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Firearms Permit; Application

You must apply for a permit if you wish to fire a firearm that requires a permit or one that does not require a permit. Exceptions include, in particular, hunters while hunting and sport shooters while shooting at authorized shooting ranges.

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Procedure details

If you wish to fire a firearm—whether it requires a permit or is exempt from one—you must generally apply for a permit in advance. You can apply for a permit for a single shot or for a permanent permit.

In general, firearms are objects intended for attack or defense, signaling, hunting, long-distance injection, marking, sports, or games, and in which projectiles are propelled through a barrel.

It is recommended that you familiarize yourself thoroughly with the provisions of firearms law before submitting your application.

If possible, you must specify in the application where you intend to shoot, such as the address or municipal district. If you are shooting on behalf of a game preserve operator, you must submit their permission or authorization and, if necessary, provide additional information about the operator.

You do not need a permit to shoot a firearm if you

  • plan to shoot at a shooting range, such as that of your shooting club;
  • intend to shoot as a hunter while hunting in accordance with the law, or intend to shoot animals subject to wildlife conservation laws and hold the appropriate permit from the wildlife conservation authority;
  • wish to shoot as a traditional marksman at an event where it is customary to carry firearms for a special occasion, and the head of the traditional marksmen’s association has been granted a valid exemption under Section 16(3) of the Weapons Act (WaffG);
  • wish to shoot with a long gun at shooting ranges during an approved sporting event, such as a biathlon competition;
  • wish to use firearms that can only fire cartridge ammunition during a theatrical performance or similar event, or to scare away pest birds;
  • wish to shoot with air guns, spring-powered firearms, andCO₂ firearmswith a muzzle energy of less than 7.5 joules, marked with an “F” symbol, on fenced-in property with the consent of the property owner, for example, for paintball activities;
  • At sporting events, on behalf of the organizers, to signal the start or beginning of a competition using alarm guns or signal guns, provided that such signaling is necessary;
  • wish to fire signal weapons during emergency and rescue drills, provided this is part of the drill.

You may be denied a shooting permit if you have not resided in Germany within the last 5 years.

To obtain a shooting permit, you must

  • be of the required age and
  • demonstrate your need,
  • your reliability under firearms law,
  • your personal suitability,
  • and have liability insurance covering personal injury and property damage up to 1 million euros



Handling firearms and ammunition without a firearms permit may constitute a criminal offense.

  • You must have a valid permit to purchase and possess a firearm (e.g., a hunting license or a firearm ownership card).
     
  • You must be at least 18 years old.
     
  • You must prove that it is necessary for you to shoot with a firearm (necessity).

    You must provide a credible reason to the competent firearms authority. A credible reason is generally recognized if you
    • intend to shoot animals in a (game) preserve for (game) meat production;
    • are a fruit or wine grower or operate a fish farm and wish to scare away (deter) birds that cause damage;
    • are a veterinarian.

You may also cite other needs, which will then be reviewed by the competent authority.

  • You must prove your reliability under firearms law.

    The issuance of a shooting permit requires that you be deemed reliable. You may be deemed unreliable under firearms law if, among other things, 
    • if, within the last 10 years, you have been convicted of a crime resulting in a final sentence of at least 1 year of imprisonment, or if, within the last 10 years, you were a member of or supported a banned organization.
    • if it can be assumed that you misuse or handle firearms or ammunition improperly, fail to store these items securely, or transfer them to persons who are not authorized to possess them.
    • if, within the last 5 years, you have been placed in preventive police custody more than once with a court order due to violent behavior.
    • if you have repeatedly or grossly violated firearms laws.
       
  • You must demonstrate your personal suitability.

    You may be deemed personally unsuitable, among other reasons, if
    • you are legally incompetent.
    • You are dependent on alcohol or other intoxicating substances, mentally ill, or mentally disabled.
    • 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 unable to handle weapons or ammunition with care or properly, or that you are unable to store these items securely, or that there is a concrete risk that you might endanger others or yourself.
       
  • You must have liability insurance that provides lump-sum coverage of 1 million euros for personal injury and property damage.

  • The following documents are required:
    • Identity card or passport (copy)
    • Weapon ownership card or hunting license
    • Proof of a need
      • For example order of an enclosure operator, activity as a wine/fruit grower
      • Licensing as a veterinarian
    • Proof of liability insurance in the amount of 1 million Euro (lump sum for personal injury and property damage)

You must apply for a shooting permit from the appropriate firearms authority. Submit the application along with the required documents.

The firearms authority will grant you the permit if you meet the necessary requirements.

The fees for issuing a shooting permit range from 25 to 250 EUR. They depend on the scope and administrative burden of the application process.

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To fill out the application more quickly, you can use your NWR identification numbers (NWR-ID):

  • Your personal NWR-ID (P- or F-NWR-ID) for your personal information
  • the permit NWR-ID for the firearms permit (E-NWR-ID)
  • the Firearm or Firearm Component NWR-ID (W- or T-NWR-ID)

You can obtain the NWR-IDs by submitting a request to the relevant firearms authority.

Action for specific performance before the Administrative Court

Status: 10.07.2026
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