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IMPORTANT: Select a location.To obtain application forms, location-specific information and contacts, select a town or zip code.

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Your selected location: Emsland

Which place to enter?

The location is used to determine the responsible office for the selected administrative service. In most cases you can enter your place of residence to find the competent authority. However, there are also cases in which a different location must be specified. Here are some examples:

Birth certificateYou want to get married and need a birth certificate. You live in Hanover, but you were born in Celle. You must therefore state your place of birth, i.e. Celle.

Business registrationYou would like to register a business in Braunschweig. Your place of residence is Hanover. You must therefore state the location of your future business, i.e. Braunschweig.

Apply for a building permitYou would like to build a house in Wunstorf and therefore apply for a building permit. Her place of residence is currently Hanover. You must indicate the place where the house is to be built. In this case it is Wunstorf.

Renewing a firearms licence


You will receive a firearms license for a maximum of 3 years. You can have the firearms license extended twice for a maximum of 3 years.

You can obtain a firearms license to carry weapons that require a permit. A distinction is made between firearms requiring a permit and firearms not requiring a permit. In order to be allowed to carry unlicensed firearms, you need a small firearms license (see further information). A list of weapons for which you do not require a permit to acquire and possess can be found in Annex 2 of the Weapons Act.

It is recommended that you inform yourself in detail about the regulations of the Weapons Act before submitting your application.

The firearms license allows you to use a weapon outside

  • your own home,
  • your own business premises,
  • your own pacified property (e.g. your own garden) and
  • a shooting range

to carry. If you carry the weapon with you, you must have the firearms license with you and be able to identify yourself with an identity card or passport.

To obtain a firearms license, you must

  • be of the appropriate age and
  • your need,
  • Your reliability under firearms law,
  • your personal suitability,
  • your expertise in handling weapons and ammunition,
  • liability insurance that covers personal injury and property damage up to 1 million euros, and
  • the safe storage of weapons and ammunition

and ammunition.

Whether you (continue to) meet the requirements will be checked again upon renewal.

If you move to another town or municipality, you do not need to have your firearms license transferred.

If you handle weapons and ammunition without the required firearms license, you could face a fine or imprisonment.

Who should I contact?

The locally competent weapons authority

Responsible authorities


Landkreis Emsland - Fachbereich Sicherheit und Ordnung
Address: Ordeniederung 1 , 49716 Meppen
Timetable
Postal address: Post Office Box 15 62 , 49705 Meppen
Timetable
Telephone: 05931 44-0
Transport Connection:
Station Haltestelle Kreishaus
Bus: 993
Building Access
elevator available, wheelchair-accessible

Contact

Henriette Schnieders
Telephone: 05931 44-1473
Room:
F 473
responsible for:

Requirements

  • You must have a valid permit to acquire and possess a weapon (e.g. gun ownership card).
     
  • You must have a firearms license.
     
  • You must be at least 18 years old.
     
  • You must prove that it is necessary for you to carry weapons in public (need).
    In order to be allowed to carry weapons in public, you must provide a credible reason to the relevant firearms authority. As a rule, a credible reason is accepted if:
    • Their lives are at high risk;
    • You can credibly demonstrate other reasons why you want to carry weapons in public.
       
  • You must prove your reliability under firearms law.
    Among other things, you can be considered unreliable in terms of weapons law if:
    • You have been sentenced to at least 1 year's imprisonment within the last 10 years or have been a member of or supported a banned organisation for the last 10 years.
    • You may be presumed to be misusing or improperly handling weapons or ammunition, failing to store these items carefully, or leaving them to persons who are not authorized to do so.
    • You have been in preventive police custody more than once in the last 5 years with judicial authorization for violence.
    • You have repeatedly or grossly violated the right to bear arms.
       
  • You will need to prove your personal suitability.
    You may be considered personally unsuitable if, among other things:
    • You are legally incapacitated.
    • You are addicted to alcohol or other intoxicating substances, mentally ill or debilitated.
    • You suffer from serious illnesses, such as brain injuries, or physical impairments, such as amputations or severe visual impairment.
    • It can be assumed that you are not able to handle weapons or ammunition carefully or appropriately, or that there is a real risk that you will endanger others or yourself. 
  • You must have taken out liability insurance that covers personal injury and property damage in the amount of 1 million euros.

Which documents are required?

  • Identity card or passport (copy)
  • Gun ownership card and gun license
  • Proof of a need (e.g. proof of endangerment of your person)
  • Proof of liability insurance in the amount of 1 million euros (lump sum for personal injury and property damage)

Process flow

You must have your firearms licence renewed at the relevant firearms authority. Submit the application along with the required documents.

The firearms authority will renew the firearms licence if you meet the necessary requirements.

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

none

What else should I know?

To complete the application faster, you can use the NWR identification numbers (NWR ID):

  • Your personal NWR ID (P or F NWR ID) for your personal information
  • the Permit-NWR-ID for the Weapons Permit (E-NWR-ID)
  • the weapon or weapon part NWR ID (W or T-NWR ID).

You can obtain the NWR IDs upon application to the responsible weapons authority.

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