Bringing firearms to Sweden

In Swedish: Ta med vapen till Sverige

Declaring firearms to the Swedish Customs

When importing firearms to Sweden you have to declare the import to the Swedish Customs. For more information on how to file a declaration, please visit the Swedish Customs website.

Swedish Customs website (tullverket.se)

Apply for a temporary import permit

If you want to bring firearms, ammunition or suppressors to Sweden for a limited time and are not covered by any of the exemptions[AN1] , you need to apply for an import permit. An import permit grants the right to possess the firearms, ammunition, and suppressors that have been brought into Sweden for the limited duration and for the purpose specified in the permit. The provisions for such a permit are mainly the same as for a possession permit. When applying for an import permit, you need to be able to prove that you need the firearm and that you meet certain requirements. You need to:

• meet the basic requirements for handling firearms or that you have especially good marksmanship (the latter applies for handguns which are not power-limited), and
• have a basic understanding of hunting and wildlife management (when applying for an import permit for a firearm for hunting), or
• be an active member of a shooting association (when applying for an import permit for a firearm for target shooting).

You can show that you meet the basic requirements for handling firearms and that you need them in Sweden by attaching a certificate, e.g. a certificate from the responsible hunting or shooting competition host. 

Please note that the inviting host is not necessarily the same person as the one who is organizing the hunting trip to Sweden.

You can use the following forms for your application and certificate.

PM 553.12 – Application for import permit regarding firearms or ammunition (fill out digitally on your device) (pdf, 1 MB) 

PM 553.12 – Application for import permit regarding firearms or ammunition (print and complete by hand) (pdf, 140 kB)

PM 553.14 – Invitation for hunt (fill out digitally on your device) (pdf, 2 MB)  
PM 553.14 – Invitation for hunt (print and complete by hand) (pdf, 137 kB)

PM 553.16 – Invitation for competition (fill out digitally on your device) (pdf, 1 MB)
PM 553.16 – Invitation for competition (print and complete by hand) (pdf, 151 kB)

Submit your application and any attachments

The application and any attachments can be submitted by e-mail to weapon-arlanda.stockholm@polisen.se.

Pay the application fee

Once the police have received your application, a payment request will be sent to you by post. It will not be possible to pay the fee until you receive your payment request. Make the payment as soon as possible. The processing of your case will not begin until you have paid the application fee.

The application fee for an import permit is SEK 990. 

When paying from abroad, payment is to be made to the following account:
IBAN: SE88 1200 0000 0128 1011 1804
BIC address: DABASESX, Danske Bank, Norrmalmstorg 1, 103 92 Stockholm.

Please remember to state the OCR number which can be found on the payment request.

If you have any questions regarding your payment, please contact the Swedish Police Authority finance department by e-mail: ekonomisupport@polisen.se. Please state your case number (e.g. A123.123/YYYY) or OCR number in the e-mail message.

Exemptions: When an import permit is not required

Do you have a Swedish possession permit?

An individual may, without an import permit, bring the firearms, ammunition, and suppressors into Sweden that the individual has the right to possess for personal use. This also applies to target shooting associations, museum curators, and security companies. This rule is only applicable if the person bringing the firearm, ammunition, or suppressor holds a valid Swedish possession permit for the firearm being imported or a firearm intended for use with the ammunition or silencer being imported.

Do you have a possession permit in Denmark, Finland or Norway?

An individual who holds a permanent possession permit from a competent authority in Denmark, Finland, or Norway for firearms for hunting or target shooting for personal use in those countries, may bring such firearms, along with their ammunition and suppressors, into Sweden without an import permit. However, this is contingent upon the purpose of importing the firearm being its use for hunting or target shooting competition during a stay in Sweden. A person who has imported firearms, ammunition, and suppressors for hunting or target shooting in Sweden may possess these items in Sweden without a permit for a maximum of three months from the date of import. The same rules apply when traveling through Sweden to Denmark, Finland, or Norway in connection with temporary use for hunting or target shooting in any of these countries.

Do you have a valid European firearms passport?

An individual who holds a valid European firearms passport may, without an import permit, bring firearms listed in the firearms passport into Sweden, along with their ammunition and suppressors, for temporary use during a stay in Sweden for hunting or target shooting competitions. The individual must carry documentation proving that the items are to be used for hunting or target shooting competitions in Sweden. Anyone who has brought firearms, ammunition, and suppressors into Sweden may possess the items in Sweden without a permit for a maximum of three months from the date of import.

Permanent import of firearms to Sweden

If you want to bring a firearm, suppressor, or ammunition into Sweden permanently, you can apply for a Swedish possession permit for the item you wish to bring in. There may be requirements for an export or transfer permit from the country where the firearm is located, but this varies from country to country. You will need to find out for yourself what applies in your case.

You can read more about applying for a possession permit here.

Possession permit

Processing of personal data

The Swedish Police Authority processes the personal data you provide in your notification or application in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Firearms Act, and other applicable data protection regulations. Personal data provided in connection with this notification or application is processed as part of the exercise of public authority in order to carry out the tasks prescribed by the Firearms Act and the Firearms Ordinance. This also applies to personal data provided regarding other individuals. Where necessary, the data may be disclosed to other authorities, including general administrative courts, should the Police Authority’s decision in the matter be appealed. The purpose of the processing is to facilitate the handling of matters concerning permits under the Firearms Act and to provide information necessary to prevent or detect criminal activity, or to investigate or prosecute crimes involving firearms. To verify suitability for firearm possession, checks will be conducted against certain Police Authority registers, including the criminal records register and the register of suspected offenders. The data is retained for as long as necessary for case processing, archival purposes, and the maintenance of firearm registers, though for a maximum of 30 years after the cessation of firearm possession.

As a general rule, documents submitted to the Swedish Police Authority become public records that are registered and preserved in accordance with the Public Access to Information and Secrecy Act (2009:400) and archival legislation. If someone requests access to a public document, the information may therefore be disclosed in accordance with the principle of public access, provided it is not subject to confidentiality.