any experience or are willing to assist.
 
I purchased two scopes from USA, one scope from UK and the latest two scopes from EU-Netherlands.

With both US scope purchases 2-3 years ago I got very emotional for that bs ITAR thingy ... a little better quality Made in China scope re-branded in US, and the store cannot ship it to Canada because of the ITAR, still the sticker on the box shows Made in China.
Just yesterday I wanted to buy a "cantilever scope ring" that cost $25 for two pieces ... no way that was made in US for that money, and they cannot mail to Canada. A "friend" from the US gun forum today morning offered me and bought these rings for me and I will pay he's expenses after he mails it to me. So again...
The scope from UK is NATO regulated, I bought it through a middle man in Scotland exactly during the Brexit, so I catch the crack in the system the regulations were not generally distributed.
Two scopes - same NATO regulated Made in Japan I got from Netherlands, no question asked.
And yes, one more scope NATO regulated I got from Tenerife which is offland of EU, no questions asked.

I can admire you for going through all those emails and paperwork and tinkering, it must be some exotic scope I must say for a hassle.
In my mind buying scopes is a five minutes work in front of PC. Any store doesn't want or cannot sell it to me I go to the next guy.
 
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