Firearms licences

Before you can buy a gun, you must apply for a firearms licence from the police.

You can apply for a permit from the police electronic service (poliisi.fi)

Up-to-date legislation on obtaining firearms licences can be found in the Firearms Act and the Firearms Decree. For more detailed guidance, contact your local police.

Applying for a Hunting Firearm Licence

In Finland, the condition for obtaining a licence is that you have a hobby for which you need a gun. You can prove that you have a hunting hobby with a hunting card.

A person aged 18 or over can obtain a hunting weapon permit. A parallel permit for a hunting weapon can be applied for by a person aged 15 or over with parental consent.

Applying for a dispatch pistol

Pertaining to hunting a permit for a single fire pistol (rimfire) or a revolver (rimfire) may be obtained by a person aged 20 or over for trapping or caving. Active practice is demonstrated by a certificate by the Game Management Association.

Game management associations issue certificates for active trapping or caving. The firearms regulation defines the requirements for active shooting with a handgun.

The issuing of the certificate is part of the public administrative functions of the Game Management Association. The legal fee for issuing a certificate, whether positive or negative, is €27.

The applicant’s hunting club or other similar body may be asked to give an opinion on the certificate application, if there is a special reason to do so.