Select your location for location specific information:
Weapons, e.g. firearms, certain knives, swords, defense spray, etc. are divided into different categories under the Weapons Act. Handling them - acquiring, possessing, carrying, shooting, transporting, transferring, manufacturing, handling, trading and processing, etc. - is either free, subject to an age requirement, subject to authorization or generally prohibited. The acquisition and possession of ammunition is similarly regulated. If you are in any doubt, please contact your local administrative authority (district office or city).
As a rule, only persons over the age of 18 are permitted to handle weapons or ammunition. There are exceptions, e.g. when shooting on approved shooting ranges under supervision. The minimum age for the purchase and possession of large-caliber weapons is generally 21 years for sport shooters. To purchase large-caliber firearms, persons between the ages of 18 and 25 must also provide a medical-psychological report on their personal suitability. Hunters are exempt from this requirement. If you want to handle weapons or ammunition, in most cases you will need a weapons permit from your district administrative authority. This permit is issued on application, e.g. in the form of a weapons possession card, a weapons license, a shooting permit, a manufacturing and trading permit, etc. The prerequisites for the issue of these permits are generally that you are reliable and physically fit, can credibly demonstrate a need, have the necessary expertise and, in some cases, have appropriate liability insurance.
Reliability is generally given if you have previously behaved in accordance with the law. A need may exist for sport shooters, hunters, gun collectors and people who are demonstrably at considerable risk. The expertise can be obtained from state authorities, private institutions (e.g. sports clubs) or during training to become a hunter.
If you own firearms or ammunition, you must ensure that these weapons are stored safely. This is to prevent firearms or ammunition from going missing or third parties, especially children and young people, from taking these items without authorization.
Further information can be found in the corresponding description of the service (see "Related topics").
If you want to take your firearms with you within the European Union (EU) or to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, you will need a European firearms pass.
If you wish to acquire and possess weapons and/or ammunition that require a permit, you must apply for a permit from the relevant weapons authority.
If you wish to carry alarm, irritant and signal weapons with the approval mark of the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) in public, you must first apply for a small firearms license.
If you acquire a firearm that requires a permit or transfer it to someone else, you must notify the competent authority within two weeks.
Do you want to permanently export weapons or ammunition from Germany to other countries, permanently import them into Germany or transport them through Germany? Then you need a permit.
If you want to buy and sell firearms or ammunition, you need a firearms trading license.
If you want to manufacture, process or repair firearms or ammunition, you need a firearms manufacturing license.
If you want to carry a firearm in public, you must first apply for a firearms license.