Apply for a firearms licence
In most cases, a licence is required to handle weapons or ammunition.
If you want to carry a firearm requiring a licence in public, you need a firearms licence.
According to the Weapons Act, the term "carrying" a weapon means: The exercise of actual control over the weapon outside of
- your own home,
- your own business premises,
- your own pacified property (e.g. fenced-in property) or
- a shooting range.
Tipinform yourself about the applicable regulations before purchasing a weapon. Contact the relevant firearms authority to clarify any questions.
Caution: Unauthorised handling of weapons and ammunition is a criminal offence - in certain cases an administrative offence. If you wish to carry a weapon in public, you must have your identity card or passport with you in addition to your firearms licence.
Responsible authority
the district police authorities
Depending on where you live, the district police authority is
- the district administration,
- the municipal administration (in urban districts and large district towns) or
- the administrative community.
Details
Prerequisite
In principle, the same requirements apply for the issue of a firearms licence as for the issue of a firearms possession card. The following points must also be fulfilled:
- Endangerment
- You must credibly demonstrate that you pose a significantly greater threat to life or limb than the general public and
- that carrying a firearm outside your own home, business premises or private property is suitable and necessary to minimise this risk .
- Liability insurance
Procedure
You must apply for a firearms licence at the relevant firearms authority. The application form is available there. Depending on the services offered by the authority, the application form is also available for download.
The competent firearms authority will check whether the necessary requirements for the issue of a firearms licence have been met.
Deadlines
none
Required documents
You must submit the same documents for the issue of a firearms licence as for the issue of a firearms possession card.
In addition:
- Proof of liability insurance in the amount of one million euros - lump sum for personal injury and property damage
Costs
The amount of the fees depends on the municipal fee regulations. Please enquire with the relevant firearms authority.
Miscellaneous
You will receive a firearms licence for a maximum of three years. You can have it extended twice for a maximum of three years each time.
The scope of the firearms licence is limited to certain occasions or areas if there is no evidence of a need beyond this.
The transport of a firearm (for example to a shooting range or gunsmith) is only permitted without a firearms licence if the firearm is not ready for firing and access and if the transport of the firearm is for a purpose covered by the respective need or in connection with it. This means that the weapon
- must be in a locked container (e.g. in a case or gun case locked with a combination lock or padlock) and
- must not be loaded.
Legal basis
Waffengesetz (WaffG):
- § 4 Voraussetzungen für eine Erlaubnis
- § 5 Zuverlässigkeit
- § 6 Persönliche Eignung
- § 7 Sachkunde
- § 8 Bedürfnis
- § 10 Erteilung von Erlaubnissen
- § 12 Ausnahmen von den Erlaubnispflichten
- § 19 Gefährdete Personen
- § 36 Aufbewahren von Waffen und Munition
- § 38 Ausweispflichten
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Innenministerium Baden-Württemberg, 16.10.2025
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