Description
Description
If your permit to temporarily take firearms or ammunition out of Germany to another country, or to temporarily bring them into Germany or transport them through Germany, is no longer valid, you must have it renewed. You may renew your permit multiple times, each time for a period of 1 year.
To be permitted to bring firearms into Germany, you must demonstrate your need for them, your reliability under firearms law, 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 can list the names of all participants on a separate sheet and attach it to the application. The permit will then be issued jointly for all applicants.
You do not need a permit if you are traveling 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 must be listed in your European Firearms Pass. As a citizen of a third country, you are not required to prove your legal age or 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 (Firearms 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 possession 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 proof 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 familiarize yourself with the conditions of the destination country regarding whether such transport is permitted or prohibited.
If you intend to transport 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 such transport is permitted before taking the firearms and ammunition with you.