Applying for a green gun ownership card as an heir

If you have inherited weapons and/or ammunition, you must immediately notify the competent authority that you have taken possession of the weapons. In addition, within one month of accepting the inheritance or the expiry of the period within which you could have waived the inheritance, you must apply for the issue of a firearms possession card for the firearms subject to authorization belonging to the estate or for their entry in an already issued firearms possession card.

If you already have a firearms ownership card (WBK), you can have the inherited firearms entered on it if you can prove that you also have a need for the inherited firearms (e.g. as a hunter, sports marksman, traditional marksman, firearms or ammunition collector, firearms or ammunition expert, person at risk, firearms manufacturer or firearms dealer or as a security company).

If you cannot prove a need to possess the inherited weapons, you must render the weapons unusable or have them fitted with a state-of-the-art blocking system. Ammunition requiring a permit must be rendered unusable or given to an authorized person. However, you do not have to have the weapons blocked if you already have a gun ownership card.

All modifications to the inherited weapons must be demonstrably carried out by a specialist and reported to the competent authority accordingly . If or as long as there is no corresponding blocking system available on the market for one or more inherited weapons, exceptions to the obligation to equip all inherited weapons with a blocking system that meets the latest safety standards can be approved on request.

As a community of heirs, you can also apply for a joint permit. If not everyone wishes to inherit the weapons, these persons must declare that they renounce the inheritance. In order to obtain the joint permit, all members of a community of heirs must prove their need and the requirements are checked for all applicants.

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

In order to obtain permission to possess weapons and ammunition that require a permit, you must prove the following:

• be of the appropriate age and
• your need,
• your reliability under firearms law,
• your personal suitability,
• your expertise in handling weapons and ammunition and
• the safe storage of weapons and ammunition

What documents do I need?

• Identity card or passport (copy)
• Proof of storage, e.g. purchase contract for a gun cabinet and/or photos of the gun cabinet and installation site
• Only in the case of a community of heirs: if applicable, a declaration of renunciation that the other members of the community of heirs do not wish to possess the weapons
• If applicable, a specialist medical or psychological certificate confirming your mental aptitude
  
  • if under 21 years of age for sport shooters or under 25 years of age for other persons