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Apply for arms trade permit


To trade in firearms or ammunition on a commercial or independent basis, you need a firearms trading permit. You can obtain this from the firearms authority responsible for your place of business.

Weapons trading also includes

  • lending,
  • auctioning,
  • renting,
  • pledging,
  • safekeeping or
  • Transportation of firearms and ammunition.

The arms trade permit may be limited to certain types of firearms and ammunition.

The following can obtain the permit

  • natural persons (sole proprietorship)
  • legal persons. In this case, the responsible managing director or the individual personally liable partners each require their own permit.

If the arms trade is to be operated by a deputy or if a person is to be entrusted with the management of a branch or a dependent branch, then you require a deputy permit. You also apply for this from the relevant firearms authority. Deputies receive this permit under the same conditions.

These requirements include, among others, proof of

  • the age of majority,
  • reliability,
  • personal suitability and
  • professional competence.

Your permit loses its validity if you have not started the activity within one year after the granted permit or if you have not exercised it for one year. The deadlines may be extended for special reasons.

The competent authority shall check whether the applicant has the requisite reliability. To this end, it obtains information from the Federal Central Register and the Public Prosecutor's Office Register of Proceedings as well as an opinion from the local police station. Proof of personal suitability, expertise, need and commercial or economic enterprise must be provided by the student.

If there are doubts about personal suitability, the competent authority has the option of requesting a certificate of mental or physical fitness from an official or specialist medical officer or a specialist psychologist.

The responsibility lies with the district, the independent 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 the municipalities and the state for service providers.

Find your Point of Single Contact here

The responsibility lies with the district, the independent 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 the municipalities and the state for service providers.

Find your Point of Single Contact here

  • Reaching the age of 18
  • Reliability
    • The required reliability requires, above all, that there is no criminal record.
  • personal suitability
    • For example, those persons do not possess the required personal suitability if facts justify the assumption that they are legally incapable, dependent on alcohol or mentally ill.
  • Expertise
    • If required, the required proof of expertise in the most important weapons law and shooting regulations, as well as in the type, design and handling of common firearms and ammunition, can be obtained by taking an examination at the Hanover Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
    • The specialist knowledge is considered to be given if the requirements for the registration of a gunsmith's business in the register of craftsmen are met.
  • Proof of a need
    • The need (a reasonable reason) may arise from a personal or economic interest that is particularly recognisable, for example as an arms dealer.
  • Commercial activity or economic enterprise
    • A licence is only granted if the arms trade is carried out commercially or independently within the framework of an economic enterprise.
  • Certificate of proficiency
  • Certificate issued by the competent judicial or administrative authority of the country of origin or country of origin
  • Confirmation from the home authority
  • Proof of commercial establishment, business/business premises
  • If applicable, a copy of an arms trade licence that has already been issued
  • Curriculum vitae

The licence expires if the licence holder has not commenced the activity within one year of the licence being issued or has not carried out it for one year. The deadlines may be extended for special reasons.

The licence holder must notify the competent authority within two weeks of the commencement and cessation of operations as well as the opening and closure of a branch or a dependent branch.

There are no clues or specifics.

Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport

Responsible authorities


Einheitlicher Ansprechpartner Landkreis Emsland
Postal address: Post Office Box 15 62, 49705 Meppen
Timetable
Address: Ordeniederung 1, 49716 Meppen
Timetable
Transport Connection:
Station Haltestelle Kreishaus
Bus: 993
Building Access
elevator available, wheelchair-accessible
Address: Ordeniederung 1 , 49716 Meppen
Postal address: Post Office Box 15 62 , 49705 Meppen
Telephone: 05931 44-0
Fax: 05931 44-3621
Transport Connection:
Station Haltestelle Kreishaus
Bus: 993
Building Access
elevator available, wheelchair-accessible
Address: Friedrichswall 1 , 30159 Hannover
Telephone: 0511 120-5521

Source: Serviceportal Niedersachsen (Portalverbund des Bundes und der Länder)