What is a firearms licence
Until the end of 2025, the right to keep and (sometimes) bear arms was proved by a firearms licence. As of 1 January 2026, the new law replaces it with the institution of a firearms licence (general or extended) issued by the Police of the Czech Republic and kept in a central register.
In layman’s terms, it is called a firearms licence and people most often apply for it because of sport shooting, hunting, employment in security or for the protection of life and health.
If someone asks how to get a firearms licence, they should know that it is not just a matter of filling out a piece of paper. Gun ownership is considered a highly responsible area in the legal system and is strictly controlled by the state.
Therefore, a firearms licence is not an automatic entitlement, but an entitlement for which you must meet the legal conditions, demonstrate knowledge and pass the firearms licence test.
What changes in 2026: the end of the paper gun licence
On 1 January 2026, a new Weapons Act came into force, replacing the existing legislation. The biggest change is the digitisation of the entire agenda.
The existing paper gun licences will no longer be used and the authorisation to hold a gun will be recorded electronically in the Central Register of Weapons. Holders of a firearms licence automatically become holders of a firearms authorisation, so there is no need to reapply. However, the paper licence can no longer be used as a document.
So if someone is looking for “how to get a firearms licence” today, they should know that they are still talking about a firearms licence, but legally it is now a firearms authorisation.
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The application for a firearms licence (now a firearms licence) does not always go smoothly. The police may refuse your application, initiate administrative proceedings over reliability or even threaten to revoke your licence. If you are unsure whether you meet the requirements or are already dealing with a specific gun licence issue, please contact us.
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Who can apply for a firearms licence
Only a person who meets several key legal requirements can apply for a firearms licence. This is often the reason why an application for a firearms licence is refused.
The basic requirement is age. The minimum threshold varies according to the purpose, but as a rule, a normal applicant must be at least 18 years of age (or 21 for an enhanced firearms licence). Persons over 15 years of age studying courses in hunting, riflesmanship or gun handling, as well as members of licensed shooting sports associations, may also be eligible for a firearms licence.
Another requirement is medical fitness certified by a doctor. Without a medical certificate, the process cannot proceed. Medical fitness must be documented by a medical report, and the law now works with more frequent health checks than before. The intervals may vary according to the age of the holder, the type of licence and the specific situation, and the police may require a medical report outside the regular time limits.
Integrity also plays a large role. The police will check that you have not been convicted of any offences that would disqualify you from owning a gun. Similarly, your reliability is also assessed, i.e. whether you have any circumstances suggesting misuse of the weapon, such as repeated offences or alcohol problems.
Applying for a firearms licence is therefore not just a formality. If you are unsure whether you meet any of the conditions, it is advisable to consult a solicitor before applying.
An available attorney can help you, for example, if the police reject your application or initiate administrative proceedings.
Groups of firearms licences
From 2026, the licence is no longer divided into firearms licence groups. There is now a general firearms licence and an extended firearms licence. Extended is mainly needed where the law requires a higher regime – typically for concealed carry or certain specialist roles.
As this is a wide-ranging topic, we have detailed the firearms licence groups in a separate article.
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How much does a firearms licence cost
The administrative fee alone is usually a few hundred crowns, but the total cost is usually higher. You have to take into account the compulsory medical examination, which can cost around CZK 1 000 or more, and the preparatory courses at the shooting range.
Another item is the gun licence test itself, where you pay the test fee and ammunition. Overall, the cost of a firearms licence normally comes to several thousand crowns.
If someone is looking for an exact answer to the question of how much a firearms licence costs, it always depends on the location, the course and the difficulty of the preparation.
How the firearms licence test is conducted
The firearms licence test is a crucial point in the whole process. It consists of two parts: theoretical and practical.
The theory includes knowledge of the law, safe handling of the weapon and the rules of use. The practical part tests whether you can handle the weapon correctly, load, unload and hit the target safely.
Many people prepare by taking the firearms license test online or by studying firearms license test questions that correspond to real exam questions. With the changes in 2026 came changes to these tests. They now exceed 800 questions, making them more challenging to prepare for. They contain fewer questions from a legal background, and conversely more questions from gun science.
The firearms license tests are also a great way to see if you are really prepared for the test.
If you fail the test, you can retake it, but this makes the process longer and more expensive.
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How to apply for a firearms licence
If you want to get a firearms licence, the first practical step is to apply. However, from 2026, the system is changing: instead of the traditional “firearms licence”, a ” firearms licence” is now issued, which is held electronically in the Central Register of Weapons. This means that you will no longer just get a plastic card, but your licence will be recorded digitally.
Nevertheless, the whole procedure is relatively simple.
First, you need to get an application form for a firearms licence (now called an application for a firearms licence). You can obtain this directly from the police department or on the Home Office website.
Once you have the application ready, the next step is a medical examination. The police will not accept your application without a medical report. The GP must confirm that you are medically fit to hold a gun.
You can then apply to the police. An important new feature from 2026 is that local jurisdiction no longer applies. This means that you don’t have to apply only at your place of residence, but you can go to any police station throughout the Czech Republic. For many people, this is considerably more convenient.
The police will then check whether you meet the legal conditions. For example, they check your integrity and reliability, i.e. whether you have been convicted of a serious offence or whether you have any circumstances that would put you at risk of misusing a weapon.
Once the police have confirmed that you are fit to proceed, you will be tested for your firearms licence. These consist of a theoretical section (firearms licence test questions) and a practical shooting session.
Once you have passed the test , the police will issue you with a firearms licence. But from 2026, the plastic card is no longer the main document. Your licence will be entered electronically in the register and you can have a statement issued if necessary, for example via Czech POINT.
Should the police refuse your application, you have the option of defending yourself legally. Most often an appeal is filed, and it is in these cases that it is worth contacting a lawyer, as the administrative procedure is often complex and the police must give proper reasons for their decision.
If you are denied a firearms licence or are at risk of having your licence revoked, we can look into your situation and find out whether you are not actually entitled to a firearms licence or whether the authority has made a mistake.
Validity of the firearms licence and renewal
From 2026, the renewal of a firearms licence after 10 years is no longer an issue as it used to be. The important thing is that a firearms licence lasts as long as you meet the legal conditions, and one of the key conditions is medical fitness – this is proven by a medical certificate which needs to be renewed at regular intervals (typically after 5 years). The police may ask you to provide a medical certificate, especially when you are moving from the old system.
Illegal arming
Possession of a weapon without the necessary authorisation is not only an offence, but may be a criminal offence of unlawful arming.
This is open to anyone who unlawfully possesses a firearm or ammunition. Penalties can include not only forfeiture of the weapon but also imprisonment.
This is why it is always best to go through the legal process and not underestimate the rules. If you have been charged with unlawful arming or are facing the revocation of your firearms license, contact an attorney as soon as possible.
Summary
A Firearms Licence (“Firearms Licence”) is an official authorisation issued by the Police which allows you to legally acquire, possess or carry firearms and ammunition, and from 1 January 2026 the whole system is changing – paper licences are coming to an end and a digital firearms licence recorded in the Central Register of Weapons is being introduced. To find out how to obtain a firearms licence, you must meet legal conditions such as a minimum age (usually 18, but the law sets a higher age limit of 21 for some licences or activities), medical fitness confirmed by a medical report, integrity and reliability. In addition, a medical examination must be presented every 5 years. The firearms licence exams, which have both a theoretical and practical part, are part of the process and many candidates prepare using online tests and test questions, which will expand to more than 800 after 2026. The application for a firearms licence is made to the Police, and now local jurisdiction no longer applies, so you can apply at any police station in the country. The cost of a firearms licence is in the order of several thousand crowns, as it includes administrative fees, a medical examination and the cost of the exam and courses. The validity of a firearms licence is normally 10 years, but renewal requires a timely application and new proof of medical fitness, otherwise you may have to go through the whole process again. It is also important to proceed legally, as possession of a weapon without a licence can be a criminal offence of unlawful arming, and if the police refuse the application or revoke the licence, it is possible to defend yourself by appealing and taking legal advice from a solicitor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a medical certificate valid for a firearms licence application and what if it is forfeited during the process?
A medical report on medical fitness is a mandatory attachment to the application for a firearms licence. The law does not provide for a precise universal “period of validity in days”, but in practice the police require that the certificate be up-to-date and correspond to the applicant’s current state of health. It is therefore usually advisable to have the report issued shortly before the application is made, preferably within a few weeks.
If the process is protracted and the police have doubts about whether the report is still valid, they may ask you to provide a new one. This can typically happen if there is a long delay, a retest or if there is information about a change in your medical condition. In practice, therefore, the rule of thumb is: only get the assessment when you actually apply and do not leave it in a drawer for several months ahead.
Do I have to take the firearms licence test again if my firearms licence has lapsed and I missed the renewal?
Yes, in most cases, if your firearms licence (or firearms licence) expires, you cannot just “renew” it after the fact. If you miss the statutory deadline and the licence no longer exists, you will have to re-enter the system as a new applicant.
This may mean going through the whole process again, i.e. submitting a new application, providing a medical report and very often retaking the proficiency test
What are the most common mistakes people make when filling out an application for a firearms licence?
One of the most common mistakes is that the applicant does not know exactly what type of authorisation they are applying for or they fill in the application incompletely. In addition, there is a new firearms licence scheme coming in 2026, so people often use old wording or documents that are not up to date.
Another common mistake is underestimating the attachments, especially the medical certificate. The police cannot accept an application at all without properly documented medical fitness. Incorrect contact details are also a problem, which is crucial in a digital system after 2026, as authorities will communicate electronically and calls can come quickly.
Finally, people often apply without preparing for the exams in advance, leading to repeated failures and prolonging the whole procedure.
What happens if the police find out that I have committed an offence after I have been issued with a firearms licence?
The background check does not end with obtaining a firearms license. The police continue to monitor whether the holder meets the conditions of integrity and reliability. If you commit an offence, the police will always assess how serious the offence was and whether it calls into question your ability to safely hold a weapon.
Not every offence automatically means that your licence will be revoked. Offences involving alcohol, violence, weapons or public disorder are particularly risky. In extreme cases, the police can start proceedings to revoke your firearms licence, even without it being a criminal offence.
Can I defend myself if the police take away my firearms licence because of my alleged unreliability?
Yes, revocation of a firearms license is not final without a defense. The police must issue a formal decision, which must be properly reasoned. If you disagree that you are “unreliable”, you can appeal and request a review.
Reliability is a legal concept that the police assess quite strictly, but it must also be based on specific facts, not assumptions. Typically, this includes repeat offences, alcohol problems or aggressive behaviour.
