Weapons manufacturing license

If you wish to manufacture, process or repair firearms or ammunition on a commercial basis, you require a firearms manufacturing license.

The license to manufacture, process or repair 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 may be restricted to certain types of firearms and ammunition.

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 gun manufacturing business is to be operated by a deputy or if a person is appointed to manage a branch office or a dependent branch, 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 time limits may be extended for special reasons.

In Hesse, the district or independent city is responsible as the lower weapons authority in whose district the main commercial establishment is located or is to be established.

• Identity card or passport
• Proof of specialist knowledge (for persons who manage the business, a branch or a dependent branch office themselves)
• Business registration
• in the case of craft-based operations: Proof of entry in the trade register
• Non-EU citizens: a residence permit authorizing the exercise of self-employment
• Proof of need for the issue of the firearms permit
• Proof of 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 necessary specialist knowledge if you meet the requirements for registration of a gunsmith's business in the register of craftsmen.
• You can prove that you need a gun manufacturing license.
• You wish to manufacture firearms commercially or independently as part of a commercial enterprise.

Substitutes must meet the same requirements as you.

The permit may be refused if you are not a German within the meaning of Article 116 of the Basic Law or have neither your habitual residence nor a commercial establishment in Germany.

You must apply in writing for a firearms manufacturing 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.

In Hesse, the administrative cost regulations for the business area of the Ministry of the Interior and Sport (VwKostO-MdIS) of June 7, 2013 under numbers 7171 and 7173 of the list of administrative costs provide for a fee based on time spent.