Weapons Act (WA)
Originally before Art. 23. Amended by No I 1 of the FA of 22 June 2001 on the Streamlining of Federal Legislation on Weapons, War Material, Explosives and Goods Usable for Civilian and Military Purposes, in force since 1 March 2002 (AS 2002 248; BBl 2000 3369).
English is not an official language of the Swiss Confederation. This translation is provided for information purposes only and has no legal force.
Art. 22a Export, transit, brokerage and trade
1 The export, transit, brokerage to recipients abroad, and trade abroad from Switzerland of weapons, weapon components, weapon accessories, ammunition and ammunition components are governed by: a. the legislation on war materials if the goods are covered by this legislation; b. the legislation on goods control if the goods are not covered by the legislation on war materials. 2 Articles 22b, 23, 25a and 25b remain without prejudice.
Art. 22a — Inserted by No I 1 of the FA of 22 June 2001 on the Streamlining of Federal Legislation on Weapons, War Material, Explosives and Goods Usable for Civilian and Military Purposes, in force since 1 March 2002 (AS 2002 248; BBl 2000 3369). Para. 2 — Amended by Art. 3 No 6 of the FD of 17. Dec. 2004 on the Adoption and Implementation of the Bilateral Agreements between Switzerland and the EU on the Association with Schengen and Dublin, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 447 5405 Art. 1 l
Art. 22b Accompanying document
1 Any person who wishes to export firearms, their essential components or ammunition to a Schengen state requires an accompanying document from the Central Office. 2 An accompanying document is not required if a person wishes to export to a Schengen state firearms, their essential components or ammunition that are also governed by legislation on war materials. 3 An accompanying document is not issued if the end recipient is not authorised under the law of the country of destination to possess the firearms, the essential components or the ammunition. 4 The accompanying document contains all the relevant information on the transport of the firearms, the essential components or the ammunition to be exported, as well as the necessary information for identifying the persons involved. The document must accompany these objects to the place of destination. 5 The Central Office shall transmit the available information to the competent authorities of the states concerned with the export of the f
Art. 22b — Inserted by Art. 3 No 6 of the FD of 17 Dec. 2004 on the Adoption and Implementation of the Bilateral Agreements between Switzerland and the EU on the Association with Schengen and Dublin (AS 2008 447; BBl 2004 5965). Amended by No I of the FA of 11 Dec. 2009 (Amendment to the Implementation of the Schengen acquis), in force since 28 July 2010 (AS 2010 2823; BBl 2009 3649).
Art. 22c Control by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security
The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) shall make spot checks to examine whether the information contained in the accompanying note corresponds to the firearms, the essential components or ammunition being exported.
Art. 22c — Inserted by Art. 2 of the FD of 11 Dec. 2009 on the Adoption and Implementation of the Exchange of Notes between Switzerland and the EC concerning the Adoption of Directive 2008/51/EC on Amending the Weapons Directive (AS 2010 2899; BBl 2009 3649). Amended by No I 13 of the O of 12 June 2020 on the Amendment of Legislation as a consequence of the Change to the Name of the Federal Customs Administration as part of its further Development, in force since 1 Jan. 2022 (AS 2020 2743).
Art. 23 Notification requirement
1 Weapons, essential and specially designed weapon components, ammunition and ammunition components brought into Switzerland must be declared in accordance with the provisions of the Customs Act of 18 March 2005. 2 The Federal Council defines the exceptions.
Art. 23 — Amended by Annex No 6 of the Customs Act of 18 March 2005, in force since 1 May 2007 (AS 2007 1411; BBl 2004 567). Para. 1 — SR 631.0 Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the FA of 22 June 2007, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 5499 5405 Art. 2 let. d; BBl 2006 2713).
Art. 24 Bringing weapons into Switzerland on a commercial basis
1 Any person who wishes to bring weapons, essential weapon components, ammunition or ammunition components into Switzerland on a commercial basis requires in addition to a weapons trading permit a permit in accordance with Articles 24a, 24b or 24c. 2 The Federal Council may make exceptions to the permit requirement for bringing knives into Switzerland on a commercial basis. 3 The Central Office issues the permit and limits its validity. 4 The Central Office shall inform the competent cantonal authority of the permit holder’s business location about the weapons, essential and specially designed weapon components, ammunition and ammunition components which have been commercially brought into Switzerland.
Art. 24 — Amended by No I of the FA of 22 June 2007, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 5499 5405 Art. 2 let. d; BBl 2006 2713).
Art. 24a Single-delivery permit
1 Any person who wishes to bring a single delivery of weapons, essential weapon components, ammunition or ammunition components into Switzerland on a commercial basis requires a single-delivery permit; the weapons concerned must be clearly defined. 2 Any person who has a single-delivery permit and has not given cause for complaint for one year in connection with bringing weapons, essential weapon components, ammunition or ammunition components into Switzerland may apply to have the single-delivery permit converted into a general permit in accordance with Article 24b or 24c.
Art. 24a — Inserted by No I of the FA of 22 June 2007, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 5499 5405 Art. 2 let. d; BBl 2006 2713).
Art. 24b General permit for weapons other than firearms
Any person who wishes to bring weapons other than firearms, or ammunition and ammunition components into Switzerland on a regular commercial basis requires a general permit for weapons other than firearms.
Art. 24b — Inserted by No I of the FA of 22 June 2007, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 5499 5405 Art. 2 let. d; BBl 2006 2713).
Art. 24c General permit for weapons, weapon components and ammunition
Any person who wishes to bring weapons, essential weapon components, ammunition or ammunition components into Switzerland on a regular commercial basis requires a general permit for weapons, weapon components and ammunition.
Art. 24c — Inserted by No I of the FA of 22 June 2007, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 5499 5405 Art. 2 let. d; BBl 2006 2713).
Art. 25 Bringing weapons into Switzerland on a non-commercial basis
1 Any person who wishes to bring weapons, essential weapon components, ammunition or ammunition components into Switzerland on a non-commercial basis requires a permit. A permit is issued if the applicant is authorised to acquire the object in question. 2 The permit is issued by the Central Office and is of limited duration. The permit authorises the holder to bring a maximum of three weapons or weapon components into Switzerland simultaneously. 2bis The Federal Council determines what form the permit application shall take, what additional documents are required, and how long the permit is valid. 3 The Federal Council may make exceptions to the permit requirement for bringing weapons other than firearms into Switzerland on a temporary basis. 4 The Central Office shall notify the competent cantonal authority at the permit holder’s place of residence of weapons, essential and specially designed weapon components, ammunition and ammunition components that have been brought into Switzerla
Art. 25 — Amended by No I of the FA of 22 June 2007, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 5499 5405 Art. 2 let. d; BBl 2006 2713). Para. 2 — Amended by No I of the FA of 11 Dec. 2009 (Amendment to the Implementation of the Schengen acquis), in force since 28 July 2010 (AS 2010 2823; BBl 2009 3649). Para. 2bis — Inserted by No I of the FA of 11 Dec. 2009 (Amendment to the Implementation of the Schengen acquis), in force since 28 July 2010 (AS 2010 2823; BBl 2009 3649). Para. 3 — Amended by No I o
Art. 25a Bringing firearms temporarily into Switzerland while travelling
1 Any person who wishes to bring firearms and their ammunition temporarily into Switzerland while travelling requires a permit in accordance with Article 25. The permit may be issued for a maximum of one year and for one or more journeys. It may be renewed for a maximum of one year at a time. 2 A permit for bringing firearms from a Schengen state is only issued if they are registered in a European Firearms Pass. The permit must be recorded in the European Firearms Pass. 3 The Federal Council may make exceptions to the permit requirement for: a. hunters and target shooters; b. foreign personnel of diplomatic missions, permanent missions to international organisations, consular posts and special missions; c. members of foreign armed forces on international missions or training; d. government security officers on official visits; e. staff of foreign border control authorities on operational deployment with the Swiss border protection authorities at the Schengen external borders in Switzer
Art. 25a — Inserted by Art. 3 No 6 of the FD of 17 Dec. 2004 on the Adoption and Implementation of the Bilateral Agreements between Switzerland and the EU on the Association with Schengen and Dublin, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 447 5405 Art. 1 let. e; BBl 2004 5965). Art. 25a — Amended by No I of the FA of 22 June 2007, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 5499 5405 Art. 2 let. d; BBl 2006 2713). Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the FA of 22 June 2007, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 5
Art. 25b Taking firearms temporarily out of Switzerland while travelling
1 Any person who wishes to take firearms and their ammunition temporarily to a Schengen state while travelling must apply to the competent authority of their canton of residence for a European Firearms Pass. 2 The European Firearms Pass is issued for weapons that the applicant can credibly claim to be authorised to possess. It is valid for a maximum of five years and may be extended for a maximum of two years at a time.
Art. 25b — Inserted by Art. 3 No 6 of the FD of 17 Dec. 2004 on the Adoption and Implementation of the Bilateral Agreements between Switzerland and the EU on the Association with Schengen and Dublin, in force since 12 Dec. 2008 (AS 2008 447 5405 Art. 1 let. e; BBl 2004 5965). Para. 1 — Amended by No I of the FA of 11 Dec. 2009 (Adaptation of the Implementation of the Schengen Acquis), in force since 28 July 2010 (AS 2010 2823; BBl 2009 3649).