Travelling from the UK (Folkestone) to France (Calais) on Le Shuttle with Airsoft guns / RIFs: A Quick Guide
Hey all,
Earlier today I travelled from the UK to France on Le Shuttle with several airsoft guns / RIFs, and I thought I would share my experiences, and provide a quick guide (based on my experience) for anyone thinking about doing the same, because I found that it wasn't overly clear what the process was from other posts and online research. To premise this, it was an extremely straightforward process (in my experience) with no checks done.
So to start with I called Le Shuttle to ask what the process was, they were pretty useless and simply stated that I 'would have to find out the process myself'.
What I ended up doing:
1- (Precautionary) I packed my airsoft guns into hard cases. 4 airsoft guns in two hard cases. Partially disassembled them and so it was clear they were for airsoft, I removed all loose BBs, and stored the magazines separately to the hardcases.
2-(Precautionary) I bought padlocks and secured each one of the hardcases.
3- (Precautionary) Once stowed in your vehicle, for the journey, make sure they are out of view; if that's not possible then make sure you don't have anything on the hardcases that would indicate to other members of the public they contain RIFs, e.g., images of weapons.
4- Once you arrive at Folkestone to check-in, proceed as normal, get your ticket from the check-in machine and then go and park.
5- Once parked-up, go into the reception in the duty-free building, it should be on the right as you go in.
6- Inform the receptionist that you need to declare that you are travelling with Airsoft guns / RIFs. They should then give you a small blue triangle sticker to stick onto your ticket that you have hanging in the windscreen.
Please note: they told me I may have to go back to customs in Ashford to be checked. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO THIS.
They also asked if I had documentation for them. YOU DO NOT NEED THIS. I explained to her they are 'toys' and not weapons and that they do not require any documentation to own (this is obviously a grey area for their staff). She acknowledged this and then provided me with the blue stickers.
7- Go back to your vehicle stick the blue triangle sticker on your ticket, and then either chill in your car or the duty-free area until they start calling you to board (you group 'Letter' / departure slot will be shown on one of the boards in the car park area).
8- Once boarding for your group is announced proceed to border control in your car.
9- Go through UK exit immigration, after they have reviewed your passport/s and you drive through (before French border control) there will be a sign that clearly states 'Declare any weapons'. IT'S AT THIS MOMENT YOU ANNOUNCE YOU HAVE AIRSOFT GUNS.
There will be staff nearby that you can announce this to out of the window of your car.
10- (My experience) The staff then radioed their inspection team stating a passenger has airsoft guns with them and asked 'if they need to be checked'. Security said NO, AIRSOFT GUNS ARE FINE, AND TO PROCEED STRAIGHT TO FRENCH IMMIGRATION.
11- (My experience) Once you reach French immigration (about 50-70m beyond UK immigration) YOU MUST ALSO DECLARE TO FRENCH BORDER CONTROL THAT YOU ARE TRAVELLING WITH AIRSOFT GUNS.
They then also told me that AIRSOFT GUNS ARE FINE, AND THEY DO NOT NEED TO CHECK THEM.
12- (My experience) Once you are through French border control you are home-free. Queue to board for your onward journey into France without additional checks.
PLEASE NOTE: They did not ask my for any additional documentation, or UKARA, or a booking proving your planned attendance at an airsoft event in Europe; and at no point did they even ask where the airsoft guns were or even so much as glance at them.
HOWEVER (DISCLAIMER), this was my personal experience. I cannot guarantee that all immigration officers will have the same knowledge and approach as I experienced today. Hence why I suggest you follow the precautionary measures I suggest in points 1, 2, and 3.
FOR CONTEXT: I am from the UK but moved to Luxembourg a year ago, this journey was to move belongings from the UK to Luxembourg. I am not planning to bring these RIFs back into UK after this journey. Hence I cannot advised on whether this would be the same experience if the trip were done im reverse e.g., travelling from France ro the UK.
Hope this helps!