European firearms pass

If you want to take weapons or ammunition with you in member states of the European Union or states party to the Schengen Convention, you will need a European firearms pass.

If you are entitled to possess weapons or ammunition of category A 1.2 to C and want to take them with you to member states of the European Union or to states party to the Schengen Convention, you need a European firearms pass.

Taking it with you means that you are temporarily carrying the weapon or ammunition on a journey without giving up possession for use across the border.

You can register several weapons (up to ten) in the European Firearms Pass. Whether you need further documents or permits in addition to the European firearms pass depends on the weapons regulations of the respective country to which you want to take the weapons or ammunition.

You therefore need for your journey in addition to the European firearms pass

• Your German gun ownership cards in which your weapons are entered,
• proof of the reason for your trip,
• your identity card or passport,
• documents required according to the regulations of the country visited.

The European Firearms Pass is issued by the firearms authority in your district administration or the administration of your independent city. There you can also find out about documents and forms to be brought along.

• copy of identity card or passport,
• a recent photograph measuring at least 45 millimetres by 35 millimetres in portrait format without borders; the face must be at least 20 millimeters of it; the background must be lighter than the face area,
• information on weapons and ammunition,
• in case of representation: written power of attorney.

Application for granting, extending, correcting or supplementing a European firearms pass

You may be issued a European firearms pass if you:

• are entitled to possess firearms or ammunition in categories A 1.2 to C under the Weapons Act and you want to take these firearms or ammunition with you to another Member State.

You can obtain the European Firearms Pass as follows:

• the following information is required from you:
  • Your personal name: first and last name, date and place of birth, place of residence, address, in the case of companies also telephone or fax number, number, date of issue and issuing authority of the passport or identity card,
  • for firearms: the number and type, category or registered trademark of the manufacturer, model designation, caliber, serial number, CIP bullet mark, if applicable,
  • for other weapons: number and type of weapons,
  • for ammunition: number and type, category according to Directive 93/15/EEC, trade name or registered trademark of the manufacturer, calibre and, where applicable, CIP ammunition test mark,
  • the European Firearms Pass will be given or sent to you.

Period of validity: in principle 5 years;
for hunters and marksmen, provided that only single-shot long guns with smooth barrels or smooth barrels are registered: 10 years;
both variants can be extended 2 times by 5 years each.

Administration fee: EUR 58 plus at least EUR 22 surcharge for reliability and aptitude test to be carried out