National Weapons Register (NWR)

National Weapons Register (NWR)

Das National Weapons Register (NWR) is an official database system of the Federal Republic of Germany, in which comprehensive information on firearms requiring a permit and their lawful owners has been recorded and managed since January 1, 2013. The purpose of the register is to ensure centralized and clear management of firearms and essential components in accordance with German weapons law provisions, thereby supporting both internal security and the fulfillment of obligations under EU and international law.

Legal basis of the National Weapons Register

National legal foundations

The National Weapons Register is primarily based on the Weapons Act (WaffG) in its current version, particularly on Sections 43a et seq. WaffG as well as the associated statutory regulations:

• Section 43a WaffG: Regulates the establishment, management, and functions of the Weapons Register.
• Section 43b WaffG: Specifies the scope of data to be recorded.
• Weapons Register Act (WaffRG): Supplements the statutory provisions for the management and use of the register.
• Weapons Register Regulation (WaffRV): Details the technical and organizational requirements for the management of the NWR, in particular for data transmission and data protection.

EU legal requirements

The establishment of the NWR serves to implement EU Directive 91/477/EEC on the control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (commonly referred to as the Firearms Directive), which was most recently amended by Directive (EU) 2017/853. The European requirement mandates the establishment of national weapons registers in all Member States, as well as the exchange of information among national authorities.

Data collected and affected individuals

Items recorded

The NWR records in particular the following data:

• Firearms and essential weapon components requiring a permit (e.g., barrel, bolt, receiver)
• Acquisition, ownership, transfer, import and export, as well as destruction of the respective weapons

Recorded persons and institutions

The NWR stores data on lawful gun owners, namely:

• Private individuals with permits for firearms or ammunition (e.g., firearms possession card, hunting license, marksmen)
• Firearms dealers and manufacturers
• Permitting authorities and other authorized institutions

The stored personal information includes name, date of birth, address, type and scope of the permit granted, as well as the corresponding weapons and essential weapon components.

Official access and purpose limitation

Authorized authorities

Entities authorized to access the NWR data include, in particular:

• Weapons authorities of the federal states
• Police authorities (executive bodies)
• Customs authorities
• Public prosecutors and courts (within their jurisdiction)

Access is permitted according to the principle of purpose limitation exclusively for the fulfillment of statutory duties, particularly for averting danger, prosecution of criminal offenses, and prosecution of regulatory offenses.

Duty to inform and data exchange

Authorities as defined in the Weapons Act are obligated to report relevant changes (e.g., acquisition, loss, modification or destruction of weapons) to the NWR without delay. The register also serves automated Europe-wide information exchange via the European Schengen Information System (SIS) and other databases.

Data protection, data security, and retention periods

Data protection requirements

The National Weapons Register is subject to the provisions of the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG) as well as the relevant specific legal provisions in the Weapons Act and the Weapons Register Regulation. The processing of personal data is carried out exclusively on a statutory basis and in compliance with the principle of proportionality.

Data security

The storage and transmission of data are carried out using up-to-date technical and organizational measures to protect against unauthorized access, loss, or manipulation. Access to the data is strictly logged and permitted only for authorized user groups.

Retention periods and deletion

Stored entries in the NWR must be deleted:

• after the statutory retention period has expired, if the firearms permit has expired, been revoked, or otherwise become void,
• or if deletion is indicated to protect the legitimate interests of the person concerned, provided there are no statutory reasons to the contrary.

Importance and consequences for firearm owners

The central collection of all relevant data serves the quick and reliable identification of legal firearms and owners throughout Germany. Persons with permits for acquisition, possession, or transfer must ensure that all relevant transactions are duly reported to the competent authorities.

Legal consequences of violations of the duty to report and provide information arise from the Weapons Act and may result in fines or withdrawal of the firearms permit.

Historical development and outlook

Introduction and development of the NWR

The National Weapons Register was established in response to European requirements and to improve police cooperation. The register started operations on January 1, 2013. Since then, technical interfaces as well as the legal and administrative structures have been continuously developed in order to ensure complete and up-to-date recording of all lawful weapons transfers.

Further development and reforms

With the amendment of the Weapons Act as well as the latest changes to the EU Firearms Directive, the NWR has been expanded to include additional requirements. These include, among other things, closer tracking of essential weapon components and the expansion of international data exchange.

Legal sources

• Weapons Act (WaffG)
• Weapons Register Act (WaffRG)
• Weapons Register Regulation (WaffRV)
• EU Directive 91/477/EEC and its amending directives

The National Weapons Register (NWR) forms an essential component of German and European weapons management. It guarantees — taking into account data protection and clear legal requirements — transparency and traceability in dealing with firearms subject to licenses, and makes a significant contribution to the prevention of dangers and the maintenance of public security.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is data in the National Weapons Register (NWR) processed under German weapons law and who may access it?

The processing of data in the National Weapons Register (NWR) is carried out on the basis of Sections 43 et seq. of the Weapons Act (WaffG) in conjunction with the National Weapons Register Act (NWRG). The information stored in the NWR includes personal data of gun owners, permit circumstances, the status and technical details of weapons requiring registration, as well as their essential components. Access to the NWR is strictly regulated and in principle limited to specially authorized authorities, such as the police, customs, public prosecutors, and certain regulatory authorities within the scope of their legal duties (e.g., firearms reliability checks or criminal prosecution). Data transmission takes place according to the principle of data minimization and requires a factual and legal interest in each case. Affected persons may, in accordance with Section 19 of the Federal Data Protection Act (BDSG), request information on data stored about them. Technical and organizational measures also guarantee protection of the data against unauthorized access, manipulation, and loss.

What reporting obligations exist in connection with the NWR for firearms dealers and private individuals?

According to Section 37 WaffG and Sections 21 et seq. NWRG, there is a legal obligation to report all transactions that trigger an entry or alteration in the NWR. Firearms dealers are required to report every relevant transaction — in particular, purchase or sale, repair, modification, or storage and retrieval of weapons — electronically to the NWR within 14 days. Private individuals must notify the relevant firearms authority of acquisition, possession, transfer, or loss of a weapon requiring registration; the authority then submits the appropriate report to the NWR. A violation of the reporting obligations may be penalized as a regulatory offense according to Section 53 WaffG.

How long are personal data stored in the NWR and when are they deleted?

The duration of data storage in the NWR is governed by the legal provisions of Section 21 NWRG. In principle, personal data and weapon-related entries remain stored in the register as long as they are required for the fulfillment of legal tasks — in particular for controlling the circumstances of gun ownership and permissions. After the final lapse of permit circumstances and clarification of the whereabouts of the relevant weapon, a deletion note is set and the data is transferred to a restricted archive function. Actual deletion takes place after the expiry of the statutory retention period, which is generally 10 years after the lapse of the permit circumstance, unless there are legal reasons against deletion.

What legal remedies are available to those affected by incorrect entries in the NWR?

Persons who discover an incorrect entry in the National Weapons Register may, pursuant to Art. 16 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in conjunction with Section 19 BDSG, request a correction. The correction procedure provides that the person concerned submits an informal application to the responsible authority and substantiates the error. The authority is obliged to review the application legally, correct the incorrect entry in the NWR if applicable, and inform the applicant. In addition, if the application is rejected, an objection can be filed and, if appropriate, recourse to administrative courts can be taken.

What are the consequences of violating the rules of the NWR?

Violations of reporting and registration obligations in connection with the NWR can be prosecuted both as regulatory offenses (Section 53 WaffG) and — in cases of intentional or repeated violations — as criminal offenses pursuant to Section 52 WaffG. Possible sanctions include fines, which may be substantial in serious or repeated cases, and, in severe cases, imprisonment or financial penalties. Moreover, a violation of firearms regulations may affect the reliability under Section 5 WaffG and thus result in the revocation of firearms permits.

To what extent are weapon-related data in the NWR connected with international registers?

The National Weapons Register is interoperable with certain European systems pursuant to Article 7 of the EU Firearms Directive (Directive (EU) 2021/555). However, the transmission and exchange of weapon-related data with authorities of other EU Member States are subject to strict compliance with national and European data protection regulations. Transmission is limited to requests within the framework of statutory cooperation, such as in investigations, and is handled according to the principle of purpose limitation and data security. There is no general access for foreign authorities to the NWR; access is granted only on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the requirements of the GDPR and the Weapons Act.