E-services

Application for a firearm permit

You can submit your firearm permit application electronically in the police e-services or make an appointment to submit your permit application in person at a police station. If you have made an appointment to submit your application in person but submit the application electronically, remember to cancel your appointment so that it can be made available to others. 

You can get advice on how to complete the online application from the police customer service helpline.

The electronic application form also contains instructive texts. The application is made using strong electronic identification, for example, with online banking identifiers or a mobile certificate. Strong electronic identification means that you cannot submit an application electronically on behalf of someone else.

You can apply for several permits or submit several notifications at the same time. Use the electronic form to select "Make another application or notification" before making a payment.

An electronic application costs the same as applying for a permit in person at a police station. 

When submitting your application, you can choose how you would like your permit to be delivered. Permits are mailed as a rule. 

You will need to visit a police station when applying for a firearm permit electronically if you are applying for your first permit or if more than 10 years have elapsed since you received your previous permit. Underage applicants are always interviewed.

You will also have to visit a police station if you cannot submit an application if it is not possible to select the permit type concerned in the e-service. The police may also invite you to visit in person for other reasons.

Attachments to the application

In most cases, attachments are also required for the application. A hunting card and the game management fee paid or proof provided by a shooting instructor or other proof of earlier participation in shooting for sports or recreation are the most common attachments required.

• You can use a smart phone to take the photo for the required attachment and attach it to the application. It is recommended to save attachments in PDF format to reduce file size.
• The application form also gives you the option to send attachments by post or take them to a police station.  

Processing of applications

Permit applications will be stored in draft form in the police e-services for two weeks. The police process data received through the e-service in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Information on data protection and the processing of personal data by the police can be found from the website Data protection and processing of personal data.

If you notice that you have made a mistake in completing the application after submitting and paying for it, wait for the police department to contact you. You will receive a request for further information or a call from the official handling the matter.

The target processing time for a firearm permit application is approximately one month if 

• the application has been carefully completed, 
• the application is accompanied by all the required appendices and
• the applicant is legally eligible to obtain the permit applied for, and 
• the applicant does not need to be invited for a separate interview. 

Peak times affect processing times. For more information go to Processing times. 

Selling or buying a firearm or firearm component

Even if notification of the selling or buying of a firearm is made through e-services, the relevant entries must be made on the paper certificate. 

The third page of the acquisition permit, i.e. the notice of handing over, must be submitted to the police department upon request. Otherwise, electronic notification is sufficient.

You can also submit an electronic notification of licensed firearm components that you have acquired. The notification must be made within 30 days of acquisition. In some cases, a firearm component must be presented to the police upon request. You can find more information at Apply for a firearm permit. 

The seller of a firearm has a duty to report the firearms sold. When you sell a firearm, your permit for it lapses. By law, the licence card must be handed over to the police without delay. If you fail to return the card, you may be committing a firearms offence.

In the event of a sale, the transferor, i.e. the seller, is responsible for returning the notice of handing over. The buyer has a duty to submit an identification notification (acknowledgement of receipt) for the firearm or firearm component purchased within 30 days of acquisition.

Storage of firearms

For information about the legal storage of firearms go to Instructions for the storage of firearms. In order to store the weapon, you must have permit for a similar weapon. 

If you have any questions concerning the storage of firearms, please contact your local police department or the national police helpline. 

The Firearms Act does not specify a maximum period for storing another person’s firearm, but you must ensure that the storage requirements are met. Lending or handing over a firearm for storage must be reported to the police. This can be done through the police e-services.

Lending and return of a firearm

If you lend your firearm to someone else or if you borrow someone else’s firearm, you must notify the police if the lending period is at least 30 days. Apart from some exceptions, a firearm may only be lent to someone who has the right to a similar firearm. The exceptions include lending a shotgun to someone who has the right to possess a shotgun, rifle or combination firearm. You can check the lending rules in the Firearms Act (1/1998).

You do not need to notify the police if you lend your firearm to someone who has a parallel permit for the firearm concerned. This is not a matter of lending since the person has an approved parallel permit for the main permit for the firearm. However, if the firearm is in long-term storage with a person with a parallel permit, it is advisable to report the location of the firearm.

The law does not oblige the lender to notify of the return of a firearm unless the lender or borrower is a firearms trader. However, it is recommended that the return is reported so that the police know the correct location of the firearm.

The return of a firearm can be reported in the same way as lending and the police e-services have a form for this. Unless otherwise stated, the law requires notification of the lending or storage of a firearm only after the entry into force of the relevant section of the Firearms Act. However, it is recommended to notify of the lending or handing over of a firearm prior to 1 March 2024.