Waffen und Munition: Erlaubnis zur Mitnahme beantragen

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 to Germany, you must prove your need, your reliability under firearms law, your personal suitability and your expertise. If you are a citizen of an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland, the European firearms pass is sufficient proof. If you are a citizen of a third country, you can provide proof by means of meaningful official documents from your home country with a German translation. If you are a citizen of a third country and are unable to provide information on weapons and ammunition when submitting your application, you must do so upon entry at the latest.

You must always state the reason why you wish 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 submitting the application for a shooting team, for example, you can enter the names of all participants on a separate sheet and attach it to the application. The permit will then be issued for all applicants together.

You do not require a permit if you are from an EU member state, 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 associated ammunition and
• as a traditional marksman up to 3 single-shot or repeating long guns and the corresponding ammunition

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 that you are of legal age and have the necessary expertise.

You do not need a European firearms pass if you want to take certain weapons from Austria to Bavaria or vice versa as a marksman or traditional marksman.

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

• you are taking weapons and ammunition with you for which you have permission to purchase and possess (weapons possession card - WBK),
• are carrying signal weapons and the associated ammunition on board ships for safety reasons 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 require

• a permit to purchase and possess weapons and ammunition (weapons possession card - WBK),
• a European firearms pass in which the weapons you wish to take with you are entered
  and
• the consent of the country to which you wish to take the weapons and ammunition or credible proof that no permit is required.

You must also ensure the safe transportation of the weapons and ammunition. You can also commission a forwarding agent for this purpose. You should find out about the conditions of the country under which transportation is permitted or not permitted before taking them with you.

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 find out about the conditions of the country under which you are permitted or not permitted to take them with you.

• Identity card or passport (copy)
• When bringing to Germany from an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Iceland
  • European firearms pass (copy)
• when bringing to Germany from a third country
  • Official documents with German translation as proof of requirements, reliability, personal suitability, expertise
• when taking the firearm 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 fulfill the following requirements:

• You must prove the need for why you want to take weapons and ammunition with you.
• You must be of legal age.
• You must be reliable in terms of firearms law. This means that any convictions must have been handed down more than 10 years ago and memberships in organizations banned in Germany more than 5 years ago.
• You must be personally suitable. This means that you must be legally competent and not addicted to alcohol or mentally ill.
• You must have sufficient expertise to handle weapons and ammunition.

You must have permission to carry firearms or ammunitionfrom the competent weapons authority. Submit the application together with the required documents.

The weapons authority will grant you the permit if you meet the necessary requirements.

Please note that the transfer of weapons between certain countries may also require a permit in accordance with foreign trade law, customs law and/or other legal regulations. It is advisable to contact the responsible customs office and the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control before the transfer.

Please also obtain comprehensive information on the legal provisions applicable to the transfer of weapons in other countries, which remain unaffected by the following information, before you travel.

• Granting of permission to take firearms or ammunition into, through or out of the Federal Republic of Germany
• Taking along means temporarily taking weapons and ammunition to another country, not a permanent transfer or export or import
• No permit required for taking weapons and ammunition to 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 the following applies in this case: Proof of age and expertise not required
• No permit required for transportation to 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 safety reasons,
  • 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 entered, as well as permission to acquire and possess these weapons and ammunition (weapons possession card - WBK),
  • If applicable, a permit from the country to which the weapons and ammunition are to be taken or credible proof that no permit is required,
  • Guarantee of safe transportation of the weapons and ammunition, it is possible to commission a forwarding agent.
• The transportation of certain weapons between Bavaria and Austria does not require a European firearms pass for marksmen in accordance with an international treaty.
• Taking weapons and ammunition to a third country does not require a German firearms permit. However, it is recommended that you inform yourself independently and in advance about the regulations of the third country with regard to transportation.
• The transportation of weapons and ammunition to Germany is permitted if proof of need, reliability under weapons law, personal suitability and expertise is provided.
  • For citizens of EU member states, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland, the European firearms pass is sufficient proof.
  • Citizens from third countries can submit official documents with a German translation as proof.
  • Citizens from third countries can also provide information on weapons and ammunition upon entry, but this is not yet required when submitting the application.
• Reasons must be given for bringing weapons and ammunition to Germany, for example participation in a hunt or a shooting competition. The invitation stating the date and location of the event is sufficient proof.
• The application can also be submitted for an entire team. In this case, all members must be listed on an additional sheet, for example. Permission is then granted for the whole team.
• Responsible: Weapons authority

Weapons authority

Weapons authority