In many cases, the handling of weapons, in particular firearms and equivalent objects, requires an official permit. Although the Weapons Act is a federal law, its implementation is the responsibility of the federal states.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, a jurisdiction ordinance stipulates that in principle, the district police authority in whose area the habitual residence of the gun owner or the applicant is located, is responsible for implementing the weapons law and issuing permits.
General information on firearms law can be found on the central state information page.
Phone availability:
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Monday and Wednesday:
08:00 - 12:00
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Tuesday and Thursday:
14:00 - 16:00
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Friday:
no telephone availability
In principle, the Weapons Law Department does not require personal visits for applications or general advice. Weapons law matters can usually be dealt with by telephone, email or post. Should this not be possible in exceptional cases, you will receive an appointment for a personal meeting from us after explaining the facts of the case. Therefore, please do not show up unsolicited and without an appointment.
We ask you to indicate an informal contact option (telephone or e-mail) on your applications so that we can contact you at short notice if we need to consult you in order to process your application quickly.
Please send your documents to:
District police authority Minden-Lübbecke,
Direction Central Tasks,
Weapons Law Division,
Marienstraße 82,
32425 Minden.
Overview of individual responsibilities:
- Granting licenses for the acquisition and possession of firearms for sport shooters, hunters, heirs and clubs (gun ownership cards/WBK)
- Applications for the entry and removal of firearms in existing WBK's
- Applications for the issue of the small firearms license
- Import and export permits for firearms
- . and export permits for firearms
- Applications for the issue/extension of the European firearms pass
- Loss reports for firearms documents and weapons
- Permits for arms trading and arms manufacture
- Permits for the operation of shooting ranges (incl. shooting carriages)
- Permits for the operation of shooting ranges (incl. shooting carriages
- Exemptions from the age requirement for children and young people
Applying for a small firearms license is also possible online.
You can hand in old weapons for destruction without compensation during the above-mentioned office hours or at any police station in the Minden-Lübbecke district during office hours.
The processing of applications under the Weapons Act is subject to a fee.