Information on weapons and prohibited items
The handling of weapons in the Federal Republic of Germany is governed by the Weapons Act, which was given its current structure by the Act on the Revision of Weapons Law of October 11, 2002 and replaced the previous Weapons Act from 1976. As a special law on averting danger, it serves to protect public safety and order and is intended to help minimize or exclude dangers that can arise from the handling of weapons.
The aim is therefore in particular to regulate the private acquisition and possession of weapons and to prevent the illegal trade in and possession of weapons. The General Weapons Act Ordinance (AWaffV) supplements these regulations as a further legal basis. Furthermore, the weapons authorities are required to enforce the Weapons Act uniformly through the General Administrative Regulation on the Weapons Act (WaffVwV).
The Weapons Act
In many cases, the handling of weapons, in particular firearms and equivalent objects, requires an official permit. Although the Weapons Act is a federal law, its implementation is the responsibility of the federal states. In North Rhine-Westphalia, a jurisdiction ordinance stipulates that the district police authority in whose area the habitual residence of the gun owner or applicant is located is generally responsible for implementing the weapons law and issuing permits.
Opening hours of the Krefeld police firearms authority
You can come by in person without making an appointment at the following times:
Mondays: 08:30 - 11:30
Tuesdays: 08:30 - 11:30 am
Wednesdays: closed
Thursdays: 08:30 - 11:30 am
Fridays: 08:30 - 11:30 am
After-school appointments by prior arrangement only.
The weapons authority of the Krefeld police can also be reached by telephone at the following times:
Mondays: 09:00 - 12:00
Tuesdays: 13:00 - 15:00 and
Thursdays: 09:00 - 12:00 and 13:00 - 15:00.
Outside the telephone office hours, you can contact us by email (waffenrecht.krefeld [at] polizei.nrw.de (waffenrecht[dot]krefeld[at]polizei[dot]nrw[dot]de)) or by post (Krefeld Police Headquarters, Department ZA 11 - Weapons Authority, Nordwall 1-3 in 47798 Krefeld).
Our experts
It often makes sense to have a personal meeting before you actually submit your application. Get in touch with us. You can find the contact details for our experts on firearms law issues on the right-hand side.
Forms for applications, notifications, declarations and information sheets can also be found on the right-hand side.