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Weapons Trade License (Waffengewerbe)
GewO §94 Z.72
Verified: April 2026
Key Facts
- Type: Regulated trade (Zuverlaessigkeitsgewerbe — reliability trade!)
- Qualification: Professional competence + reliability assessment
- Firearms license: Required under the Waffengesetz 1996 (WaffG)
- Safe room: Mandatory secure storage facility (Waffenlager)
- Registration cost: Free (€0) at the trade authority
- Start immediately: NO — must wait for official reliability decision
What This Trade Covers
- Sale of firearms, ammunition, and weapons accessories (retail and wholesale)
- Repair and maintenance of firearms (Buechsenmacher activities)
- Import and export of weapons and ammunition (additional customs requirements)
- Sale of hunting weapons, sporting firearms, and air guns
- Sale of bladed weapons, pepper spray, and other regulated items
- Record-keeping and reporting to the Waffenregister (central weapons registry)
Reliability trade (Zuverlaessigkeitsgewerbe)
The weapons trade is one of Austria's most strictly regulated businesses. You CANNOT
start operating upon registration. The district authority (Bezirksverwaltungsbehoerde)
must first complete a thorough reliability assessment including criminal record checks,
mental health evaluation, and verification of personal circumstances. This process
can take several weeks. The authority can also revoke the license at any time if
reliability concerns arise.
Additional Legal Requirements
Beyond the GewO trade registration, weapons dealers must comply with:
- Waffengesetz 1996 (WaffG): Federal weapons law governing possession, sale, and transfer
- Secure storage: An approved safe room (Waffenlager) with certified locks, alarm systems, and security infrastructure
- Transaction records: Every sale must be documented and reported to the central weapons registry (Zentrales Waffenregister)
- Buyer verification: Dealers must verify the buyer holds the correct license (Waffenpass, Waffenbesitzkarte, or WBK) before any sale
- Regular inspections: Authorities may inspect premises, records, and inventory without prior notice
Qualification Requirements
- Professional competence in weapons technology and applicable law
- Reliability check (Verlässlichkeitspruefung) — extensive background investigation
- Buechsenmacher master exam if offering repair services
- Individual assessment (§19 GewO) with proof of professional competence
- Qualified manager (§39 GewO) who meets all reliability and competence requirements
Related Guides
Vollstaendige deutsche Version →
Legally binding: German text of GewO 1994.