Applying for a gun ownership licence in the event of inheritance

Have you inherited a weapon requiring a licence and want to keep it? Then you will need a gun ownership licence.

Please note: Have you found or taken possession of weapons after the death of the previous weapons owner? Then you must report this immediately to the relevant weapons authority. Anyone who owns weapons or ammunition must take the necessary precautions to prevent these items from being lost or taken by unauthorised third parties. Firearms and ammunition that are subject to authorisation must be kept in the prescribed safety containers.

Tip: Contact the relevant firearms authority immediately to clarify any questions and for information on the applicable regulations.

If you wish to keep an inherited firearm that requires a licence, you must apply in good time as an Heir must apply for the issue of a firearm ownership licence for the firearm subject to authorisation belonging to the estate or its entry in an already issued firearm ownership licence.

If you do not wish to keep the inherited firearm, you can hand it in to the firearms authority or a police station. The weapon will then usually be destroyed.

If you do not have a need to handle firearms and ammunition requiring a licence (e.g. as a hunter or sport shooter), the inherited firearm must be secured with a state-of-the-art blocking system and inherited ammunition requiring a licence must be rendered unusable within a reasonable period of time, handed over to an authorised person or handed in to the weapons authority or a police station. The installation of the blocking system must be proven to the firearms authority.

Caution: Unauthorised handling of weapons and ammunition is a criminal offence - in certain cases an administrative offence.