Beginners guide: What is a UKARA or an Airsoft Defence?

Beginners' guide: What is a UKARA or an Airsoft Defence?


UKARA - What is UKARA?

UKARA stands for ‘United Kingdom Airsoft Retailers Association’ and is essentially a big database of all registered Airsoft Skirmishers in the UK, which allows Retailers to check an individual to see if they are eligible to purchase Replica Imitation Firearms (RIF). A UKARA Registration is recognised as a valid defence against purchasing an Airsoft Gun.

To obtain a UKARA registration an individual must visit a UKARA registered Airsoft Skirmish Site 3 times or more inside of 56 Days or 8 Weeks, at which point the site can stamp your paperwork and enter your details into the UKARA Database. Once you have received your UKARA number you can order a Realistic Imitation Firearm from us. 

If you do not wish to Skirmish or simply want to target shoot, then in order to obtain an Airsoft gun you must either have an alternate valid defence or have the Airsoft gun painted in Two-Tone colours. Any Airsoft gun available on Patrol Base can be finished in two-tone colours by using our Two-tone service in order to meet these requirements.


Other Airsoft Defence Evidences

Although we recommend to any customer that they get a UKARA defence, we realise that some people may not have access to this. We also accept the following defences:

UKARA Logo
UKARA
Halo Mill Logo
Halo Mill Membership
P.A.S.S Logo
SWAT P.A.S.S. Membership
CS Logo
Combat South Membership
Re Enactment Logo
For Re-enactment
TV Logo
For TV / Production / Theater

Civil Service Logo
For Civil Service Use
  • Fully paid Halo Mill Membership + Played 3 Games (Evidenced)
  • British Airsoft Club (BAC)
  • SWAT PASS
  • UCAP
  • Combat South
  • Re-enactment*
  • TV / Production Theatre*
  • Museum*
  • Civil Service*

Both these additional defences allow access to a database which we can check validity, but are not as widely recognised as UKARA.

When purchasing please ensure you enter information for all the required fields at the Defence Checker, and supply images of a high enough quality so we can verify their validity.

* Starred defences are typically considered on a case by case basis, and providing evidence of this does not necessarily mean we will accept your defence. We reserve the right to cancel your order with us should we not feel your defence is valid enough for us to sell to you.


Common Questions

I don't have a UKARA / Defence! Can I still buy an Airsoft Gun?

You can buy an Airsoft Gun, however, you must be over 18 and the weapon must be sprayed a Two-Tone colour.

You can have a weapon Two-Toned by selecting it from the Two Tone Options Box on any Airsoft Replica we sell on our website. For more information on how to do this please see: Two Tone Service Information.

Why does a Two-Tone Service cost extra?

The reason for the price of the Two-Tone is because we fully strip the weapon, spray the relevant body parts, then reconstruct the weapon. To spray the weapon we use high quality Spray Paint, in our in-house Spray and Extraction room.

"This gun X was made in X, so I don’t need a UKARA!", "THIS ISNT EVEN A GUN!"

We follow strict guidelines when selling Airsoft Guns and Replicas, and we do not want to damage the reputation of the sport.

To decide whether or not to sell an item using UKARA, we follow the ‘Grandma’ test. This means that if we were show the item to our Grans, would they think it was a gun and call the police?

Nine times out of Ten, if it has a trigger, then it looks like a gun. We will not change this stance on a case by case basis.

Do I need a UKARA in Country X?

To buy an Airsoft gun, you only need a defence when purchasing a rifle in or ordering from a place covered by the VCRA, this is currently England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Countries outside of the UK do not require defences to be purchased, however if your country does require you to have a defence or there are specific laws covering Airsoft Guns we cannot be held responsible if your package is denied / destroyed by customs.

For example:

  • Customer X buys a Fully Automatic Airsoft AEG to be delivered to Germany where there is a restriction places on Fully Automatic Airsoft Guns, and the weapon is destroyed by customs.

We are up to date with most laws around the world, and if we find a purchase breaks any laws of the respective country we will not dispatch it, and simply hold the rifle until we contact you.

I have a firearms Certificate, can I purchase a none two-tone gun?

Unfortunately you cannot, the Firearms Act is different to the VCRA Act, and as such specifies different criteria for purchase. Although this seems unfair companies in the UK are bound by this law when selling RIF.

I am in the Armed Forces / Police, can this be my defence?

As an individual for personal use you are still bound by the same laws as any other Individual in the UK, however, if you are acquiring them on behalf of your Unit for training purposes they can be purchased.

In order to do this we must be sent valid proof, such as an email from a Superior, and the package must be sent to a Military / Police building.

I am part of a Reenactment Society, how do I use this as my defence when buying an Airsoft Gun?

To purchase a none-two tone weapon from us we require proof that you are a current member of a Society. To satisfy the requirement we need at a minimum the following bits of information:

  • A scanned copy of your Membership Card next to a Photo ID (Such as driving License)
  • Your Society Must have a Website with your name Listed on it, or a Contactable Representative

You can submit the information required by us via the Defence Submission Section during the Checkout Process, and we will get in contact with you to verify any submitted information.

I am a member of a TV / Film Production Team, how do I purchase an Airsoft Gun?

To purchase a none-two tone weapon from us we require proof that you are in fact from a Film / Production Company. To satisfy the requirement we need at a minimum the following bits of information:

  • A copy of the Company’s Insurance Documents which state it is covered as a Film / Production company.
  • The package must be delivered to a Studio or Address Associated with the company

You can submit the information required by us via the Defence Submission Section during the Checkout Process, and we will get in contact with you to verify any submitted information.

I am a Museum Curator, how do I purchase an Airsoft gun?

To purchase a none-two tone weapon from us we require proof that you are in fact a Museum Curator. To satisfy the requirement we need at a minimum the following bits of information:

  • A copy of the Museums insurance documents, stating the company is insured as a Museum.
  • The package must be delivered to a Museum / Building associated with the company

You can submit the information required by us via the Defence Submission Section during the Checkout Process, and we will get in contact with you to verify any submitted information.

Will the Defence stop me being arrested?

No, the defence will not stop you being arrested should you be doing anything silly with your Airsoft gun. A defence is for purchasing and not for ownership and does not grant any special privileges when it comes to using the Airsoft gun. 

Airsoft Guns may not be powerful enough to be lethal, but should still be treated as such. The everyday person will not know what Airsoft is, and if you are seen with a RIF by a member of the public and they call the Police, Armed Response will be notified.

Simply someone thinking you have anything that looks like a real firearm is reason enough for Armed Response to confiscate your Airsoft Guns. Please remember, that if a member of the public sees you with your rifle it is a Firearms Offence, and can result in a minimum 5 years jail sentence.

Having UKARA is only useful if you are stopped by the police, and can provide another reason as to why you have Realistic Looking Firearms in your boot. However, do not presume that every Police Officer will understand Airsoft and will most likely not know what UKARA is. Stay calm and explain about the sport and where you are going. Preferably having a site booking by name that the Officer can call.

Please note that most Police Officers are not qualified to determine if an item is a firearm or not, and will have to request backup from a Qualified Individual, usually from the Armed Response.

Remember, you should only ever travel with the rifle in the boot of your car, either to and from a game site or to a shop / repair center.

What is a Photo ID?

A photo ID is a piece of Photographic ID, which shows both a picture of you and your address. Such examples of this are a Drivers Licence, or Passport.

You can submit this via the Defence Submission Section during the Checkout Process.