Genehmigung nach dem Gesetz über die Kontrolle von Kriegswaffen Erteilung für Beförderung innerhalb des Bundesgebietes

You require a permit to transport war weapons within the Federal Republic of Germany.

If you wish to have war weapons transported on the territory of the Federal Republic of Germany, you require a permit from the Federal Government.

You need the permit for transportation from place to place outside of closed areas, including

• import
• export
• transit

In the case of the export of war weapons, an export license is also required in accordance with the Foreign Trade and Payments Act, which is issued by the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA).

You can

• submit an individual application or
• apply for a permanent license. This is possible for a specific period of time and with or without restriction to a specific quantity or type.

You are not entitled to be granted a license.

In individual cases, the War Weapons Control Act provides for a general permit. This means that in these cases transportation is approved without you having to submit an application beforehand. Please check whether the provisions for a General License apply in your case. The requirements for a general authorization are, for example

• The consignor or consignee is a company based in Germany or the European Union (EU) and is certified on the basis of corresponding legal regulations
• the import is made to the Bundeswehr
• another EU member state has authorized the shipment of the war weapons and they remain within the EU

General licenses do not apply to the transportation of

• anti-personnel mines or
• cluster munitions.

The so-called War Weapons List as an annex to the War Weapons Control Act specifies which military equipment is a war weapon. War weapons include, for example

• Combat aircraft,
• tanks,
• fully automatic small arms or
• warships.

Depending on the area, different authorities are responsible for your request:

• for transportation by companies and with non-military personnel: Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK)
• for the Federal Armed Forces or by or on behalf of foreign armed forces: Federal Ministry of Defense (BMVg)
• for the customs administration: Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF)
• for authorities responsible for maintaining public safety / law enforcement, authorities with security tasks, e.g. police: Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs (BMI)

If the applicant and the permit holder are not identical:

• Authorization to submit the application

For exports and transits:

• As a rule, a governmental end-user certificate
• Import permit from the recipient country, if applicable

For transits additionally:

• Export license or export permit from the exporting country

In individual cases, the Federal Government may request further documents from you, for example proof of end-use or import licenses.

You have no right to the granting of a permit. This may be withheld in particular if:

• there is reason to believe that the granting of a license would be contrary to the interests of the Federal Republic of Germany in maintaining good relations with other countries
• the war weapons are used in a peace-disturbing act, in particular in a war of aggression
• there is reason to believe that the granting of the license would violate the Federal Republic's obligations under international law or jeopardize their fulfillment
• the following persons are not Germans within the meaning of Article 116 of the Basic Law and have their domicile or habitual residence in the Federal Republic of Germany or there is reason to assume that they do not possess the necessary reliability:
  • the applicant or his/her legal representative
  • in the case of legal entities: the authorized representative body or a member of such a body
  • in the case of commercial partnerships: a partner authorized to represent the company
  • the head of a business or part of a business of the applicant

You can also apply for transportation by forwarding agents or airlines:

• These freight forwarders must have the international permits or licenses required for road transport in Germany under the Road Haulage Act (GüKG). The permit is then issued subject to special conditions. However, in the case of transit of war weapons from abroad through the federal territory to another country, all shipping companies must be named in the permit certificate.
• Airlines must be authorized to operate in the airspace of the Federal Republic of Germany.

You can apply for a permit to transport war weapons online or by post.

Online application:

• Call up the online application on the federal portal. This will guide you step by step through the necessary information, which you can enter electronically.
• Upload the required documents as a file (in the file formats PDF, JPEG, PNG, maximum 10 megabytes per file) and send the application.
• The licensing authority will check your application and may request further documents or evidence from you.
• You will receive a notice of approval or rejection.
• You transport the war weapons without delay and inform us immediately of any unforeseen delays in transportation.

Application by post:

You can submit the application informally.

• Your application must contain the following information in particular. It is not sufficient for the data to be evident only from accompanying documents, consignment notes or other documents.
  • Name and address of the applicant
  • Name and address of the sender
  • Name and address of the recipient
  • Designation of the war weapons
  • War weapons list number: Please enter the classification number using the War Weapons List
  • Number of items or weight: Enter the exact number of items for each type of weapon; for ammunition, enter the caliber
  • Name and address of the carrier: airline, shipping company, railroad, other transportation companies and self-carriage
  • Purpose of transportation
  • Means of transportation: e.g. airplane, ship, railroad, truck
  • Place of dispatch and destination: precise details of which transport companies are transporting the war weapons within Germany and on which routes. For example: transportation from Munich to Frankfurt by company A, from Frankfurt to Hamburg by company B, from Hamburg by shipping company C (direct route)
  • Period of transportation
• For applications for export transportation: A signature of the person responsible for export is required.
• Indicate in your application whether the following persons are German within the meaning of Article 116 of the German Basic Law and have their domicile or habitual residence in Germany:
  • the applicant or their legal representative
  • in the case of legal entities: the authorized representative body or a member of such a body
  • in the case of commercial partnerships: a partner authorized to represent the company
  • the head of a business or part of a business of the applicant
• The licensing authority will check your application and, if necessary, request further documents or evidence from you.
• You will receive a notice of approval or rejection.
• You transport the war weapons without delay and inform the authorities immediately of any unforeseen delays in transportation.

There is no deadline.

However, please submit your application as early as possible.

You must complete the transportation of war weapons without delay. It is assumed that transportation within Germany will be completed within 5 working days, even in unfavourable cases. The carrier's dispositions must be based on this.

Should any unforeseen delays occur during transportation, you must inform the responsible licensing authority immediately.

There are no indications or special features.

• Administrative court action

• Authorization under the War Weapons Control Act Issuance for transport within the federal territory
• Companies must obtain a permit for the transportation of war weapons on federal territory
• War weapons include, for example
  • combat aircraft,
  • tanks,
  • fully automatic small arms or
  • warships;
• Authorization also required for import, export, transit
• Individual authorization: required before each transport operation
• Application possible online and informally by post
• General authorization: under certain conditions in accordance with the War Weapons Control Act, transport is authorized without an application
• Requirements apply
• Responsible:
  • for transportation by companies and with non-military personnel: Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK)
  • for the Bundeswehr or by or on behalf of foreign armed forces: Federal Ministry of Defense (BMVg)
  • for the customs administration: Federal Ministry of Finance (BMF)
  • for authorities responsible for maintaining public safety / law enforcement, authorities with security tasks, e.g. police: Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home Affairs (BMI)