You require a firearms trading license for the commercial or independent trade in firearms or ammunition. You can obtain this from the weapons authority responsible for your place of business.

The arms trade also includes

• lending,
• auctioning,
• renting,
• pledging,
• safekeeping or
• transportation of weapons and ammunition.

The arms trade permit can be restricted to certain types of firearms and ammunition.

The permit can be obtained by

• natural persons (sole proprietorship)
• legal entities. For this purpose, the responsible managing director or the individual personally liable partners each require their own permit.

If the arms trade is to be operated by a deputy or if a person is to be appointed to manage a branch office or a dependent branch office, you will require a deputy permit. You can also apply for this from the relevant firearms authority. Deputies receive this permit under the same conditions.

These requirements include, among other things, proof

• age of majority,
• reliability,
• personal suitability and
• specialist knowledge.

Your permit will lose its validity if you have not started the activity within one year of the permit being issued or if you have not exercised it for one year. The deadlines can be extended for special reasons.