Weapons trading license

If you want to buy and sell firearms or ammunition commercially, you need a firearms trading license.

Permission to trade in firearms or ammunition on a commercial basis or independently as part of a commercial enterprise must be applied for from the weapons authority responsible for the place of business. It can be restricted to certain types of firearms and ammunition. The arms trade may also include lending, auctioning, renting, pledging, storing or having transported.

The permit is only issued for a natural person (sole proprietorship). In the case of legal entities, the responsible managing director or the individual personally liable partners each require a permit.

If the arms trade is to be carried out by a deputy or if a person is appointed to manage a branch office or a dependent branch, then a deputy permit must be applied for.

The permit expires if the activity is not commenced within one year of the permit being issued or has not been exercised for one year. The deadlines can be extended for special reasons.

Please contact the weapons authority responsible for the location of your business premises in the district administration or in the administration of the independent city.

• Identity card or passport
• Proof of specialist knowledge (for persons who manage the business, a branch or a dependent branch office themselves)
• Business registration
• Non-EU citizens: a residence permit that entitles the holder to pursue a self-employed occupation
• Proof of need for the issue of a gun trade permit
• Companies that are entered in the commercial register: Extract from the commercial register
• Proof of the safe storage of weapons and ammunition by means of appropriate certificates or safety reports

• You are at least 18 years old.
• You have the required reliability.
  The required reliability requires above all that you have no criminal record.
• You have the personal aptitude.
  For example, persons who are suspected to be legally incompetent, addicted to alcohol or mentally ill do not have the required personal aptitude.
• They have the necessary specialist knowledge.
  You can obtain the necessary proof of specialist knowledge of the most important firearms and firearms regulations, the type, construction and handling of common firearms and ammunition by taking an examination. You are deemed to have the specialist knowledge if you meet the requirements for registering a gunsmith's business in the register of craftsmen.
• You can prove that you have a need for a firearms trading license.
• You wish to trade in firearms commercially or independently as part of a commercial enterprise.

Representatives must meet the same requirements as you.

You must apply in writing for a firearms dealer's license. The application must be submitted together with the required documents to the weapons authority responsible for the place of business.

If you require a deputy during your absence, you must apply for a deputy permit for this person.

As a rule, the applicant and the intended deputy must appear in person.

according to time spent plus at least EUR 22 surcharge or according to time spent if a reliability and suitability check is to be carried out