Apply for a small firearms licence

You must apply for a small firearms licence from the relevant firearms authority. Submit the application together with the required documents.

The firearms authority will issue a small firearms licence if you fulfil the necessary requirements.

To obtain a small firearms licence, you must

• be at least 18 years old,
• the reliability under firearms law and
• Personal suitability

own.

Reliability under firearms law

They must be reliable in terms of firearms legislation.

You may be deemed unreliable under firearms legislation if, among other things

• you have been sentenced to at least one year's imprisonment within the last 10 years or have been a member of or supported a banned organisation in the last 10 years.
• it can be assumed that you misuse weapons or ammunition or handle them improperly, do not store these items carefully or hand them over to persons who are not authorised to do so.
• you have been in preventive police custody more than once in the last 5 years with judicial authorisation because of violence.
• you have repeatedly or grossly violated the Weapons Act.

Personal suitability

You must be personally suitable.

You may be assessed as personally unsuitable if, among other things

• you are legally incapable.
• you are dependent on alcohol or other intoxicating substances, mentally ill or mentally retarded.
• you suffer from serious illnesses, such as brain injuries, or physical impairments, such as amputations or severe visual impairment.
• it can be assumed that you do not handle weapons or ammunition carefully or properly or that you cannot store these items carefully or that there is a concrete danger that you will endanger others or yourself.

• Identity card or passport (copy)

• § Section 10 of the Weapons Act (WaffG)
• § Section 12 (4) of the Weapons Act (WaffG)
• § Section 4 of the Weapons Act (WaffG)
• Annex 2 Section 2 2 No. 1.3, Subsection 3 No. 2 and 2.1 Weapons Act (WaffG)

• Permit to carry alarm, irritant and signal weapons with PTB approval mark - small firearms licence issued
• Small firearms licence for the concealed carrying of an unlicensed weapon outside
  • your own home
  • of your own business premises
  • your own pacified property (e.g. garden)
  • a shooting range
• No wearing at public events
• Licence-exempt firearms are
  • Firearms with which cartridge ammunition is fired (alarm weapons),
  • Firearms with which irritants or other substances are fired (irritant weapons) or
  • Firearms with which pyrotechnic ammunition is fired (signalling weapons).
• Licence-free weapons marked with the "PTB" approval mark
• Transport of an unlicensed firearm without a small firearms licence only if the firearm
  • is not loaded (not ready to fire) and
  • is in a locked container (not accessible)
• Carrying an unauthorised weapon only with
  • identity card or passport and
  • the small firearms licence
• Permit is valid indefinitely
• Prerequisites:
  • Minimum age: 18 years
  • No previous convictions (reliability under firearms law)
  • No legal incapacity, mental illness or dependence on drugs (personal suitability)
  • Storage of weapons in a locked container
• When moving: no re-registration of the small firearms licence necessary
• Responsible: Weapons authority

Ministry of the Interior, Building and Sport