A pistol is category B: needs MUP approval, age 21 and a justified reason — a carry licence is rarely granted

Updated July 2026

🔫 Can I get a firearms licence for a pistol for self-defence?

With conditions

Quick answer

Conditional — it is possible, but far harder than people think, and a carry licence is rarely issued. A pistol and a revolver are category B weapons, so acquiring one needs prior approval from the Ministry of the Interior (MUP). To acquire one for personal security, the applicant must be at least 21, prove a justified reason — that their safety is seriously threatened and that ordinary protective measures cannot secure it — and, within 60 days, supply a medical certificate of fitness and proof of knowledge of handling and regulations. Here the myth that „anyone can get a pistol for self-defence” falls: MUP decides on free assessment, and merely invoking general insecurity is usually not enough. It issues a licence to keep or, more rarely, a licence to keep and carry; the latter, allowing you to carry a loaded weapon, is granted only exceptionally.

📋 The rules

Category B needs approval: acquiring a pistol or revolver requires prior approval from MUP (Weapons Act); only then follow the purchase and issue of a firearms licence.
Age and reason: for personal security the applicant must be at least 21 and prove a justified reason — concrete, serious danger, not a general fear.
Health and knowledge: within 60 days you supply a medical certificate of fitness to keep and carry, plus proof of knowledge of weapon handling and regulations.
MUP free assessment: approval for self-defence is issued on free assessment by the authority; it weighs all facts and may refuse even when the formal conditions are met.
Two kinds of licence: a licence to keep allows storing the weapon at home, while to keep and carry also allows carrying it loaded — the latter is granted only exceptionally.

🔓 Exceptions

Hunting and sport: for hunting and sporting weapons the reason is proven by a hunting card or membership of a shooting club, an easier route than self-defence.
Official persons: police officers, members of the Armed Forces and licensed security guards prove the conditions by a special certificate or card of their service, not the general citizen procedure.
Conditions lapsing means seizure: if a condition (health, orderly life) lapses after the licence is issued, the weapon is seized in administrative proceedings, especially with domestic violence or alcohol or drug abuse.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Acquiring or keeping a pistol without MUP approval is not a misdemeanour but a criminal offence of unlawful weapon possession under the Criminal Code, with prison and seizure of the weapon. Anyone holding a licence only to keep who carries the pistol loaded in public commits a misdemeanour under the Weapons Act, with a fine and seizure. The hidden costs are large and lasting: medical exams that are periodically renewed are required, prescribed storage in a safe or cabinet, and any suspicion of misuse — alcohol, drugs, disturbed family relations, violence — leads to urgent temporary seizure of the weapon and documents. A conviction or serious misdemeanour permanently hampers getting a licence again. Finally, for damage and injury caused by careless handling you are personally liable, both criminally and financially.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Can I as a citizen get a pistol for self-defence?

In principle yes, but the conditions are strict: age 21, a justified reason showing concrete danger, a medical certificate, and passed knowledge of handling and regulations. MUP decides on free assessment, so requests that invoke only general insecurity are regularly refused.

What is the difference between a keep and a carry licence?

A licence to keep allows you to store the weapon at home or on business premises, while a licence to keep and carry also allows you to carry a loaded weapon with you. The carry licence is granted only exceptionally and is harder to obtain than plain keeping.

How old must I be for a firearms licence?

For acquiring a weapon for personal security you must be at least 21. Younger adults can generally reach a weapon only through sport or hunting, with the appropriate card or membership of a shooting club.

Can MUP take away a pistol I already have?

Yes, and immediately, if circumstances appear that point to possible misuse — excessive drinking, drugs, disturbed family relations or domestic violence. The weapon and documents are temporarily seized until the proceedings end, and may also be permanently revoked.

What if I carry a pistol without a carry licence?

Carrying a loaded weapon with a licence valid only for keeping is a misdemeanour with a fine and seizure. Keeping a pistol entirely without MUP approval is more serious — it is a criminal offence of unlawful weapon possession, punishable even by prison.

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