Erlaubnis zur Mitnahme von Schusswaffen oder Munition in die, durch die oder aus der Bundesrepublik Deutschland Erteilung

If you want to temporarily take weapons or ammunition from Germany abroad, temporarily take them to Germany or take them through Germany, you need a permit.

In order to be allowed to take weapons into Germany, you must prove your need, your reliability under weapons law, your personal suitability and expertise. If you are a citizen of an EU member state as well as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland, the European firearms pass is sufficient proof. If you are a citizen of a third country, you can provide evidence in the form of meaningful official documents from your home country with a German translation. If, as a citizen of a third country, you are unable to provide information on weapons and ammunition when applying, you must do so at the latest when entering the country.

You must always state the reason why you want to bring weapons and ammunition to Germany temporarily, for example an invitation to hunt, to a shooting competition or to a traditional event.

If you are applying for a shooting team, for example, you can enter the names of all participants on a separate sheet and enclose it with the application. The permit will then be issued for all applicants together.

You do not need a permit if you come 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 shooter up to 3 single-shot or repeating long guns and the corresponding ammunition

want to take with you to Germany. However, the weapons you are taking with you must be entered in your European Firearms Pass. As a citizen of a third country, you do not have to prove your age of majority and expert knowledge in these cases.

You do not need a European Firearms Pass if you are a sports marksman or a traditional marksman and want to take certain weapons with you from Austria to Bavaria or vice versa.

You also do not need a permit to take weapons and ammunition to Germany if you are

• take weapons and ammunition with you for which you have permission to acquire and possess (Waffenbesitzkarte - WBK),
• carry signal weapons and the corresponding ammunition on board ships for reasons of safety, or
• carry weapons and ammunition on board a ship or aircraft that are permanently kept under lock and key in Germany. These weapons and ammunition must be reported immediately to the competent authority and must be re-exported from Germany within one month at the latest.

If you wish to take weapons and ammunition from Germany to an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland, you will require

• a permit to acquire and possess weapons and ammunition (Waffenbesitzkarte - WBK),
• a European firearms pass in which the weapons you wish to take with you are registered
  as well as
• the consent of the country to which you intend to take the weapons and ammunition, or credible proof that no permission is required.

You must also ensure the safe transport of the weapons and ammunition. For this purpose, you can also hire a forwarding agent. Before taking them with you, you should inform yourself about the conditions of the state under which the taking is permitted or not permitted.

If you want to take weapons and ammunition from Germany to a third country, you do not need a German permit. Here, too, you should inform yourself about the conditions of the state under which the transport is permitted or not permitted.

• Identity card or passport (copy)
• if brought to Germany from EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Iceland
  • European firearms pass (copy)
• if brought to Germany from a third country
  • official documents with German translation as proof of need, reliability, personal suitability, expertise
• if brought from Germany to an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Iceland
  • European firearms pass (copy)
  • Weapons possession card (WBK) (copy)
  • Consent of the state (if required) or proof that no consent is required

If you want to take weapons and ammunition to Germany, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must prove the need why you want to take weapons and ammunition.
• You must be of legal age.
• You must be reliable in terms of weapons law. This means that possible convictions must be longer than 10 years and memberships in organizations banned in Germany must be longer than 5 years ago.
• You must be personally suitable. This means that you must be legally competent, you must not be addicted to alcohol or debilitated.
• You must have sufficient expertise to handle weapons and ammunition.

You must apply for permission to carry firearms or ammunition at the competent weapons authority. Submit the application together with the required documents.

The firearms authority will grant you permission if you meet the necessary requirements.

• Permission to take firearms or ammunition into, through or out of the Federal Republic of Germany Issuance.
• Carrying means temporarily taking firearms and ammunition to another country, not a permanent transfer, export or import.
• No permit required for bringing weapons and ammunition into Germany from an EU member state, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland (however, European firearms pass with corresponding entry required)
  • as a hunter with up to 3 long guns and the corresponding ammunition,
  • as a sport shooter with up to 6 firearms and the corresponding ammunition,
  • as a traditional shooter with up to 3 single-shot or repeating long guns and the corresponding ammunition.
    
    For citizens from third countries applies in this case: Proof of age and expertise not required.
• No permit required to bring into Germany, if
  • Weapons and ammunition are registered in the permit for the acquisition and possession of weapons and ammunition (WBK),
  • signal weapons and the associated ammunition are carried on board ships for reasons of safety,
  • weapons and ammunition are carried on board a ship or aircraft which are permanently kept under lock and key in Germany. These weapons and ammunition must be reported immediately to the competent authority and must be re-exported from Germany within one month at the latest.
• When taking weapons and ammunition from Germany to an EU member state or Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland:
  • European firearms pass required, in which the weapons and ammunition are registered, as well as permission to acquire and possess these weapons and ammunition (weapons possession card - WBK),
  • if necessary, a permit from the state to which the weapons and ammunition are to be taken, or credible proof that a permit to take them is not required,
  • guarantee of safe transport of weapons and ammunition, possibility of commissioning a forwarding agent.
• Carriage of certain weapons between Bavaria and Austria does not require a European firearms pass for sport shooters in accordance with an international treaty.
• Taking weapons and ammunition to a third country does not require a German weapons permit. However, it is recommended to inform oneself in advance about the regulations of the third country with regard to taking along weapons and ammunition.
• Bringing weapons and ammunition to Germany is permitted if the need, reliability under weapons law, personal suitability and expertise are proven.
  • For citizens of EU member states, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, the European firearms pass is sufficient proof.
  • Citizens from third countries can present official documents with a German translation as proof.
  • Citizens from third countries can also provide information on weapons and ammunition only upon entry, not yet required when applying.
• Reasons must be given for bringing weapons and ammunition to Germany, e.g. participation in a hunting or shooting competition. The invitation stating the date and place of the event is sufficient as proof.
• The application can also be made for a whole team. For this purpose, all members must be indicated, for example, on an additional sheet. The permit will then be issued for the whole team.
• Responsible: Weapons authority

Weapons Agency

Weapons Agency