Weapons and ammunition; application for a permit to take them into, through or out of the Federal Republic of Germany

If you want to temporarily take weapons or ammunition from Germany abroad, temporarily take them to Germany or take them through Germany, you need a permit.

In order to be allowed to take weapons to Germany, you must prove your need, your reliability under firearms law, your personal suitability and your expertise. If you are a citizen of a third country, you can provide this evidence by submitting meaningful official documents from your home country with a German translation. If you are a citizen of a third country and are unable to provide information on weapons and ammunition when submitting your application, you must do so upon entry at the latest.

You must always state the reason why you wish to bring weapons and ammunition to Germany temporarily, for example an invitation to hunt, to a shooting competition or to a traditional event.

If you are submitting the application for a shooting team, for example, you can enter the names of all participants on a separate sheet and attach it to the application. The permit will then be issued for all applicants together.

You do not require a permit if you are from an EU member state or from Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland

• as a hunter for the purpose of hunting up to 3 long guns and the associated ammunition,
• as a marksman for the purpose of shooting up to 6 firearms and the associated ammunition and
• as a traditional shooter for participation in a traditional event up to 3 single-shot or repeating long guns and the corresponding ammunition

to Germany and have a valid European firearms pass. However, the weapons you are taking with you must be entered in your European firearms pass. As a citizen of a third country, you do not have to prove that you are of legal age and have the necessary expertise.

You do not need a European firearms pass if you are a marksman or traditional marksman and want to take certain weapons with you from Austria to Bavaria or vice versa and you are a member of a designated traditional shooting club.

You also do not need a permit to take weapons and ammunition to Germany if you

• You are taking weapons and ammunition with you for which you have permission to purchase and possess (weapons possession card - WBK) (please note: a hunting license is not sufficient!),
• are carrying signal weapons and the associated ammunition on board ships for safety reasons or
• carry weapons and ammunition on board a ship or aircraft that are permanently kept under lock and key in Germany. These weapons and ammunition must be reported immediately to the competent authority and must be re-exported from Germany within one month at the latest.

If you wish to take weapons and ammunition from Germany to an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland, you require

• a permit to purchase and possess weapons and ammunition (weapons possession card - WBK),
• a European firearms pass in which the weapons you wish to take with you are entered
  and
• the consent of the country to which you wish to take the weapons and ammunition or credible proof that no permit is required.

You must also ensure the safe transportation of the weapons and ammunition. You can also hire a forwarding agent for this purpose. You should find out about the conditions of the country under which transportation is permitted or not permitted before taking them with you.

If you want to take weapons and ammunition from Germany to a third country, you do not need a German permit. Here, too, you should find out about the conditions of the country under which you are permitted or not permitted to take them with you.

• The following documents are required:
  • Identity card or passport (copy)
  • When bringing to Germany from an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Iceland
    • European firearms pass (copy)
  • when bringing to Germany from a third country
    • Official documents with German translation as proof of need, reliability, personal suitability, expertise
  • if being taken from Germany to an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Iceland
    • European firearms pass (copy)
    • Weapons possession card (WBK) (copy)
    • Consent of the state (if required) or proof that no consent is required

If you want to take weapons and ammunition to Germany, you must fulfill the following requirements:

• You must prove the need for why you want to take weapons and ammunition with you.
• You must be of legal age.
• You must be reliable in terms of firearms law.
• You must be personally suitable.
• You must have sufficient expertise to handle weapons and ammunition.

You must apply for permission to take firearms or ammunition with you to the relevant weapons authority. Submit the application together with the required documents.

The weapons authority will grant you the permit if you meet the necessary requirements.