Authorisation to transfer firearms and ammunition

The responsibility lies with the district, the district-free city, the large independent city and the independent municipality.

This procedure can also be carried out through a "Point of Single Contact". The "Point of Single Contact" is a special service offered by municipalities and the state for service providers.

• The recipient is entitled to acquire or possess these weapons or ammunition.
• Safe transport by a person entitled to acquire or possess these weapons or ammunition is guaranteed.
• If firearms or ammunition are to be brought into Germany from another Member State of the European Union, the licence shall be granted as consent to the authorisation of the other Member State for the transfer in question.
• If the place of destination is another Member State of the European Union, its consent is also required.

• Weapons trade permit or weapons manufacturing license
• Proof of safe transport (cf. No. 31.2 in conjunction with 29.3 General Administrative Regulation on the Weapons Act (WaffVwV))
• The applicant must provide the following information:
  • the name and address of the company,
  • telephone or fax number,
  • first and last names,
  • Place and date of birth of the holder of the permit pursuant to Section 21 (1) of the German Weapons Act (WaffG)
  • Member State of destination
  • Type of weapons and ammunition

When the firearms or ammunition are transported within the European Union to a dealer in another Member State by or on behalf of a holder of the licence referred to in Paragraph 31(2) of the WaffG, a declaration referring to this licence may be carried instead of the licence in accordance with paragraph 1. The declaration shall be made on the official form provided for that purpose and shall contain the following information:

• the names of the Member States of dispatch and consignee, countries of transit, mode of transport and carrier;
• about the consignor, the declarant and the consignee:
  • Name and address of the company, telephone or fax number
• on the licence pursuant to § 31 Abs. 2 WaffG:
  • Date and number of issue, issuing authority and period of validity
• prior consent of the other Member State or exemption from prior consent:
  • date of issue and issuing authority, indication of weapons; a duplicate of the prior consent or exemption shall be attached to the declaration
• about arms:
  • for firearms: number and type of weapons, category according to Appendix 1 Section 3 WaffG, company name or registered trademark of the manufacturer, model designation, caliber, serial number and, if applicable, C.I.P. bullet mark
  • for other weapons: number and type of weapons
• about ammunition:
  • Number and type of ammunition, category laid down in Directive (EEC) No 93/15 on the harmonisation of provisions relating to the placing on the market and supervision of explosives for civil uses EC No. L 121 p. 20), trade name or registered trademark of the manufacturer, calibre and, where applicable, C.I.P. ammunition test mark;
• via the delivery address:
  • specify the place to which the weapons or ammunition are dispatched or transported.

There are fees according to Section II No. 22 of the Annex Schedule of Fees of the Costs Ordinance to the Weapons Act (WaffKostV). Please contact the competent authority.

There are no deadlines to be observed.

Special conditions apply to the personal carriage of weapons, e.g. as a sports shooter.

In certain cases, there are obligations to report to the Federal Criminal Police Office in accordance with § 34 of the German Weapons Act (WaffG).

Before transferring weapons to another state, it makes sense to inform yourself in advance about the weapons regulations applicable there. The respective embassies or consulates are available for this purpose. Regardless of the weapons regulations, the customs regulations must also be observed.

Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport