ATF Eases Travel Rules for Your Special Registered Firearms
Published Date: 5/8/2026
Proposed Rule
Summary
If you own special firearms registered under the National Firearms Act, the ATF wants to make it easier for you to move them around the U.S. for up to a year without asking for permission first. For moves longer than a year or permanent relocations, you’ll still notify the ATF but won’t have to wait for approval before transporting. This change could save time and hassle starting after the comment period ends on August 6, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Short trips: No prior ATF approval
If you own a National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm, you would be allowed to transport it across state lines for short-term trips of 365 days or fewer without submitting ATF Form 5320.20 or waiting for ATF approval. This change is part of the proposed amendment to 27 CFR 478.28 described in the ATF notice.
Long moves: 14-day notice, no wait required
For long-term moves of more than 365 days or permanent relocations with your NFA firearm, you would have to submit notice to ATF at least 14 days before transport but would not have to wait for ATF approval before beginning the move. The notice would allow ATF to review and could be rescinded, but travel may start without a required approval wait.
Pass-through allowed under federal law
The proposal clarifies that you may pass through a U.S. jurisdiction that prohibits the NFA firearm you are transporting, as long as you comply with 18 U.S.C. 926A (the federal interstate transportation statute). This applies to temporary or permanent interstate transportation.
Carrier rule: show registration to carrier
If you ship an NFA firearm via a common or contract carrier, the proposed rule clarifies you must provide the carrier with a copy of your NFRTR proof of registration for each firearm. State or local law requirements still apply and are not waived by federal authorization.
No change: temporary foreign export still pre-approved
The proposed rule would not change the pre-approval requirement for temporarily exporting NFA firearms in foreign commerce; you would still use ATF Form 5320.20 and wait for approval before exporting outside the United States. Permanent export still uses ATF Form 5320.9 (Form 9).
Paperwork and time savings quantified
ATF estimates the proposal would cut the Form 20 burden from 45 minutes to 15 minutes for those who still must file, and would eliminate the need to file for short trips. ATF projects annual time-cost savings to owners of about $122,525 per year (about $19.50 saved per short-trip request and $13 saved per long-term notice), or about $1.23 million over 10 years. The comment deadline for this proposed rule is August 6, 2026.
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Key Dates
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