Am I allowed to own a firearm in Denmark?
Only with a weapons permit from the police, and there is no self-defence firearm right. Under the Firearms Act you may only own a firearm with a personal weapons permit tied to a purpose — in practice hunting or sport shooting. The permit costs 1,085 kr per firearm, so a collection costs every time. A shotgun can be held on a valid hunting licence without a separate paid permit — but only for as long as the licence is valid. A hunting licence can be taken from 16 (with parental consent under 18), while handguns require at least 20 and 2 years of active membership of a shooting club. Firearms must be kept in an approved gun safe, and many or particularly dangerous weapons need a stronger safe with an alarm.
📋 The rules
- Only with a weapons permit from the police
- Tied to a purpose: hunting or sport shooting
- The permit costs 1,085 kr per firearm
- Hunting licence from 16, handguns from 20
- Firearms must be stored in an approved gun safe
🔓 Exceptions
- A shotgun can be held on a valid hunting licence without a separate paid permit
- Antique muzzle-loaders made before 1870 need no permit or storage
- Handguns require 2 years of active membership of a shooting club
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Illegal possession can bring a fine or up to 4 months prison under the Firearms Act, and up to 2 years in aggravated cases. Handguns are another category: under Penal Code §192a an illegal handgun carries a minimum of 2 years prison — there is no fine route out, and that is the rule people do not see coming. The trap with hunting weapons is the purpose: the shotgun rests on the hunting licence, and a licence that has not been renewed leaves you holding a weapon with no legal basis. And the gun safe is not good advice, it is a legal requirement.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Can I own a firearm?
Only with a weapons permit from the police, and it must be tied to a purpose such as hunting or sport shooting. There is no right to own a firearm for self-defence, however exposed you may feel.
What does a weapons permit cost?
1,085 kr per firearm, so the price rises with every gun in the collection. A shotgun can be held on a valid hunting licence without a separate paid permit, as long as that licence is valid and renewed.
How old must I be?
A hunting licence can be taken from 16, and under 18 it needs parental consent. Handguns require at least 20, so there is a real difference between a hunting weapon and a pistol, including in the age limit.
What does a handgun require?
At least 20, a weapons permit from the police and 2 years of active membership of an approved shooting club. Illegal handguns are punished under Penal Code §192a with a minimum of 2 years prison.
How must I store the firearm?
In an approved gun safe. If you have many weapons or particularly dangerous ones, a stronger safe with an alarm is required, and the storage rule is a legal requirement — not advice you can opt out of.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “can I own a firearm denmark”
- “weapons permit police”
- “hunting licence 16”
- “handgun 20 shooting club”
- “gun safe storage”
- “self-defence firearm banned”