If you wish to acquire and possess firearms and/or ammunition that require a permit in order to test, evaluate, or examine them, you must apply for a permit from the competent firearms authority.

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, where the 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. All firearms that are not alarm, irritant, or signal weapons bearing the PTB mark in the district require a permit. A detailed list of firearms for which a permit is required for acquisition and possession 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 subject to a permit, you must

• be at least 25 years old 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 mail the original to the competent firearms authority (a copy or email will not be accepted).

Need

To be permitted to acquire and possess firearms and ammunition, you must prove to the competent firearms authority that you work as an expert. You can provide this proof, for example, by submitting a statement of employment.

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 resulting in a final sentence of at least 1 year of imprisonment and, 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 firearms or ammunition, handle them improperly, fail to store them carefully, 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 dependent on 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 may 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 relevant training course. The course consists of both a theoretical and a practical component. At the end of the course, you will take an exam before an authorized examination board. If you pass the exam, you will receive a certificate specifying the types of firearms and ammunition for which you have acquired this certification.

Safe Storage

You must store firearms and ammunition securely. This generally means that only you, as the authorized holder, have access to them—for example, by always carrying the key with you. If you do not store your firearms and ammunition safely, you are committing an administrative offense for which a fine of up to 10,000 euros may be imposed. Furthermore, this may cast doubt on your reliability under firearms law, and your firearms ownership 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 subject to licensing must be stored in a sheet-steel cabinet or container with a swivel-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 grade 0 according to EN 1143-1 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 three long guns in buildings that are not permanently inhabited, such as a hunting cabin or a weekend home. However, for this you will 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 at a firearms dealer. You must provide appropriate documentation for this.