Weapons and ammunition - apply for authorisation to carry
Service description
In order to be allowed to take weapons to Germany, you must prove your need, your reliability under firearms law, your personal suitability and expertise. If you are a citizen of an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland, the European firearms pass is sufficient proof. If you are a citizen of a non-EU country, you can provide evidence in the form of meaningful official documents from your home country with a German translation. If you are a citizen of a third country and are unable to provide information on weapons and ammunition when submitting your application, you must do so upon entry at the latest.
You must always state the reason why you want to take weapons and ammunition to Germany temporarily, for example an invitation to hunt, to a shooting competition or to a traditional event.
If you are submitting the application for a shooting team, for example, you can enter the names of all participants on a separate sheet and attach it to the application. The licence will then be issued for all applicants together.
You do not need a licence if you are from an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Iceland.
- as a hunter up to 3 long guns and the corresponding ammunition,
- as a marksman up to 6 firearms and the corresponding ammunition and
- as a traditional shooter up to 3 single-shot or repeating long guns and the corresponding ammunition
to Germany with you. However, the weapons you are taking with you must be entered in your European firearms pass. As a citizen of a third country, you do not have to prove that you are of legal age and have the necessary expertise.
You do not need a European firearms pass if you want to take certain weapons from Austria to Bavaria or vice versa as a marksman or traditional marksman.
You also do not need a permit to bring weapons and ammunition to Germany if you
- take weapons and ammunition with you for which you have a licence to acquire and possess (weapons possession card - WBK),
- carry signalling weapons and the associated ammunition on board ships for safety reasons, or
- carry weapons and ammunition on board a ship or aircraft that are permanently kept under lock and key in Germany. These weapons and ammunition must be reported immediately to the competent authority and must be re-exported from Germany within one month at the latest.
If you want to take weapons and ammunition from Germany to an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland, you need
- authorisation to acquire and possess weapons and ammunition (weapons possession card - WBK),
- a European Firearms Pass listing the weapons you wish to take with
you, and - the consent of the country to which you wish to take the weapons and ammunition or credible proof that no authorisation is required.
You must also ensure the safe transport of the weapons and ammunition. You can also commission a transport company to do this. You should find out about the conditions of the country under which transport is or is not permitted before you take them with you.
If you want to take weapons and ammunition from Germany to a third country, you do not need a German licence. Here, too, you should inform yourself about the conditions of the country under which you are allowed or not allowed to take them with you.
Procedure
You must apply for authorisation to take firearms or ammunition with you to the relevant firearms authority. Submit the application together with the required documents.
The firearms authority will grant you the licence if you fulfil the necessary requirements.
Prerequisites
If you wish to take weapons and ammunition to Germany, you must fulfil the following requirements:
- You must prove that you have a need to carry weapons and ammunition.
- You must be of legal age.
- You must be reliable in terms of firearms law. This means that any convictions must have been handed down more than 10 years ago and membership of organisations banned in Germany more than 5 years ago.
- You must be personally suitable. This means that you must have legal capacity and not be addicted to alcohol or be mentally ill.
- They must have sufficient expertise to handle weapons and ammunition.
Which documents are required?
- Identity card or passport (copy)
- when travelling to Germany from an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Iceland
- European firearms pass (copy)
- when travelling to Germany from a third country
- Official documents with a German translation as proof of requirements, reliability, personal suitability and expertise
- when travelling from Germany to an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Iceland
- European firearms pass (copy)
- Firearms licence (WBK) (copy)
- Consent of the state (if required) or proof that no consent is required
Legal basis
Short text
- Authorisation to take firearms or ammunition into, through or out of the Federal Republic of Germany Issue
- Carriage means temporarily taking weapons and ammunition to another country, not a permanent transfer, export or import
- No authorisation required to bring weapons and ammunition to Germany from an EU member state, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland (however, European firearms pass with corresponding entry required)
- as a hunter with up to 3 long guns and the corresponding ammunition,
- as a sport shooter with up to 6 firearms and the corresponding ammunition,
- as a traditional marksman with up to three single-shot or repeating long guns and the corresponding ammunition. In this case,
the following applies to citizens from third countries: proof of age and expertise is not required.
- No authorisation required for transport to Germany if
- weapons and ammunition are entered in the licence to acquire and possess weapons and ammunition (WBK),
- signalling weapons and the associated ammunition must be carried on board ships for safety reasons,
- weapons and ammunition are carried on board a ship or aircraft that are permanently kept under lock and key in Germany. These weapons and ammunition must be reported immediately to the competent authority and must be re-exported from Germany within one month at the latest.
- When taking weapons and ammunition from Germany to an EU Member State or Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland:
- European firearms pass required, in which the weapons and ammunition are entered, as well as authorisation to acquire and possess these weapons and ammunition (firearms possession card - WBK),
- If applicable, a permit from the country to which the weapons and ammunition are to be taken or credible proof that no permit is required,
- Guarantee of safe transport of weapons and ammunition, commissioning of a forwarding agent possible.
- The transport of certain weapons between Bavaria and Austria does not require a European firearms pass for sport shooters in accordance with an international treaty.
- Taking weapons and ammunition to a third country does not require a German firearms licence. However, it is recommended that you familiarise yourself independently and in advance with the regulations of the third country with regard to taking weapons and ammunition with you.
- Taking weapons and ammunition to Germany is permitted if the need, legal reliability, personal suitability and expertise are proven.
- For citizens of EU member states, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, the European firearms pass is sufficient proof.
- Citizens from third countries can submit official documents with a German translation as proof.
- Citizens from third countries can also only provide information on weapons and ammunition when entering the country, not yet required when submitting the application.
- Reasons must be given for taking weapons and ammunition to Germany, e.g. participation in a hunt or a shooting competition. The invitation stating the date and location of the event is sufficient proof.
- The application can also be submitted for an entire team. To do this, all members must be listed on an additional sheet, for example. Authorisation is then granted for the entire team.
- Responsible: Weapons authority
Typing
3a