Can I own a weapon?
Whether you may own a weapon depends entirely on its category under the Weapons Act of 8 June 2006. There are three categories. Prohibited weapons (art. 3) may never be owned (pepper spray, switchblades, automatic weapons …). Freely available weapons (art. 5) may be owned by an adult without a licence: deactivated weapons, certain historical weapons, alarm weapons, and non-firearms such as air guns below 7.5 joules. Licence-required weapons — essentially all real firearms (handguns, rifles) — may only be owned with a licence (model 4) from the Federal Weapons Service of the provincial governor, and only with a legitimate reason: sport shooter, hunter, collector or passive owner. For sport shooters this includes a theory and practical exam, a medical certificate and club membership. Every firearm is registered in the Central Weapons Register; the licence is valid 5 years and you must store your weapon safely at home (weapon and ammunition separate, locked away).
📋 The rules
- Three categories: prohibited (never), freely available (no licence), licence-required (real firearms)
- Licence (model 4) from the Federal Weapons Service; only with a legitimate reason (sport, hunting, collection, passive)
- Sport shooter: theory and practical exam, medical certificate (max 3 months old) and club membership
- Every firearm and transfer is registered in the Central Weapons Register; licence valid 5 years
- Safe storage: weapon and ammunition separate and locked away, so it is not readily usable
- Hunters and sport shooters may hold certain long guns on their hunting licence or sport-shooting licence
🔓 Exceptions
- Freely available weapons (deactivated, alarm, air below 7.5 J) may be owned by an adult without a licence
- An inherited weapon can be held passively (no ammunition/use) via a declaration to the weapons service
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Owning a licence-required firearm without a licence, or owning a prohibited weapon, is punished with a fine up to €25,000 (before surcharges) and/or imprisonment up to 5 years, with seizure of the weapon. Anyone who does not renew their licence or breaches the storage rules risks withdrawal of the licence and seizure.
📎 Official sources
- FPS Justice · weapons →
- Police · what the Weapons Act says →
- Governor East Flanders · weapons licences (possession) →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I just buy a firearm?
No. Real firearms are licence-required: you need a licence (model 4) from the Federal Weapons Service, with a legitimate reason (sport, hunting, collection, passive possession) and, for sport shooters, exams and a medical certificate.
Which weapons may I own without a licence?
Freely available weapons: deactivated weapons, certain historical and alarm weapons, and non-firearms such as air guns below 7.5 joules. You must be an adult.
What is a legitimate reason?
Sport shooting, hunting, a historical collection, an objective serious security risk or passive possession (e.g. an inherited weapon without ammunition). Without a legitimate reason you get no licence.
How must I store my weapon at home?
Safely and locked away, with the weapon (or an essential part) and the ammunition separate, so it is not readily usable. The requirements get stricter the more weapons you hold.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “own weapon belgium licence”
- “firearm licence model 4”
- “weapon categories act”
- “sport shooter weapon exam”
- “store weapon safely”