Owning a firearm in Poland is legal as long as you have the appropriate permit – and the process of obtaining such a permit is strictly regulated. A person who intends to obtain a gun permit must know “what it involves”. In this article, we outline the various steps that must be taken to obtain a permit, and discuss the costs involved.
Can you own a gun in Poland? Requirements for obtaining a gun permit
The aspect of gun ownership in Poland is legally regulated by the Law of May 21st, 1999 on arms and ammunition. As we can read in Article 1: The law defines the rules of issuing and revoking permits for weapons, acquisition, registration, storage, disposal and deposition of weapons and ammunition, transportation through the territory of the Republic of Poland and the import from abroad and export abroad of weapons and ammunition, as well as the rules of possession of weapons and ammunition by foreigners and the rules of operation of shooting ranges. The permit allows the legal possession and use of firearms and ammunition in Poland.
In order to apply for a permit for firearms, including combat, hunting, gas, sporting, collector, commemorative, training, historical reenactment or for an authorization to possess weapons, one must meet the requirements specified in the cited law.
● Age – an applicant for a permit to own a firearm must be at least 21 years old. In the case of sporting or hunting weapons, at the request of a school, a sports organization, the Polish Hunting Association or a defense association, a permit may be issued to a person who is at least 18 years old.
● Place of permanent residence – a gun permit is issued to persons residing in the territory of the Republic of Poland.
● State of health – the candidate must have a certificate of no contraindications to owning a weapon, which is issued by a doctor (this is both physical and mental capacity, hence a certificate is needed not only from a doctor, but also from a psychologist and psychiatrist).
● No criminal record – the candidate must not have been convicted of intentional crimes or other crimes that may affect public safety.
● Knowledge of regulations – the candidate must have passed an exam on the regulations governing gun ownership.
● Motivation to own a weapon – when applying for a firearms permit, a valid reason for owning a weapon (personal protection, hunting, sports) must be presented.
● Addictions – an applicant for a gun permit must not be addicted to alcohol or psychoactive substances.
According to available statistics, the number of firearms owned in Poland has been steadily increasing, with more permits being issued each year, reflecting a growing interest in legal gun ownership.
During the process, the applicant will need to gather the required documents, undergo medical and psychological evaluations, will then pass the necessary exams and finally submit the application to the appropriate authority.
Types of weapon permits in Poland
The type of weapon permit is closely related to the purpose of owning a weapon. We can therefore distinguish the following variants:
● a permit for weapons for sporting purposes,
● a permit for weapons for hunting purposes,
● a gun permit for personal protection purposes,
● a gun permit for collection purposes,
● permit for firearms for historical reconstruction purposes,
● permit for weapons for commemorative purposes,
● gun permit for training purposes.
A weapon permit for sporting purposes is suitable for those who wish to engage in sport shooting. A valid reason for owning a weapon is considered to be documented membership in a shooting association, possession of sports qualifications and a license from a competent Polish sports association. Weapons permit for hunting purposes is intended for hunters and persons engaged in game protection. The reason for owning a weapon is the desire to perform hunting.
A gun permit for personal protection or protection of persons and property may be applied for by persons who want to own a gun for security. In this situation, a valid reason is considered to be a constant, real and above-average threat to life, health or property. On the other hand, a gun permit for collector purposes can be applied for by gun collectors, where the valid reason for owning a gun is a documented membership in an association of a collector nature.
A gun permit for historical reconstruction purposes is intended for people whose passion is to organize historical reconstructions. Documented membership in an association whose statutory purpose is to organize historical reconstructions and a certificate confirming active participation in statutory activities are considered important causes for owning weapons.
In the case of a commemorative weapon permit, a valid reason for owning weapons is the documented acquisition of weapons by inheritance or donation. On the other hand, in the case of a weapon permit for training purposes, a valid ground for owning a weapon is the possession of authorization, as defined by separate regulations, to conduct training of a shooting character, and documented registration of a business activity in the field of shooting training.
How is the process of applying for a gun permit?
Costs and waiting time for a gun permit
Each type of gun permit has its own specific requirements and procedures for applying for a permit. However, several steps are mandatory when applying for each type of weapon. Each of the following is a part of the overall application process:
1. Completion of a weapons training course. You will usually attend a course lasting from a few to a dozen of days which will end with an exam.
2. Obtaining a medical certificate. A doctor will evaluate your state of health and will issue a medical certificate confirming there are no contraindications to the possession of weapons.
3. Preparation of documents that should be attached to the application for a gun permit. These are: copies of identity documents, completed application form, certificate of completion of training, medical certificate and stamp duty.
4. Submit the application to the appropriate municipality or city office (depending on where you live).
Once the application is submitted, it is subject to review by the police, who may interview the applicant. Once the procedures and proceedings are completed, a decision will be issued (which may be positive or negative). The administrative handling can take up to 6 months, so you need to be patient.
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The process of applying for a gun permit is associated with costs. However, they are not fixed and depend on many factors. Obtaining a gun permit for hunting or sporting purposes, for example, requires the completion of courses and training. The cost of these courses varies widely and can reach up to several thousand zlotys. Expenses must also be reckoned with in the case of medical and psychological examinations. The cost of the examinations can also vary depending on the doctor and psychologist – they can cost around 500 zlotys or more (for each of these examinations), depending on the locality and the specialist whose services are used.
The stamp duty for the issuance of a permit (administrative decision) for most types of permits, including those for weapons for sporting, hunting or collector purposes is 242 zlotys. In some cases, it is necessary to incur additional costs associated with membership in shooting or hunting associations – these vary from association to association.
You also should prepare to pay for certain expenses once you have obtained a gun permit. If the administrative decision is positive, you can purchase the weapon and ammunition itself. However, it is also necessary to remember about the proper storage of weapons – and for this, security-providing, high-end gun safes are best suited. You can learn from our other articles what kind of gun safe to choose and what class a gun safe should be.
So how much does it cost to get a gun permit in Poland? In summary, the total cost can range from a few hundred to even a few thousand zlotys, depending on the required procedures, tests and training. It is important to review the current fees and requirements carefully before starting the process, as these can change. In turn, the waiting time for a gun permit can range from a few months even to a few years.
Obtaining a gun permit is a complicated process that requires a great deal of commitment and a number of prerequisites. Every year more and more people decide to obtain such a licence, especially when it comes to sporting weapons, which is reflected in the growing number of permits owned in Poland.
Regional differences: How your voivodeship affects the gun permit process
In Poland, the process of obtaining a gun permit may vary slightly depending on the voivodship (province) where you reside. Each provincial police headquarters is responsible for processing applications within its territory, which means that waiting times, the number of required documents, and availability of medical commissions can differ. In some regions with a higher volume of applications, the waiting time for a decision may be longer, and medical examination appointments more delayed.Conversely, in smaller provinces, procedures tend to be more efficient, and communication with officials more direct. Statistics show that in large cities such as Warsaw or Kraków, the number of issued gun permits is increasing year by year, which affects the lengthening of the entire process.
Therefore, before submitting your application, it is advisable to check how the procedure looks in your voivodship to plan the next steps better and avoid unnecessary delays. Keep in mind that local differences may also concern the availability of shooting ranges, sports clubs, or collectors' associations, which can be important when choosing the purpose for owning a firearm.
