Waffenherstellung und/oder Waffenhandel (gewerbsmäßig): Stellvertretungserlaubnis beantragen

If you wish to engage in the commercial manufacture or trade of firearms through a representative, you require a representative's permit.

If you wish to engage in the commercial manufacture or trade of firearms through a deputy, you require a deputy permit.

The deputy permit is issued to the permit holder for a specific deputy and can be limited in time. This also applies to the appointment of a person to manage a branch office or a dependent branch.

The permit may be limited to certain types of firearms and ammunition.

• Identity document
• Proof of expertise
• Proof of expertise
• Proof of establishment and of the operating or business premises
• Copy of any firearms manufacturing/trading license already issued, if applicable
• Extract from the commercial register, if applicable

• Applicant and deputy must be over 18 years of age
• Reliability of both the applicant and the deputy
  • The required reliability requires above all that the applicant and the deputy have no criminal record.
• Personal suitability of the applicant and the deputy
  • The required personal aptitude is not possessed by persons who, for example, have facts that justify the assumption that they are legally incompetent, addicted to alcohol or mentally ill.
• Specialist knowledge of the deputy in the case of commercial arms trading
  • If required, the deputy can obtain the necessary proof of specialist knowledge of the most important firearms and firearms regulations and of the type, construction and handling of common firearms and ammunition by taking an examination at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
  • Specialist knowledge is deemed to be given if the deputy fulfills the requirements for the registration of a gunsmith's business in the register of craftsmen.
• Proof of a need
  • The need (a reasonable cause) may arise from a particularly recognizable personal or economic interest, for example as a gun manufacturer or gun dealer.
• Commercial or economic enterprise
  • A permit is only issued if the manufacture or trade in weapons is carried out commercially or independently as part of a commercial enterprise.

Administration fee: EUR 300.00 - 2,000.00

You can obtain the permit as follows:

• You submit an application and submit the required documents.
• The required documents are checked and you may have to submit additional documents.
• Your age, reliability, personal suitability, expertise and need will be checked.
• A decision is made on the firearms license.

If all the necessary requirements are met, a processing time of 3 months should be sufficient.

The permit expires if the permit holder has not commenced the activity within one year of the permit being issued or has not exercised it for one year. The time limits may be extended for special reasons.

The holder of a permit under the Weapons Act must notify the competent authority within two weeks of the commencement and cessation of operations as well as the opening and closing of a branch office or dependent branch.

• Action before the administrative court

• The operation of an arms trade requiring a permit by a deputy requires a permit.
• The same applies to the appointment of a person to manage a branch office or a dependent branch.
• Permission is granted upon application.
• Competent authority: depends on the respective federal state

Weapons authority

Weapons authority

Forms/online services available: Yes
Written form required: No
Informal application possible: No
Personal appearance necessary: No