How do I get a gun permit?

Step 1

Membership in a sports shooting club.

Step 2

Shooting License Exam.

The requirements for obtaining a firearms license are as follows:

  • the applicant must be at least 18 years of age,
  • membership in a club affiliated with the PZSS for at least 3 months,
  • submission of a properly completed application for a shooting permit,
  • pass the firearms license exam.

The firearms license exam consists of a theoretical and a practical portion.


The theoretical section takes the form of a multiple-choice test (10 questions) and covers:

  • the provisions of the Weapons and Ammunition Act,
  • regulations governing the storage and transport of weapons,
  • PZSS sports competition rules,
  • safety rules for handling sporting firearms,
  • the design, operating principles, and technical specifications of sporting firearms,
  • knowledge of the provisions of the Criminal Code regarding weapons-related crimes.


The practical portion takes place at the shooting range and includes:

  • verifying compliance with the shooting range rules,
  • testing the ability to handle a firearm properly (assembling and disassembling the firearm, loading and unloading it, engaging and disengaging the safety, and knowing how to proceed in the event of a malfunction),
  • A shooting test using a randomly selected type of weapon.

The primary emphasis is on safety. Accuracy and concentration (when shooting at a target) come second.


The exam fee is 400 zł.

The cost is the same regardless of the number of disciplines you take, so it’s worth taking the exam for all categories—i.e., pistol, rifle, and smoothbore shotgun—at once. It is not possible to “expand” your license later. If you want to add additional disciplines, you’ll have to retake the entire exam.

For an additional fee of 60 zł, you can receive your permit in “plastic” form. This version of the document has no added value, since the police are only interested in the paper version anyway. At most, it might come in handy because some shooting ranges will allow you to shoot with a range-provided firearm without a supervisor or instructor.


Regulations Governing Firearms Licenses

A shooting license is a document certifying proficiency in the basic skills of handling firearms. It also certifies that the holder is qualified to participate in shooting sports. It is issued for three disciplines: pistol, rifle, and smoothbore shotgun.


A shooting permit entitles the holder to:

  • practicing shooting in the discipline for which it was issued,
  • applying for a PZSS athlete’s license authorizing participation in sports competitions,
  • applying for a shooting referee license,
  • applying for a firearms permit for sporting purposes, pursuant to the Firearms and Ammunition Act.


PZSS: Sample application form for a shooting license.


Various clubs and companies organize courses to prepare participants for the shooting license exam. These courses usually cost around 400–500 zł and last 1–2 days. The quality of these courses varies—sometimes they are very well run, and you can actually learn a lot (especially if you’re just starting out in shooting). About a month later, you should receive your shooting license by mail.

Step 3

License


Apply for a PZSS license. The license entitles you to participate in shooting competitions in specific disciplines.

It is issued for one calendar year and must be renewed annually for the following year.


The cost of issuing a license is:

  • 50 zł to the PZSS account for the issuance of a license,
  • 25 zł to the regional PZSS account as an administrative fee.


To maintain your license, you need to accumulate what are known as “competition starts.”

  • four events for the main discipline (usually the pistol),
  • two events each in the remaining disciplines (rifle and shotgun).


In total, you need to compete eight times, which can often be achieved by participating in a major competition twice a year.



For example, if during the year I competed in the following events:

  • sport pistol,
  • central ignition gun,
  • sport rifle,
  • smoothbore shotgun,

This means I have competed twice in the pistol event, once in the rifle event, and once in the smoothbore shotgun event. Having competed twice in these types of competitions means I have enough competitions under my belt to renew my license.

It is best to apply for a competitive shooting license immediately after receiving your shooting certification.

PZSS: Athlete License.



It’s worth noting here that you shouldn’t wait until the end of the year to renew your license, because if you receive it in November, for example, you might not be able to complete the required number of starts to renew it for the following year!

PZSS: Price List.


It’s best to ask your shooting club about the licensing process itself, since the club applies for the license on your behalf and pays all the fees.

PZSS: License Template.

Step 4

Certificate from a sports club.

Obtain a membership certificate from your sports club. A club membership certificate is one of the items listed in the Weapons and Ammunition Act that constitute “valid reasons for possessing a firearm.” You can obtain this document from your club.

Step 5

A certificate from a doctor and a psychologist.

See a sports medicine doctor and a psychologist. This is the final step in the process of applying for a permit to own a sporting firearm.

Step 6

Submit an application for a firearms permit.

The application should be written clearly and legibly, explaining why you want to own a firearm and how many you are requesting. It is a good idea to explain why you are requesting that specific number and what you intend to use them for (which competitions you plan to enter).


Applicants for a sports firearm permit must provide a valid reason for possessing a firearm. Under the Firearms and Ammunition Act, such reasons include documented membership in a shooting club, possession of the appropriate sports qualifications, and a license from the relevant Polish sports federation. However, this must be described in the application, because it is up to us to demonstrate the existence of justified circumstances supporting the granting of a firearms permit.


If we meet the above criteria and have described them in our application, and if there are no grounds for denying us a firearms permit, the police MUST issue it. However, they may limit the number of firearms for which the permit is issued. If we apply for 8, the police may determine that a permit for 3 firearms is sufficient for us. That is why it is worth specifying exactly how many firearms we want and for which competitions, so that they have no grounds for objection.


If you are applying for a permit for sporting firearms for both sporting and collecting purposes, you can include both requests in a single document. However, the stamp duty for issuing the permit is then doubled. Applying for a permit for collecting purposes, on the other hand, allows you to increase the number of firearms for which you will receive a permit.


It’s a good idea to include a request in your permit application for authorization to carry a firearm “on presentation of a certificate.” It costs 10 zł, and this allows you to travel with a firearm borrowed from any club or association.


Required documents:

  • A copy of the shooting license (the original is available for inspection).
  • A copy of the license (the original is available for inspection).
  • Original certificate of membership in a shooting club.
  • The original medical certificate.
  • The original psychological evaluation.
  • The original receipt confirming payment of the stamp duty to the City Hall’s account. (242 PLN)
  • Two 3 cm x 4 cm photos.
  • Application for a permit to possess a sporting firearm.
  • A list of events published by the sports clubs in which we competed.


Send the document prepared in this way (or deliver it in person) to your WPA. A decision should be issued within 1 month.

It’s also worth taking a shooting range supervisor course, regardless of whether you have a permit. Under the law, the certifications issued by the PZSS and LOK are equivalent. This course allows you to shoot at ranges with your own firearm on your own (without a club instructor). Such a certification is also required when renting shooting ranges.


Important links:


Downloads:

Sample application for a sports firearm permit for sporting and collecting purposes.

Download