Apply for a small firearms license

Prerequisites

To obtain the small firearms license you must:

• be at least 18 years old,
• the reliability of weapons law and
• have personal suitability.

Reliability under gun law
They must be reliable under gun 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 one 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.

Personal suitability
They must be personally suitable.
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.

Documents required

• Identity card or passport (copy)

Please note

Due to many telephone inquiries, we are sometimes difficult to reach by telephone.

All firearms and hunting law matters can also be handled in writing
to be edited. Applications as well as hunting and weapons law documents can be sent by post,
Email or by putting it in your home mailbox.

Due to the current situation, processing at the hunting and weapons authority may take several months.
We ask for your patience and will get back to you without being asked.

Procedure

You must apply for the small firearms license from the responsible firearms authority. Submit the application along with the required documents.

The weapons authority issues the small firearms license if you meet the necessary requirements.

Legal basis

§ 10 Paragraph 4 Weapons Act (WaffG)

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


Section 12 Paragraph 3 Weapons Act (WaffG)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/__12.html


§ 4 Paragraph 1 Numbers 1 to 2 Weapons Act (WaffG)

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


Appendix 2 Section 2 2 No. 1.3, Subsection 3 No. 2 and 2.1. Weapons Act (WaffG)

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/waffg_2002/anlage_2.html

If you have blank fire, irritant and signal weapons with PTB approval marks in the circle (so-called SRS weapons) outside

• your own apartment,
• your own business premises or
• your own peaceful property (e.g. your own garden)

If you want to carry it at your fingertips, you will need a small firearms license. However, carrying an SRS weapon is generally prohibited at public events.
The small weapon license is not valid for compressed air weapons, spring-loaded weapons and CO2 weapons that are marked with an “F” symbol.
It is recommended that you find out more about the gun law regulations before submitting your application.
If you carry an SRS weapon with you, you must have the small weapon license with you and be able to identify yourself with an ID card or passport.
The small firearms license is valid for an unlimited period.
You can be denied the small firearms license if you have not lived in Germany within the last 5 years.
If you move to another city or municipality, you do not have to have your small firearms license rewritten.
If you handle weapons and ammunition without the required firearms permit, you could face a fine or imprisonment.