If you, as an individual, wish to acquire and possess firearms and/or ammunition that require a permit, you must apply for a permit from the competent firearms authority. As a general rule, you always need a permit to acquire and possess firearms and ammunition.

In general, firearms are objects intended for attack or defense, signaling, hunting, long-distance injection, marking, for sports or games, and in which projectiles are propelled through a barrel or in which solid objects are fired at a target, whose propulsive energy is generated by muscle power or another energy source and can be stored or retained by a locking mechanism (for example, crossbows, arrow-firing devices).

A distinction is made between firearms requiring a permit and those that do not. To carry firearms that do not require a permit, you need a Small Firearms License (see further information). All firearms that are not alarm, irritant, or signal weapons bearing the PTB mark within the district are classified as requiring a permit. A detailed list of firearms for which you need a Firearms Possession Card to acquire and possess can be found in Appendix 2 of the Firearms Act.

It is recommended that you familiarize yourself thoroughly with the provisions of firearms law before submitting your application.

To obtain a permit to acquire and possess firearms and ammunition that require a permit, you must

• be of the required age and
• demonstrate your need,
• your reliability under firearms law,
• your personal suitability,
• your expertise in handling firearms and ammunition, and
• the safe storage of firearms and ammunition.

Age

If you are under 25 years of age, the competent firearms authority may require you to submit a medical or psychological evaluation/certificate from a specialist regarding your mental fitness. You must pay for the report or certificate yourself and send the original by mail to the competent firearms authority (a copy or email will not be accepted).

If you are a hunter, you do not need such an assessment or certificate.

As a sport shooter, you must be at least 18 years old. You are then authorized to possess firearms up to a caliber of 5.6 mm lfB (.22 l. r.) for rimfire ammunition with a muzzle energy of no more than 200 joules (J) and single-shot long guns with smooth barrels of caliber 12 or smaller.

For other firearms, the minimum age for sport shooters is 21, provided you can submit a medical or psychological evaluation/certificate from a specialist confirming your mental fitness.

Justification

To be permitted to acquire and possess firearms and ammunition, you must provide the competent firearms authority with a credible reason (need). A credible reason is generally recognized if

• you are a hunter and hold a hunting license (daily or annual). If, as a hunter, you wish to acquire and possess only long guns and two handguns, no further proof of need is required.
• You have been a member for at least one year of a sports club that is affiliated with a recognized shooting sports association and in which shooting with such firearms is permitted in accordance with approved shooting sports regulations. The shooting sports regulations are approved by the Federal Office of Administration. In addition, you must provide proof that you have participated in training on a regular basis (at least once a month or at least 18 times within a year).
• Your life is at significant risk
• You can credibly demonstrate other reasons why you wish to acquire and possess firearms and ammunition.

Reliability Under Firearms Law

You may be deemed reliable under firearms law, among other things,

1. if, within the last 10 years, you have not been convicted of a crime punishable by a prison sentence of at least 1 year, and if, within the last 10 years, you have not been a member of or supported a prohibited organization.
2. if it cannot be assumed that you will misuse or handle firearms or ammunition improperly, fail to store these items securely, or transfer them to persons who are not authorized to possess them.
3. if, within the last 5 years, you have not been placed in preventive police custody more than once with a judge’s authorization due to violent behavior.
4. if you have not repeatedly or grossly violated firearms laws.

Personal Suitability

You may be deemed personally unsuitable, among other reasons, if

1. you are legally incompetent.
2. You are addicted to alcohol or other intoxicating substances, mentally ill, or mentally disabled.
3. you suffer from serious illnesses, such as brain injuries, or physical impairments, such as amputations or severe visual impairment.
4. it can be assumed that you are unable to handle weapons or ammunition with care or properly, or that you are unable to store these items securely, or that there is a concrete risk that you could endanger others or yourself.

Expertise

To be permitted to acquire and possess firearms and ammunition, you must demonstrate that you are capable of handling them properly. To obtain the required proficiency in handling firearms and ammunition, you must complete a corresponding training course. The course consists of a theoretical and a practical component. At the end of the course, you will take an exam before an authorized examination board. Once you have passed the exam, you will receive a certificate specifying the types of firearms and ammunition for which you have acquired the required expertise. You may also obtain this certification only for the specific firearms and ammunition you intend to purchase and possess.

You do not need to take a separate proficiency exam if you

• have passed the hunting exam or an equivalent exam, or
• have passed a journeyman’s examination in the gunsmith trade, or
• have worked for at least 3 years as a full-time employee in the firearms and ammunition trade.

In these cases, you only need to submit appropriate documentation.

Safe Storage

You must store firearms and ammunition securely. This generally means that only you, as the authorized person, have access to the firearms and ammunition—for example, by always carrying the key with you. If you do not store your firearms and ammunition securely, you are committing an administrative offense for which a fine of up to 10,000 euros may be imposed. In addition, this may cast doubt on your reliability under firearms law, and your firearms possession card may be revoked.

When submitting your application, you must provide details regarding both the storage location and the container in which you intend to store your firearms and ammunition. As a general rule, you can follow these guidelines:

• Ammunition requiring a permit must be stored in a sheet-steel cabinet or container with a swing-bolt lock.
• To store long guns and handguns subject to licensing, as well as ammunition subject to licensing, you need a gun safe. The type of gun safe you need depends on the number and type of firearms and/or ammunition you intend to purchase and own.
  • In a gun safe with resistance class 0 according to EN 1143-1 and weighing up to 200 kilograms, you may store an unlimited number of long guns, up to 5 handguns, and ammunition.
  • In a gun safe with resistance class 0 according to EN 1143-1 and weighing over 200 kilograms, you may store an unlimited number of long guns, up to 10 handguns, and ammunition.
  • In a gun safe with resistance class 1 according to EN 1143-1, you may store an unlimited number of long guns and handguns, as well as ammunition.
• The following rules generally apply to where you may place the gun safe:
  • If you live in an apartment building, you are not permitted to place the gun safe in the basement if each resident has only a so-called “basement storage cubicle” that is secured solely by a door with a padlock.
  • You may also store up to 3 long guns in buildings that are not permanently occupied, such as a hunting cabin or a weekend home. However, for this purpose, you need a gun safe with resistance class 1.
  • If you live in a shared household with another gun owner, you may store the firearms in a shared gun safe.
• As a hunter, you may also temporarily have your long guns stored in another hunter’s gun safe. However, this period should be limited; permanent storage is not permitted. For permanent storage, you should purchase your own gun safe to which only you have access.
• It is also permitted to store firearms and ammunition with a firearms dealer. You must provide appropriate documentation for this.