Acquiring a weapon as a private individual
you are at least 18 years old
you are not subject to a general deputyship or are represented through a care appointee
there is no reason to believe you may use the weapon to harm yourself or others
you have no criminal record indicating you have a violent disposition or pose a danger to public safety or for repeated felonies or misdemeanours.
Owning a weapon as a foreign national
If you do not have a settlement permit, you require a weapon acquisition permit for all types of weapons.
Nationals from certain countries are generally not allowed to own weapons or weapon components.
Category | Requirements |
---|---|
Weapons that must be declared, including manual repetition rifles for hunting, rabbit slayers, airsoft guns, blank cartridge guns, paintball guns, etc. | · Written contract containing details of the weapon, the person acquiring it and the person selling, lending or gifting the weapon. · Only if you purchase a weapon, you must send the sales contract to your cantonal weapons office within 30 days. · If you are a foreign national without a settlement permit, you require a weapons acquisition permit for all types of weapon and their essential components (e.g. the barrel or casing). |
Weapons for which a permit is required, such as pistols, revolvers and semi-automatic rifles with a small magazine | · To obtain a weapon acquisition permit, send your application and a copy of your passport or identity card to the cantonal weapons office. In the canton of Zurich, the communes are responsible for issuing weapon acquisition permits. Online application for a weapon acquisition permit |
Banned weapons, such as semi-automatic firearms with a large magazine, machine guns, electric shock devices, daggers, automatic blades, butterfly knives and knuckledusters | Some of these weapons may be acquired by sportspeople or collectors with an exemption permit from a cantonal weapons office. |
Bringing weapons into Switzerland for a hunting trip or sporting competition
What to look out for if you order a weapon from a foreign online shop
Weapons and the law: what you need to know (Swiss Crime Prevention) (not in English)
Violence using weapons (Swiss Crime Prevention) (not in English)
Acquiring a weapon as a private individual (Federal Office of Police fedpol)
FAQs on weapons law (Federal Office of Police fedpol) (not in English)
Forms for a firearm (Federal Office of Police fedpol) (not in English)
Imitation, alarm and air soft guns (Federal Office of Police fedpol) (not in English)