Description
Description
If you wish to temporarily take firearms or ammunition from Germany to another country, or to temporarily bring them into Germany or transport them through Germany, you need a permit. To be allowed to bring firearms into Germany, you must demonstrate your need for them, your reliability under firearms laws, your personal suitability, and your expertise. If you are a citizen of an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Iceland, the European Firearms Pass is sufficient proof. As a citizen of a non-EU country, you can provide the required proof through relevant official documents from your home country, accompanied by a German translation. If, as a citizen of a non-EU country, you are unable to provide information regarding firearms and ammunition when submitting your application, you must do so no later than upon entry into Germany.
You must always state the reason why you wish to temporarily bring firearms and ammunition into Germany, such as an invitation to go hunting, participate in a shooting competition, or attend a traditional event.
If you are submitting the application on behalf of a shooting sports team, for example, you may list the names of all participants on a separate sheet and attach it to the application. Permission will then be granted jointly for all applicants.
You do not need a permit if you are coming from an EU member state, as well as from Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Iceland
- as a hunter, up to 3 long guns and the corresponding ammunition,
- as a sport shooter, up to 6 firearms and the corresponding ammunition, and
- as a traditional marksman, up to 3 single-shot or repeating long guns and the corresponding ammunition
into Germany. However, the firearms you are bringing with you must be listed in your European Firearms Pass. As a citizen of a third country, you do not need to prove that you are of legal age or have the required expertise in these cases.
You do not need a European Firearms Pass if, as a sport shooter or traditional shooter, you wish to bring certain firearms from Austria to Bavaria or vice versa.
You also do not need a permit to bring firearms and ammunition into Germany if you
- carry firearms and ammunition for which you have a permit to acquire and possess (Firearm Possession Card—WBK),
- carry signal firearms and the corresponding ammunition on board ships for safety reasons, or
- are carrying firearms and ammunition on board a ship or aircraft that are kept under lock and key at all times in Germany. These firearms and ammunition must be reported to the competent authority immediately and must be re-exported from Germany within one month at the latest.
If you wish to take firearms and ammunition from Germany to an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Iceland, you need
- a permit to acquire and possess firearms and ammunition (firearms ownership card—WBK),
- a European Firearms Pass in which the firearms you intend to take with you are registered as well as
- the approval of the country to which you intend to take the firearms and ammunition, or credible evidence that no authorization is required.
In addition, you must ensure the safe transport of the firearms and ammunition. You may also hire a shipping company for this purpose. Before transporting the firearms and ammunition, you should inform yourself about the conditions of the destination country under which transport is permitted or prohibited.
If you wish to take firearms and ammunition from Germany to a third country, you do not need a German permit. Here, too, you should familiarize yourself with the conditions of the destination country regarding whether or not the transport is permitted before you travel.