If you have a weapon outside
- your own home,
- your own business premises,
- your own pacified property (e.g. your own garden) or
- a shooting range
you generally require a permit (firearms license). Exceptions apply in the cases specified in § 12 Para. 3 WaffG (e.g. transportation of weapons that are not ready for firing or access on the way to hunting or to a shooting range and back). If you only wish to carry alarm, irritant or signal weapons with PTB approval marks in public, you only require a small firearms license (see "Related topics"), the issue of which is subject to less stringent requirements.
It is recommended that you inform yourself in detail about the regulations of firearms law before submitting your application.
If you carry the weapon with you, you must have the firearms license with you and be able to identify yourself with an identity card or passport.
You will receive the firearms license for a maximum of 3 years. You can have the firearms license extended twice for a maximum of 3 years.
You may be refused a firearms license if you have not lived in Germany within the last 5 years.
If you move to another town or municipality, you do not have to have your firearms license transferred.
If you handle weapons and ammunition without the required firearms license, you could face a fine or imprisonment.
