Apply for authorisation to permanently transfer firearms or ammunition into, through or out of the Federal Republic of Germany

A licence to transport weapons is issued by the weapons authority - these are the administrative districts and the independent city of Dessau-Roßlau as well as the respective police directorate instead of the independent cities of Halle and Magdeburg. You can also obtain information there about the documents and forms you need to bring with you.

Import to Germany

If you wish to permanently import weapons and ammunition into Germany, you must fulfil the following requirements:

• The recipient must have a firearms possession card (WBK) that authorises him/her to acquire and possess these weapons.
• If the recipient and transporter are not the same, then the transporter also requires a firearms possession licence (WBK), which authorises him to acquire and possess these weapons, but not the commercial carrier
• You need an export licence (if required) (when importing from a member state of the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland)

Transit through Germany

If you wish to transport weapons and ammunition through Germany, you must fulfil the following requirements:

• The transporter must have a firearms possession card (WBK) that authorises him to acquire and possess these weapons and ammunition.
• You need an export and/or import licence (if required) (for member states of the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland)

Export from Germany

If you wish to permanently export weapons and ammunition from Germany, you must fulfil the following requirements:

• The transporter must have a firearms possession card (WBK) that authorises him to acquire and possess these weapons. The sender and transporter may be the same person.
• You need an import licence (if required) (if exporting to a member state of the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland).

• Identity card or passport (copy)
• Import to Germany
  • Import from a member state of the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Iceland
    • Weapon ownership card (copy) of the recipient and/or the transporter
    • Consent of the state (if required) or proof that no consent is required
  • Import from a third country (other countries)
    • Weapon ownership card (copy) of the recipient and/or the transporter
• Transit through Germany
  • Transit through Germany from a member state of the European Union (EU), Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Iceland
    • Weapon ownership card (copy) of the transporter
    • Consent of the state (if required) or proof that no consent is required
  • Transit through Germany from a third country
    • Weapon ownership card (copy) of the transporter
• Export from Germany
  • Weapon ownership card (copy) of the transporter
  • Consent of the state (if required) or proof that no consent is required

• § Section 29 of the Weapons Act (WaffG)
• § Section 29 General Weapons Act Ordinance (AWaffV)

• Authorisation to bring firearms or ammunition into, through or out of the Federal Republic of Germany Issue
• Transfer means taking weapons and ammunition to another country permanently or for retention with the aim of changing possession
• Transfer to Germany:
  • For the transfer of weapons and ammunition from an EU Member State, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland
    • Weapons licence required
    • Export licence of the consignor country or credible assurance that none is required
    • Transporter and recipient require authorisation to acquire and possess the weapons and ammunition to be exported (weapons possession card - WBK)
  • Shipper and carrier or recipient and carrier can be the same person
  • Transport can be carried out by a commercial transporter who does not need to have a licence to acquire and possess the weapons and ammunition to be exported (weapons possession card - WBK)
• Transport through Germany
  • Transit of weapons and ammunition through Germany from an EU Member State, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland to another EU Member State, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland
    • Weapons licence required
    • Export licence of the consignor country or credible assurance that none is required
    • Transporter requires authorisation to acquire and possess the weapons and ammunition to be exported (weapons possession card - WBK)
  • Transport can be carried out by a commercial transporter who does not need to have a licence to acquire and possess the weapons and ammunition to be exported (weapons possession card - WBK)
• Export from Germany
  • No authorisation under firearms law for the transfer of weapons and ammunition to a third country, i.e. not to an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland, other authorisations may be required, e.g. under the Foreign Trade and Payments Act (AWG)
  • For the transfer of weapons and ammunition to an EU Member State, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland
    • Weapons licence required
    • Import authorisation from the recipient country or credible assurance that none is required
    • Transporter requires authorisation to acquire and possess the weapons and ammunition to be exported (weapons possession card - WBK)
  • Shipper and carrier or recipient and carrier can be the same person
  • Transport can be carried out by a commercial transporter who does not need to have a licence to acquire and possess the weapons and ammunition to be exported (weapons possession card - WBK)

• Responsible: Weapons authority