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Guide to Standard Restriction Stamps for ATF Import Permit Applications

Last Revised: April 7, 2011

This document is intended to help familiarize you with the more common restrictions used on ATF Form 6 import permits for firearms, ammunition, and implements of war.

1. Title 27 CFR Part 478.92 requires that within 15 days after release from Customs custody, each firearm imported shall be identified by engraving or casting the serial number on the frame or receiver; in addition, the following (1) model, (2) caliber or gauge, (3) name of manufacturer an country where manufactured and (4) the name, city and State of the importer shall be engraved, cast or stamped on the frame, receiver or barrel.
2. Rifles must have a barrel length of at least 16 inches and an overall length not less than 26 inches. Pistols must have an overall length of at least 6 inches or more.
3. Note: This permit is issued under the condition that the applicant establishes to the satisfaction of U.S. Customs and Border Protection that he/she is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on active duty outside the United States, or that he/she was a member of the U.S. Armed Forced on active duty outside the United States within 60 days of the date of importation. This permit also is issued under the condition that the firearm(s)/ammunition is intended for the personal use of the military member.
4. Note: This permit does not authorize the importation of the Model PPK semiautomatic pistol. However, it does authorize the importation of a Model PPK/S. The model designation is found on the left side of the slide. If the PPK/S is in .22 caliber, target grips with a contoured thumb rest must be incorporated.
5. Note: This permit does not authorize the importation of small arms, cannon or ammunition, including the frame or receiver of any firearms.
6. Not to include fully automatic firearms
7. Conditional importation - per attachment
8. Disapproved
9. Not for resale
10. Note: No firearms, frames, receivers or actions for firearms are authorized for importation under this permit.
11. Note: This is to certify that this is a true attachment to the valid International Import Certificate No. (write in 6 digit permit number) issued to the applicant.
12. Note: This permit does not authorize the importation of ammunition or ammunition components if they contain tracer or incendiary elements.
13. Note: This permit does not authorize the importation of tank small arms, cannon or ammunition, including the frame or receiver of any firearm or cannon.
14. Please see reverse for importation restriction(s)
15. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Department of Justice
16. Note: This permit does not authorize the importation the Walther Model P38 semiautomatic pistol in 9mm parabellum caliber unless it possesses a serial number of at least 5 digits. However, importation is authorized if the Walther model P38 pistol possesses 4 digits in the serial number and is in caliber .22 LR or 7.65mm.
17. VOID
18. Note: This permit authorizes the importation of the Walther Model PP semiautomatic pistol in either .32 (7.65mm) or .380 9mm corto/short) calibers but not in .22 LR caliber unless the firearm has a target trigger and target grip with a contoured thumb rest. This permit does not authorize the importation ofthe Model PPK Walther semiautomatic pistol in any caliber. The model designation will be found on the left side of the slide of this firearm.
19. Note: This is to certify that this is a true attachment sheet to Permit No. # (write in 6 digit permit number).
20. Note: This permit does not authorize the importation of a shotgun with a barrel of less than 18 inches in length or an overall length of less than 26 inches. This permit also does not authorize the importation of a shotgun having a magazine capacity of more than 5 cartridges. Further, this permit does not authorize the importation of a shotgun regardless of barrel length and overall length if the shotgun is equipped with a detachable folding shoulder stock or is not designed to be fired from the shoulder.
21. Note: This distribution of the large capacity feeding devices imported pursuant to this permit is subject to the provisions of the Title 27 CFR §478.40A
    Restriction stamp number 21 became obsolete as of September 13, 2004.
22. Restriction: This permit authorizes the importation of the firearm(s) described hereon for sale and delivery only to the recipient specified. The firearm(s) are not to be sold or delivered through any Federal firearms licensee who is not also qualified as a special occupational taxpayer under Title II of the Gun Control Act of 1968 (26 U.S.C. Chapter 53). The firearm(s) can be transferred only to another qualified law enforcement agency upon approval by the Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and (Explosives).
23. This permit authorizes the importation of the National Firearms Act firearm(s) described for use as a sales sample(s) only and not for resale or disposition other than as described below. The annotation “sales sample(s) only not for resale” will appear on the face of the Form 3 application to transfer the firearm(s) to the special occupational taxpayer listed below as the recipient. Prior to the recipient going out of business or allowing his/her special occupational tax stamp to expire, he/she must dispose of the machinegungun(s) as provided by 27 CFR 479.105 to a law enforcement agency, to the importer or another special occupational taxpayer, or by abandonment to ATF. Authorized recipient: place SOT’s company name, city and state here.
24. Note: This permit does not authorize the importation of any aircraft cannon, machinegun, or other aircraft armament including the frame, action or receiver for same.
25. Note: this permit does not authorize the importation of the ammunition described thereon if: (1) it has a projectile or projectile core which may be used in a handgun and which is constructed entirely (excluding the presence of traces of other substances) from one or a combination of tungsten alloys, steel, iron, brass, bronze, beryllium, copper, or depleted uranium; or (2) a full jacketed projectile larger than .22 caliber designed and intended for use in a handgun and whose jacket has a weight of more than 25 percent of the total weight of the projectile.
26. Note: Your state of residence requires a permit or other authorization to possess or own handguns in that State.
27. Note: The above deletion was made by this office.
28. Note: The above deletion was made at the request of the applicant.
29. Note: Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §925(d)(1), the tracer, incendiary, armor piercing, or other nonsporting ammunition approved for importation on this permit may only be imported for the specific scientific or research purposes identified in the import application. It may not be transferred to anyone other than the specific user identified on the import application, who will use it for scientific or research purposes.
30. Note: This is to certify that this is a true copy of the valid permit issued to the applicant.
31. Note: This permit authorizes the importation of the firearm(s) described on the reverse for the specific use of the United States or any department or agency thereof or any State or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof, as specified in section 925(a)(1) of the Gun Control Act of 1968. To import the firearm(s) for resale or any other reason not provided for in the Act would be a violation of section 22(1).
32. Note: The surplus military curio or relic firearms described on this permit are importable provided they are in their original military configuration.
33. Note: This permit authorizes the importation of the model 1935 Browning Hi Power semiautomatic pistol provided it has 5 or more digits in the serial number. It is not authorized if it has the letters “CH” in the serial number, the Waffenamt proof mark or the markings of “Inglis” or “pindad.”
34. Note: The firearms and/or ammunition authorized for importation by this permit are not authorized for permanent importation, and MUST be taken back out of the territorial limits of the United States by the holder of the permit, upon conclusion of the shooting or hunting activity. Exportation is exempt from State Department licensing pursuant to 22 CFR Part 123 and from Commerce Department licensing pursuant to 15 CFR Part 740.
35. No Permit Required. The following items do not require a permit from this office to be imported_______.
36. Note: This permit authorizes the conditional importation of article(s) described on the reverse for demonstration only at the _____________ Gun Show. At the conclusion of the Gun Show the article(s) must be forwarded directly to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Firearms Technology Branch, for testing and evaluation.
37. Note :Restriction stamp number 37 became obsolete as of September 13, 2004.
38. Note: Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §922(r), the items approved for importation under this permit may not be assembled into a semiautomatic rifle or any shotgun using more than 10 of the imported parts listed in 27 CFR §178.39(c), if the assembled firearm is prohibited from importation under 18 U.S.C. §925(d)(3).
39. Note: All Glock pistols must have a serial number located on a metal plate which is a permanent part of the frame/receiver. The Glock models 17 and 19 must also have click adjustable sights.
40. Note: This permit does not authorize the importation of any barrelled action when the barrel is less than 16 inches in length.
41. Note: The above change was made by this office.
42. Nothing follows
43. Note: The above change was made at the request of the applicant.
44. Note: The firearm(s) described on this permit must be of commercial manufacture. Under the provisions of 27 CFR 447.22, neither the component parts nor any unfinished forgings, castings, extrusions, and machined bodies for the component parts used in the assembly/manufacture of these firearms may have originated in the People’s Republic of China or any other proscribed country listed in 27 CFR 447.52.
45. See attached diagram
46. Note: This permit authorizes the importation of the Government Model 1911 or 1911Al series of the Colt Commander series semiautomatic pistol, in .38, 45, or 9mm caliber, provided the firearm is not marked United States Army, United States Navy, United States Government, or United States Property. Further, the serial number must possess any one of the following letters as a suffix or prefix “C”, “NM”, “MR”, “R”, “CS”, “LW”, “CLW”, “M2”, “MA”, “BW”, “CT”, “ETO”, or “PTO”. Additionally, the Mark IV/Series 70 and Mark IV/Series 80 pistols are importable.
47. This permit authorizes the importation of either the HS-21/S (Texas Scout) or the HS-121/S single action revolvers provided the following conditions are met. The model HS-21/S in .22 caliber must have a serial number over 504,001 and/or the model HS-121/S in .357 magnum must have a serial number over 8,601 denoting the incorporation of modified hammer safety components. Both models must have a barrel length of not less than 5-1/2” measured from the muzzle to the face of the cylinder.
48. Note: The Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver described on this permit is not authorized for importation if the serial number contains the prefix “V”, “SV”, or “VS”.
49. Note: The barrels, frames, and/or receivers authorized for importation by this permit may only be used in the assembly of firearms eligible for importation pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §925(d)(3).
50. Note: No firearm barrels are authorized for importation under this permit.
51. Note: No surplus military frames, receivers or barrels are authorized for importation under this permit.
52. Note: Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 925(d)(3), this permit does not authorize the importation of frames, receivers, or barrels for (1) firearms subject to the National firearms Act (NFA), 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53, including machineguns and destructive devices; (2) firearms that are not generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes; and (3) surplus military firearms. Alternatively, barrels for the foregoing firearms may be modified so they are incapable of use as barrels by cutting a hole equal to the diameter of the bore through one side in the high pressure (chamber) area.
53. Note: All firearms of Russian origin, as defined in 27 CFR 447.21 Category I, and their parts and components must be removed from the articles prior to importation, in accordance with 27 CFR 447.52(b)(1). Defense articles regulated under Category II of the U.S. Munitions Import List including guns over caliber 50, howitzers, mortars, and recoiless rifles are not subject to this restriction.
54. No restriction stamp required.
55. Supporting documentation for permit number
56. Note: This permit authorizes the importation of the firearm barrel(s) described on the reverse for the specific use of the United States or any department or agency thereof or any State or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof, as specified in Section 925(a)(1) of the Gun Control Act of 1968. To import the firearm barrel(s) for resale or any other reason not provided for in the Act would be a violation of Section 922(l).
57. Note: This permit authorizes the importation by the importer of the nonsporting ammunition described thereon for the purpose of distribution to law enforcement and government entities only. This ammunition may not be transferred or otherwise disposed of in the United States or otherwise disposed of in the United States other than as stated.
58. Reserved for FEIS (Note: Special Restriction)
59. Reserved for FEIS (Note: Gun Show)
60. Note: Armor piercing ammunition and each package containing armor piercing ammunition must be marked in accordance with Title 27 CFR 478.92.
61. Note: The firearms approved for import under this permit may not incorporate a surplus military frame, receiver or barrel.