Firearms Manufacturing; Applying for a Permit

A firearms manufacturing license is granted for the commercial or independent manufacture, processing, or repair of firearms or ammunition as part of a business enterprise.

The firearms manufacturing license may be limited to specific types of firearms and ammunition.

For firearms or ammunition covered by the permit, the firearms manufacturing permit includes authorization to temporarily or permanently transfer such items to holders of a firearms manufacturing or firearms dealing permit, as well as authorization to acquire them for the purpose of firearms manufacturing. For gunsmiths registered in the trade registry, the firearms manufacturing license includes authorization to engage in the firearms trade.

The license expires if the licensee has not commenced the activity within one year of the license being granted or has not carried out the activity for a period of one year. These time limits may be extended for special reasons.

The applicant must possess the required integrity and personal suitability (see Sections 5 and 6 of the Weapons Act).

If operating as a craft business, you must meet the necessary requirements under the Crafts and Trades Regulation Act.

The permit may be denied if you are not a German national within the meaning of Article 116 of the Basic Law or if you have neither your habitual residence nor a commercial establishment within the scope of this Act.

The holder of a permit must notify the competent authority within two weeks of commencing or ceasing operations, as well as of opening or closing a branch office or a dependent branch.

None. If the commercial manufacture of firearms is to be carried out by a representative, a separate representative’s permit must be applied for on behalf of that person. This also applies if someone is appointed to manage a branch office or a dependent branch. The representative permit is linked to the correspondingfirearms manufacturing permit. The same requirements must be met for a representative permit as for afirearms manufacturing permit.

• Proof of reliability and personal suitability
• For operations conducted as a craft business: Proof of registration in the craft trade registry

• Issuance of a firearms manufacturing permit pursuant to Section 21(1) of the Firearms Act (WaffG): 100 to 2,700 euros
• Issuance of a proxy license pursuant to Section 21a of the Weapons Act (WaffG): 50 to 500 euros