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Apply for permission to bring firearms or ammunition to, through or from the Federal Republic of Germany


If you want to temporarily take weapons or ammunition abroad from Germany or temporarily take them with you to Germany or take them through Germany, you need a permit. In order to be allowed to take weapons with you to Germany, you must prove your need, your reliability under weapons law, your personal suitability and expertise. If you are a citizen of an EU member state as well as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland, the European Firearms Pass is sufficient as proof. As a citizen of a third country, you can provide the evidence by means of meaningful official documents from your home country with a German translation. If, as a citizen of a third country, you are unable to provide any information on weapons and ammunition when submitting your application, you must do so at the latest when you enter the country.

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

For example, if you are applying for a shooting sports team, you can enter the names of all participants on a separate sheet and attach them to the application. The permit is then granted to all applicants together.

You do not need a permit if you are coming from an EU member state as well as from Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Iceland.

  • as a hunter, up to 3 long guns and the corresponding ammunition,
  • as a sports shooter, up to 6 firearms and the associated ammunition, as well as
  • as a traditional shooter up to 3 single-shot rifles or bolt-action long guns and the associated ammunition

to Germany. However, your European firearms pass must include the weapons you are taking with you. As a citizen of a third country, you do not have to prove your legal age and expertise in these cases.

You do not need a European firearms pass if you want to take certain weapons with you from Austria to Bavaria or vice versa as a sport shooter or traditional shooter.

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

  • take weapons and ammunition with you for which you have permission to purchase and possess them (weapon possession card – WBK),
  • carry signal weapons and their ammunition on board ships for safety reasons, or
  • Carry weapons and ammunition on board a ship or aircraft that are kept under lock and key at all times 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 want to take weapons and ammunition from Germany to an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Iceland, you will need

  • the permit for the acquisition and possession of weapons and ammunition (weapon possession card – WBK),
  • a European firearms pass, in which the weapons you wish to take with you are registered, and
  • the consent of the country to which you intend to take the weapons and ammunition or credible proof that no permit is required.

In addition, you must ensure the safe transport of weapons and ammunition. You can also hire a freight forwarder for this purpose. Before taking it with you, you should find out about the conditions of the state under which it is allowed or not.

If you want to take weapons and ammunition from Germany to a third country, you do not need a German permit. Again, before taking it with you, you should find out about the conditions of the state under which it is allowed or not.

  • Identity card or passport (copy)

Carriage to Germany from EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Iceland

  • European Firearms Pass (copy)

Bringing to Germany from a third country

  • official documents with German translation to prove the needs, reliability, personal suitability, expertise

Carriage from Germany to an EU member state, Switzerland, Liechtenstein or Iceland

  • European Firearms Pass (copy)
  • Weapon Possession Card (WBK) (copy)

Consent from the state (if required) or proof that consent is not required

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

  • You will need to demonstrate the need why you want to take weapons and ammunition with you.
  • You must be of legal age.
  • They must be reliable in terms of weapons law. This means that possible convictions must be more than 10 years ago and memberships in organizations banned in Germany must be more than 5 years ago.
  • You must be personally suitable. This means that you must have legal capacity, you must not be addicted to alcohol or debilitated.
  • They must have sufficient expertise in the use of weapons and ammunition.

Fee: 20,00 - 90,00 EUR
Payment in advance: No

You can apply for the permit in writing or online.

If you want to apply for a permit in writing:

  • You fill out the form that you can obtain from the relevant firearms authority.
  • You send the signed form and the required documents or copies thereof by post to the competent firearms authority.
  • You can also visit the relevant firearms authority.

If you want to apply for the permit online:

You submit the application via the online service of the relevant firearms authority and upload copies of the documents/records.

Action for an obligation before the Administrative Court

Forms available: No

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance required: Yes

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.

Lower Saxony Ministry of the Interior and Sports

17.08.2023

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
Fax: 05931 44-3621
Transport Connection:
Station Haltestelle Kreishaus
Bus: 993
Building Access
elevator available, wheelchair-accessible

Contact

Maris Hackmann
Telephone: 05931 44-2472
Room:
F 472
responsible for:

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