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Red weapons possession card for weapons or ammunition experts; application

If you wish to acquire and possess weapons and/or ammunition in order to test, inspect or examine them, you must apply for a permit from the relevant weapons authority.

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Procedure details

The red gun ownership card entitles the holder to acquire or possess firearms or ammunition. It can only be applied for by firearms collectors (see "Related topics") or firearms experts. Weapons experts are persons who can credibly demonstrate that they require firearms or ammunition for scientific or technical purposes, for testing, assessment, examination or for a similar purpose.

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

In order to obtain a red firearms possession card, you must

  • be at least 18 years old and
  • prove your need,
  • be reliable under firearms law and
  • personal suitability,
  • demonstrate your expertise in handling weapons and ammunition and
  • provide evidence of the safe storage of weapons and ammunition.

  • You must be at least 18 years old.

    If you are under 25 years old, you will be asked by the relevant firearms authority to submit a specialist medical or psychological report/certificate on your mental aptitude. You must pay for the certificate yourself and send the original by post to the relevant firearms authority.
  • You must provide credible evidence that you work as a firearms and/or ammunition expert and require firearms or ammunition for scientific or technical purposes, for testing, assessment, examination or for a similar purpose (need).

    You can provide evidence of this, for example, by submitting proof of activity.
  • You must be reliable under firearms law.

    You may be deemed unreliable under firearms law if, among other things
    • you have been sentenced to a prison sentence of at least one year within the last 10 years (in the case of certain state security offences, a prison sentence or a fine of at least 90 daily rates is sufficient) or have been a member of or supported a prohibited organization in the last 10 years.
    • it can be assumed that you misuse weapons or ammunition or handle them improperly, do not store these items carefully or hand them over 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 due to violence.
    • you have repeatedly or grossly violated firearms legislation.
  • You must be personally suitable.

    You may be deemed personally unsuitable if, among other things
    • You are legally incompetent.
    • you are dependent on alcohol or other intoxicating substances, mentally ill or mentally retarded.
    • 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 carefully or properly, or that you are unable to store these items carefully, or that there is a concrete danger that you will endanger others or yourself.
  • You must prove that you have sufficient knowledge of weapons and ammunition and how to handle them (expertise).

    To be able to prove that you have expertise in handling weapons and ammunition, you must have taken part in an appropriate training course. The course comprises a theoretical and practical part. At the end of the course, you will take an examination before an authorized examination board. If you pass the examination, you will receive proof of the weapons and ammunition for which you have acquired expertise.
  • You must prove that you can store weapons and ammunition safely.

    This generally means that only you as an authorized person may have access to weapons and ammunition. If you do not store your weapons and ammunition securely, you are committing an administrative offense for which a fine of up to EUR 10,000 can be imposed. In addition, your reliability under firearms law may be called into question and your firearms possession card may be withdrawn.

When submitting your application, you must provide information on the storage location and the container in which you wish to store weapons and ammunition. The storage requirements are based on § 13 of the General Weapons Act Ordinance (AWaffV). In cases of doubt, please contact the authority responsible for you. In principle, you can use the following guidelines as a guide:

    • You must store ammunition requiring a permit in a sheet steel cabinet/container with a swing bolt lock or an equivalent locking device.
    • You need a gun cabinet to store long guns and handguns that require a permit. The type of gun cabinet you need depends on the number and type of weapons and/or ammunition you wish to purchase and own.
      • You can store an unlimited number of long guns, up to 5 handguns and ammunition in a gun cabinet with resistance grade 0 in accordance with the DIN/EN 1143-1 standard weighing up to 200 kilograms.
      • You may store an unlimited number of long weapons, up to 10 short weapons and ammunition in a gun cabinet with resistance grade 0 in accordance with the DIN/EN 1143-1 standard weighing over 200 kilograms.
      • In a gun cabinet with resistance grade I in accordance with the DIN/EN 1143-1 standard, you may store an unlimited number of long weapons and handguns as well as ammunition.
    • The following regulations apply to the location where you may set up the gun cabinet:
      • If you live in a shared household with another person who is also authorized to own weapons, you may store the weapons in a shared weapons cabinet.
    • It is also permitted to store weapons and ammunition with a weapons dealer. You must provide appropriate proof of this.

  • Required Documents:
    • Identity card or passport (copy)
    • Proof of activity as a weapons or ammunition expert
    • Proof of expertise
    • Proof of storage, e.g. purchase contract for a gun cabinet and/or photos of gun cabinet and place of installation
    • If applicable, medical or psychological certificate of mental fitness (if under 25 years of age)

You must apply for the red gun ownership card at the relevant firearms authority. Submit the application together with the required documents.

The firearms authority will issue you with the red firearms possession card if you meet the necessary requirements.

The fees for issuing a gun ownership card are between 30.00 and 180.00 EUR. The district administrative authority responsible for you will be happy to provide you with more details.

Administrative court action

Status: 25.03.2025
Editorial responsibility Bayerisches Staatsministerium des Innern, für Sport und Integration
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