Three routes — contract, weapon acquisition permit or exceptional permit — and the permit comes from the Landespolizei, not a Swiss cantonal weapons office.

Updated July 2026

🎯 How do I legally acquire a firearm in Liechtenstein?

With conditions

Quick answer

Legal, yes — but by three different routes, depending on the weapon. The Weapons Act (WaffG, LR 514.1) knows privileged, permit-required and prohibited weapons. Privileged weapons — such as single- and multi-barrel hunting rifles, manual repeaters, air and airsoft weapons — you acquire with a written contract (Art. 18 WaffG), with no permit at all. Pistols, revolvers and most self-loading weapons need a weapon acquisition permit from the Landespolizei (Art. 12 WaffG). Prohibited weapons such as automatic firearms or silencers require an exceptional permit. The myth: „It works like in Switzerland, through the cantonal weapons office.“ Wrong — the Swiss rules sit in the Weapons Act SR 514.54, here the Liechtenstein WaffG LR 514.1 applies, and the Landespolizei in Vaduz is responsible.

📋 The rules

Privileged weapons — just a contract (Art. 18 WaffG): hunting rifles, manual repeaters, air and airsoft weapons are acquired with a written contract that both sides keep for 10 years. For privileged firearms a copy goes to the Landespolizei.
Permit-required weapons — the permit (Art. 12 ff WaffG): pistols, revolvers, self-loading rifles and lever-action guns need a weapon acquisition permit. The form comes from the Landespolizei and is filed with a copy of your ID.
Prohibited weapons — the exceptional permit (Art. 42 WaffG): automatic firearms, silencers, pump-action guns or high-capacity magazines are available only with a written, reasoned exceptional permit (Art. 43 WaffV).
Disqualifying grounds block acquisition (Art. 12 para. 3 WaffG): no acquisition for persons under 18, with addiction, mental illness, a risk to self or others, or after certain violent convictions (as a rule for five years).
Youth, inheritance, abroad: from 16 the acquisition of privileged weapons for sport or hunting can be permitted (Art. 19); heirs acquire „on death“ under the same tiers; import and export run through the Swiss authorities (Art. 2 para. 3).

🔓 Exceptions

Acquisition on death (inheritance): it is treated like an ordinary acquisition — privileged firearms must be reported to the Landespolizei, permit-required ones need a weapon acquisition permit, and prohibited ones an exceptional permit.
Young people from 16 (Art. 19 WaffG): on the application of the legal representative the Landespolizei may permit the acquisition of privileged weapons for hunting or sporting purposes; on ranges, shooting is allowed from 14 under supervision.
Nationals of certain states (Art. 9, 10 WaffG): for them acquisition and possession are in principle prohibited; the Landespolizei may, however, grant exceptions on application. This special rule exists in this form only in weapons law.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Anyone who acquires a permit-required weapon without a weapon acquisition permit, or a prohibited one without an exceptional permit, commits an offence under the WaffG — possible are a monetary or prison penalty, and a fine for lighter breaches; we do not state the exact amounts, because they could not be cleanly sourced from the summary. The weapon is confiscated (Art. 47). Often overlooked: the transferring person also has a duty of care (Art. 17) — hand a weapon to someone with a disqualifying ground and you share the responsibility. An entry later acts as a disqualifying ground, can weigh on naturalisation, and a wrongly obtained weapon is a problem for insurance and liability after an incident. Import or export past customs is additionally punishable under Swiss law.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Does a hunting rifle need an acquisition permit?

No, single- and multi-barrel hunting rifles and manual repeaters are privileged weapons and are acquired only with a written contract. A weapon acquisition permit is needed instead for pistols, revolvers and most self-loading weapons.

Where do I apply for the weapon acquisition permit?

At the Landespolizei in Vaduz, where you obtain the form or download it online. It is filed together with a copy of your valid passport or identity card, and the police then check for disqualifying grounds.

Who may not acquire a weapon at all?

Anyone who meets the disqualifying grounds in Art. 12 para. 3 WaffG, for example persons under 18, with an addiction or with certain violent convictions. Anyone who might endanger themselves or others is also barred from acquisition.

Does my Swiss weapon acquisition permit apply in Liechtenstein?

Acquisition in Liechtenstein follows its own WaffG (LR 514.1), and the Landespolizei is responsible, not a cantonal weapons office. Because of the customs treaty, however, import and export run through the Swiss federal authorities.

What applies if I inherit a weapon?

Acquisition on death is treated like an ordinary acquisition and follows the weapon category. Privileged firearms must be reported, permit-required ones need an acquisition permit and prohibited ones an exceptional permit.

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