Possession and purchase of firearms in Poland: regulations, requirements, and procedures

Polish law has been regulating access to firearms for over a century. Although the subject evokes strong emotions, the current regulations are detailed and clearly define who can legally possess a firearm, under what conditions, and when. This article discusses the rules for obtaining a firearm license, exceptions to the requirement of holding such a license, and the regulations concerning private purchase and sale of firearms between individuals.

From this article, you will learn:

• What are the historical foundations of firearm access restrictions in Poland?
• Who can apply for a firearm license and what requirements must be met?
• In which situations is a firearm license not required?
• What is the process of legally purchasing a firearm from a private individual?
• When is it legal to possess ammunition for a purchased firearm?

History of firearm access restrictions

The first document restricting access to firearms in independent Poland was the decree of the Chief of State dated January 25, 1919. It imposed prison sentences and fines of up to 5,000 for the illegal possession of ammunition, firearms, or military materials. In cases of illegal possession of hunting or short firearms, offenders faced arrest for up to three months and fines of up to 3,000.

To legally possess a firearm, a citizen had to submit an appropriate application for a permit. Initially, the decision was made by the police, but later this responsibility was transferred to the district governors (starosts).

Who can apply for a firearm license?

Currently, a person must be at least 21 years old to apply for a firearm license. However, in the case of sporting or hunting firearms, a license may be granted from the age of 18, provided the application is submitted by a school, sports organization, the Polish Hunting Association, or a defense association.

The applicant must also be physically and mentally fit to handle a firearm, which must be confirmed by a medical and psychological assessment. In addition, the individual must have a permanent place of residence in Poland and must not be addicted to alcohol or psychoactive substances.

Furthermore, the applicant must not pose a threat to public safety or order. They must not have been lawfully convicted of intentional crimes, including tax offenses, or of unintentional crimes against life and health—particularly if committed under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or involving fleeing the scene of the incident.

When is a firearm license not required?

Polish law outlines specific situations in which it is legal to possess a firearm without obtaining a license. This includes the collection and display of firearms by museums, as well as the use of firearms at shooting ranges under the supervision of authorized personnel for training, sporting, or recreational purposes.

A license is also not required for the use of signal and alarm firearms—for example, for calling for help or signaling during sporting events. Firearms may also be legally traded as part of a licensed business activity.

Furthermore, no license is needed for the possession of firearms that have been rendered inoperable, air guns, replicas of firearms manufactured before 1885, alarm firearms with a caliber of up to 6 mm, gas sprayers, or stun guns with an electric current not exceeding 10 mA.

Purchasing a firearm from a private individual

A person holding a valid firearm license may legally sell a firearm to another individual who also possesses the appropriate authorization. To ensure the transaction is legal, the buyer must have a promesa—a document issued by the relevant administrative authority that entitles them to purchase a specific type of firearm.

The information in the promesa must match the buyer’s identification details. Regardless of the type of firearm license held (e.g., hunting, sporting, or collector’s), transactions are allowed between individuals with different shooting-related licenses.

The sales agreement should include the date and place of the transaction, personal details of both parties (including PESEL numbers), information about their firearm licenses, full identification details of the firearm (type, brand, caliber, serial number, year of manufacture), the price, and the promesa number and date.

Although written form is not legally required, it is strongly recommended—especially when the transaction involves firearms with additional restrictions. One copy of the agreement should be submitted to the appropriate administrative office.

Registration, deregistration of firearms, and responsibilities of the parties

After signing the sales agreement and completing the transaction, the buyer hands over the promesa to the seller, who then transfers the firearm to the buyer. The buyer is required to register the firearm with the appropriate office, while the seller must report the disposal (sale) of the firearm.

Both steps are mandatory and must be confirmed with the relevant documentation. The competent authority (police or military police) updates the records accordingly.

Civil law transaction tax

The purchase of a firearm—similar to buying a car—is subject to a civil law transaction tax (PCC) amounting to 2% of the price stated in the sales agreement. The responsibility for paying this tax lies with the buyer.

Transactions valued below 1,000 PLN are exempt from this tax. However, it is important to remember that undervaluing the firearm in the agreement may lead to an audit and penalties from the tax office.

Ammunition for the purchased firearm

When buying a firearm of a specific caliber, the buyer automatically obtains the right to possess ammunition of the same type, provided they did not previously own another firearm of that caliber. The seller should transfer the ammunition to the new owner if they no longer have the right to possess it themselves.

Although including information about ammunition in the sales agreement is not mandatory, the parties may voluntarily include such a clause.

Obtaining and possessing a firearm in Poland is possible but requires meeting many conditions and strict compliance with the law. Both buyers and sellers must be aware of their responsibilities and ensure that all documentation is complete. Owning a firearm carries not only privileges but also legal, moral, and social responsibilities.