Extend your gun license

Prerequisites

• You must have a valid permit to purchase and possess a weapon (e.g. weapon ownership card).
• You must have a firearms license.
• You must be at least 18 years old.
• You must demonstrate that it is necessary for you to carry weapons in public (need).
• In order to be allowed to carry weapons in public, you must provide a credible reason to the responsible weapons authority. As a rule, it is recognized as a credible reason if:
  • your life is at great risk;
  • You can credibly explain other reasons why you want to carry weapons in public.
• You must prove your reliability under firearms law. You can be considered unreliable under gun law, among other things, if:
  • You have been legally sentenced to a prison sentence of at least 1 year within the last 10 years or have been a member of or supported a banned organization in the last 10 years.
  • It can be assumed that you misuse or handle weapons or ammunition improperly, do not store these items carefully or leave them to people who are not authorized to do so.
  • In the last 5 years you have been in preventive police custody more than once with court approval for violence.
  • You have repeatedly or grossly violated gun laws.
• You must prove your personal suitability. You can be considered personally unsuitable, among other things, if:
  • you are incapacitated.
  • You are addicted to alcohol or other intoxicating substances, mentally ill or debilitated.
  • 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 are unable to store these items carefully or that there is a real risk that you will endanger others or yourself.
• You must have taken out liability insurance that covers personal injury and property damage at a flat rate of 1 million euros.

Documents required

• Identity card or passport (copy)
• Gun ownership card and gun license
• Proof of a need (e.g. proof that you are at risk)
• Proof of liability insurance in the amount of 1 million euros (flat rate for personal injury and property damage)

Please note

To fill out the application more quickly, you can use the NWR identification numbers (NWR-ID):

• Your PersonalNWR-ID (P- or F-NWR-ID) for your personal information
• the permit NWR-ID for the weapons law permit (E-NWR-ID)
• the weapon or weapon part NWR ID (W or T NWR ID).

You will receive the NWR IDs upon request from the responsible weapons authority.

Procedure

You must have your firearms license extended at the responsible firearms authority. Submit the application along with the required documents.

The firearms authority will extend your firearms license if you meet the necessary requirements.

Legal basis

§ 4 Weapons Act (WaffG)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__4.html


§ 10 paragraph 4 sentence 2 Weapons Act (WaffG)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__10.html


§ 36 Weapons Act (WaffG)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__36.html


§ 13 General Weapons Act Ordinance (AWaffV)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/awaffv/__13.html

You will receive the firearms license for a maximum of 3 years. You can have your firearms license extended twice for a maximum of 3 years.
You will receive a firearms license to carry weapons that require a permit. A distinction is made between firearms that require a license and firearms that do not require a license. In order to be able to carry firearms without a license, you need a small firearms license (see further information). A list of weapons that you do not need a permit to purchase and possess can be found in Appendix 2 of the Weapons Act.
It is recommended that you find out more about the gun law regulations before submitting your application.
With the firearms license you are allowed to carry a weapon outside

• your own apartment,
• your own business premises,
• of one's own peaceful property (e.g. one's own garden) and
• a shooting range

to wear. If you carry the weapon with you, you must have the weapon license with you and be able to identify yourself with an ID card or passport.
To get the firearms license you must

• have the appropriate age and
• your need,
• Your reliability under firearms law,
• your personal suitability,
• Your expertise in handling weapons and ammunition,
• liability insurance covering personal injury and property damage in the amount of 1 million euros, as well
• the safe storage of weapons and ammunition

prove.
Whether you (continue to) meet the requirements will be checked again during the extension.
If you move to another city or municipality, you do not have to have your firearms license changed.
If you handle weapons and ammunition without the required firearms permit, you could face a fine or imprisonment.