Tips on getting a Waffenerwerbsschein

Visas, Permits, Passports and Naturalization
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After spending a lot of money at shooting ranges for renting guns, I decided to get myself a Waffenerwerbsschein so I can not only shoot more exotic stuff like pump action shotguns, but also get one if I want to.

There is a lot of mystery on how can a foreigner get a weapon purchase permit, and it varies from canton to canton. My experience comes from Schwyz, but I think the general concept is more or less the same at other places as well. Before we continue, the following tips apply if you own an L or B permit. C permit owners don't need to do anything special, just apply for the weapons purchase permit (WPP from now on) at the Waffensprengstoff division of the cantonal police. The most important requirement, and this applies even if you have a C permit, is that you must not come from the following list of countries: Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegowina, Macedonia, Tukrey, Sri Lanka, Algeria or Albania. This looks like blatant discrimination, but unfortunately this is what is in the law.

Satisfying the first condition, the next thing you need is a proof that the authorities in your home country have nothing against you purchasing and owning guns in Switzerland. In most countries, the police will give you this document, sometimes the ministry of internal affairs. Some countries do not issue a document like that at all (Germany for example), which means that you won't be able to get a WPP until you get a C permit. In my case, I just went to the police and told them that I need proof that "They have nothing against me owning firearms in Switzerland".

Having said document, you need to translate it to german and have it stamped at your consulate, proving the authenticity of the german translation. Many consulates offer translation services as well (for a fee), where they can give you an official translation on spot. This might save you some time having to run around and hunt for translators.

The next thing is then to go to the Waffensprengstoff division of your kantonal police and lodge the request. They should send you the WPP within a week. There is usually a limit on how many weapons you can purchase, e.g. 2 rifles and a handgun.

If you have problems, the best thing is to become a member of ProTELL ( www.protell.ch ). They speak english and can generally help you out with the process and explain the rules. They also actively support the free weapon owning right in switzerland, which I think is a very good cause. Membership fee is 40 CHF a year, which is not that bad considering the ammunition prices in Switzerland

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background reading: Gun regulations

I assume you are constructing a reference thread here, xynth?

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Yep! I'm trying to gather all the information that is required for people interested in shooting. I'll keep adding more information and maintain the guide up to date.

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Tagging this for future reference. Thanks, Xynth!

Morgannon

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One could probably add that the purchase permit is not required for transactions between individuals.

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After reading the law (WG 99) i'm not entirely sure if those on B-permits

are entirely kosher acquiring a weapon by private sale.. My german ain't

so good, admittedly, and i might have missed some subtlety but section 8,

which covers foriegners without permanent residence, didn't make that

bit all that clear- the part that left me wondering was the part that

described the responsibility of the parties in a private sale to draw up a

contract and verify the identity of the buyer and his eligibility to acquire

the weapon- does this mean if he had a B-ausweis that eligibility would

include a WES? that's where I was still fuzzy. Does someone who's read this

with better deutsch that mine have a clearer interpretation?

Looking into getting the letter from the authorities back home as part

of obtaining a WES in any case,

hellas

(and, small surprise, so far the couple people I talked to haven't ever heard of such a request before! one said 'talk to my boss' and the boss said 'send us a letter requesting what you want, ive never heard of this before'

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I am wondering: is this still up to date?

I am a Belgian National and will move to Switzerland in January. I assume I will get a B permit.

Based on this thread I went to my local police station today and explained it to them.

Much to my surprise they were very helpfull (although I was the first person ever to give them such a request).

I.e. what they proposed is that they would be willing to state in a document that they would not mind if I were to get a weapon in Switzerland due to my blank criminal record, put some official stamps on it and add my (blank) criminal record as an appendix. They do not have any sort of standard document for this though. (Or have I misunderstood and do I need to get a document from the Swiss first and have them sign that?)

If I understood this thread correctly, once I get this from them I get it officially translated in German and that would be sufficient?

Also, is there like an expiry date on this? I am guessing that I best get it as close to possible as to my leaving for Switzerland?

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This part isn't up to date anymore.

As to the confirmation: I would suggest you ask them do issue that document in French, then you won't need a translation, even if you will be living in the German speaking area.

However , what you need to submit is not a statement that they don't mind you buying a gun here in Switzerland, but that you are entitled to purchase one in Belgium. But adding the confirmation as suggested by the police certaintly won't hurt.

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Generally, documents should be less than six months old.

Also, get it notarized and apostillaed.

Tom

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Thanks all for the clarifications and advice.