What if you find or inherit a weapon?
Verified 02 April 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The approach varies depending on the category of weapon.
If you do not know the category of the weapon ( A, B or C ), contact a gunsmith or your prefecture.
You don't have to take any action if you find or inherit a non-prescription weapon ( D-category weapon).
Paris Police Department - Arms and Explosives Section
The Arms and Explosives Section does not receive users.
By mail
Police prefecture
General Police Directorate
Office of Administrative Police
Arms and Explosives Section
1 bis rue de Lutèce
75195 Paris Cedex 04
By E-mail
From contact form
You want to give up the gun
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You're a hunter
You have a valid hunting license
The process is done via your SIA account.
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, declare it online via your SIA account by providing proof of divestiture.
You're fired as a sports shooter
You have a valid license from the Fédération française de tir for shooting practice
The process is done via your SIA account.
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, declare it online via your SIA account by providing proof of divestiture.
You are licensed to practice ball-trap or biathlon
You have a valid ball-trap or ski (biathlon) federation sports license
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, send your prefecture a proof of divestiture.
Paris Police Department - Arms and Explosives Section
The Arms and Explosives Section does not receive users.
By mail
Police prefecture
General Police Directorate
Office of Administrative Police
Arms and Explosives Section
1 bis rue de Lutèce
75195 Paris Cedex 04
By E-mail
From contact form
You have a valid collector card
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, send your prefecture a proof of divestiture.
Paris Police Department - Arms and Explosives Section
The Arms and Explosives Section does not receive users.
By mail
Police prefecture
General Police Directorate
Office of Administrative Police
Arms and Explosives Section
1 bis rue de Lutèce
75195 Paris Cedex 04
By E-mail
From contact form
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You are an individual without a detention certificate
You have no license to hunt, no collector's card, no sports license from the shooting, ball-trap or ski (biathlon) federations in force
You must create an account in AIS: titleContent and declare the weapon online.
Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space
You must to divest you of the weapon in a three-month period.
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, declare it online via your SIA account by providing proof of divestiture.
You're a hunter
You have a valid hunting license
The process is done via your SIA account.
You must to divest you of the weapon in a three-month period.
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, declare it online via your SIA account by providing proof of divestiture.
You're fired as a sports shooter
You have a valid license for sport shooting issued by the French Shooting Federation
The process is done via your SIA account.
You must to divest you of the weapon in a three-month period.
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, declare it online via your SIA account by providing proof of divestiture.
You are licensed to practice ball-trap or biathlon
You have a valid ball-trap or ski (biathlon) federation sports license
You must immediately declare the gun to your local police or gendarmerie.
A receipt is given to you in the form of a statement.
You must to divest you of the weapon in a three-month period.
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, send your prefecture a proof of divestiture.
Who shall I contact
Paris Police Department - Arms and Explosives Section
The Arms and Explosives Section does not receive users.
By mail
Police prefecture
General Police Directorate
Office of Administrative Police
Arms and Explosives Section
1 bis rue de Lutèce
75195 Paris Cedex 04
By E-mail
From contact form
You have a valid collector card
You must immediately declare the gun to your local police or gendarmerie.
A receipt is given to you in the form of a statement.
You must to divest you of the weapon in a three-month period.
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, send your prefecture a proof of divestiture.
Who shall I contact
Paris Police Department - Arms and Explosives Section
The Arms and Explosives Section does not receive users.
By mail
Police prefecture
General Police Directorate
Office of Administrative Police
Arms and Explosives Section
1 bis rue de Lutèce
75195 Paris Cedex 04
By E-mail
From contact form
Please note
Failure to comply with the rules on the divestment of the weapon shall be punished by a fine of €750
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You are an individual without a detention certificate
You have no license to hunt, no collector's card, no sports license from the shooting, ball-trap or ski (biathlon) federations in force
You must create a SIA account and declare the gun online.
Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space
You must to divest you of the weapon in a three-month period.
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, declare it online via your SIA account by providing proof of divestiture.
You're a hunter
You have a valid hunting license
The process is done via your SIA account.
You must to divest you of the weapon in a three-month period.
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, declare it online via your SIA account by providing proof of divestiture.
You're fired as a sports shooter
You have a valid license for sport shooting issued by the French Shooting Federation
The process is done via your SIA account.
You must to divest you of the weapon in a three-month period.
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, declare it online via your SIA account by providing proof of divestiture.
You are licensed to practice ball-trap or biathlon
You have a valid ball-trap or ski (biathlon) federation sports license
You must to divest you of the weapon in a three-month period.
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, send your prefecture a proof of divestiture.
You have a valid collector card
You must to divest you of the weapon in a three-month period.
You have 5 possibilities to divest yourself of the weapon:
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the firearm to an individual through a licensed dealer or broker
- Hand the weapon over to a gunsmith for destruction (a fee the gunsmith can charge)
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction. You must complete and sign the cerfa form no. 11845.
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône - free service)
Once you've divested the weapon, send your prefecture a proof of divestiture.
Please note
Failure to comply with the rules on the divestment of the weapon shall be punished by a fine of €750
You want to keep the gun
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You're a hunter
You have a valid hunting license
You must create an account in AIS: titleContent if you have not already done so and register the weapon in your digital rack.
Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space
You must hand over the gun to a gunsmith .
That gunsmith keeps the weapon for 1 year.
Before the end of this 1 year period, you must obtain authorization to possess such a weapon.
You can get a detention permit to practice sport shooting or if you are exposed to serious risks to your safety as a result of your professional activity.
If you don't get permission to detain before the end of the 1 year period, you have to get rid of the gun.
You have 5 possibilities :
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a gunsmith or a licensed broker
- Hand over the weapon to a gunsmith for destruction
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône)
Once you've divested the weapon, declare it online via your SIA account by providing proof of divestiture.
You're fired as a sports shooter
You have a valid license for sport shooting issued by the French Shooting Federation
You have the required authorization to possess this weapon
You do not have to take any steps if you have a valid license from the French Shooting Federation for shooting practice.
Make sure, however, that you have not reached the maximum number of weapons allowed through your SIA account.
You have the required authorization to possess this weapon but you have reached the maximum number of authorized weapons
You must create an account in AIS: titleContent if you have not already done so and register the weapon in your digital rack.
Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space
You must hand over the gun to a gunsmith .
That gunsmith keeps the weapon for 1 year.
Before the end of this 1 year period, you must comply with the rules on arms quotas.
If you do not do so before the end of the 1-year period, you have to get rid of the gun.
You have 5 possibilities :
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a gunsmith or a licensed broker
- Hand over the weapon to a gunsmith for destruction
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône)
Once you've divested the weapon, declare it online via your SIA account by providing proof of divestiture.
You don't have the required authorization to possess this weapon
You must create an account in AIS: titleContent if you have not already done so and register the weapon in your digital rack.
Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space
You must hand over the gun to a gunsmith .
That gunsmith keeps the weapon for 1 year.
Before the end of this 1 year period, you must obtain authorization to possess such a weapon.
If you don't get permission to detain before the end of the 1 year period, you have to get rid of the gun.
You have 5 possibilities :
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a gunsmith or a licensed broker
- Hand over the weapon to a gunsmith for destruction
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône)
Once you've divested the weapon, declare it online via your SIA account by providing proof of divestiture.
You are licensed to practice ball-trap or biathlon
You have a valid ball-trap or ski (biathlon) federation sports license
You must declare the weapon immediately to the police station or gendarmerie in your home.
A receipt is given to you in the form of a statement.
Who shall I contact
You must hand over the gun to a gunsmith .
That gunsmith keeps the weapon for 1 year.
Before the end of this 1 year period, you must obtain authorization to possess such a weapon.
You can get a detention permit to practice sport shooting or if you are exposed to serious risks as a result of your professional activity.
If you don't get permission to detain before the end of the 1 year period, you have to get rid of the gun.
You have 5 possibilities :
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a gunsmith or a licensed broker
- Hand over the weapon to a gunsmith for destruction
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône)
Once you've divested the weapon, send your prefecture a proof of divestiture.
Who shall I contact
Paris Police Department - Arms and Explosives Section
The Arms and Explosives Section does not receive users.
By mail
Police prefecture
General Police Directorate
Office of Administrative Police
Arms and Explosives Section
1 bis rue de Lutèce
75195 Paris Cedex 04
By E-mail
From contact form
You have a collector's card
You have a valid collector card
You must declare the weapon immediately to the police station or gendarmerie in your home.
A receipt is given to you in the form of a statement.
Who shall I contact
You must hand over the gun to a gunsmith .
That gunsmith keeps the weapon for 1 year.
Before the end of this 1 year period, you must obtain authorization to possess such a weapon.
You can get a detention permit to practice sport shooting or if you are exposed to serious risks as a result of your professional activity.
If you don't get permission to detain before the end of the 1 year period, you have to get rid of the gun.
You have 5 possibilities :
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a gunsmith or a licensed broker
- Hand over the weapon to a gunsmith for destruction
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône)
Once you've divested the weapon, send your prefecture a proof of divestiture.
Who shall I contact
Paris Police Department - Arms and Explosives Section
The Arms and Explosives Section does not receive users.
By mail
Police prefecture
General Police Directorate
Office of Administrative Police
Arms and Explosives Section
1 bis rue de Lutèce
75195 Paris Cedex 04
By E-mail
From contact form
You're in a different situation
You have not licensed shooting, ball-trap or ski federations (biathlon) to hunt, collect, or hold a valid sports license.
You must create an account in AIS: titleContent and declare the weapon online.
Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space
You must hand over the gun to a gunsmith .
That gunsmith keeps the weapon for 1 year.
Before the end of this 1 year period, you must obtain authorization to possess such a weapon.
You can get a detention permit to practice sport shooting or if you are exposed to serious risks to your safety as a result of your professional activity.
If you don't get permission to detain before the end of the 1 year period, you have to get rid of the gun.
You have 5 possibilities :
- Sell the gun to a gunsmith
- Sell the weapon to an individual through a gunsmith or a licensed broker
- Hand over the weapon to a gunsmith for destruction
- Hand the weapon over to a police station or gendarme brigade for destruction
- Deposit the weapon with a gunsmith designated by the State, for destruction (firearm only, in the departments of Drôme, Loire and Rhône)
Once you've divested the weapon, declare it online via your SIA account by providing proof of divestiture.
Please note
Failure to comply with the rules on the divestment of the weapon shall be punished by a fine of €750
Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement
You're a hunter
You have a valid hunting license
You must create a SIA account if you have not already done so, and register weapon online.
You're fired as a sports shooter
You have a valid license for sport shooting issued by the French Shooting Federation
You must create a SIA account if you have not already done so, and register weapon online.
You are licensed to practice ball-trap or biathlon
You have a valid ball-trap or ski (biathlon) federation sports license
You must contact a gunsmith or broker.
Give them to him documents following:
- Declaration on the form cerfa no. 12650
- Copy of ID
- Medical certificate attesting that your state of physical and mental health is compatible with the possession of weapons of category C, or hunting permit issued in France or abroad, with the annual or temporary validation title or the validation title of the previous year, or valid license of a sports federation having received a ministerial delegation for the practice of shooting, ball-trap or biathlon (+ attestation certifying that you practice one of these sports if the federation also has a ministerial delegation for other sports), or collector's card
The gunsmith or broker is responsible for forwarding the documents to the prefecture of your home.
If you have been admitted to psychiatric care without consent, the prefect may ask you to provide a medical certificate of less than 1 month issued by a psychiatrist.
You have a valid collector card
You have a valid collector card
You must contact a gunsmith or broker.
Give them to him documents following:
- Declaration on the form cerfa no. 12650
- Copy of ID
- Medical certificate attesting that your state of physical and mental health is compatible with the possession of weapons of category C, or hunting permit issued in France or abroad, with the annual or temporary validation title or the validation title of the previous year, or valid license of a sports federation having received a ministerial delegation for the practice of shooting, ball-trap or biathlon (+ attestation certifying that you practice one of these sports if the federation also has a ministerial delegation for other sports), or collector's card
The gunsmith or broker is responsible for forwarding the documents to the prefecture of your home.
If you have been admitted to psychiatric care without consent, the prefect may ask you to provide a medical certificate of less than 1 month issued by a psychiatrist.
You're in a different situation
You have no license to hunt, no collector's card, no sports license from the shooting, ball-trap or ski (biathlon) federations in force
You must create a SIA account and declare the weapon online.
Prepare the following documents:
- Copy of ID
- Medical certificate attesting that your state of physical and mental health is compatible with the possession of category C weapons
Please note
Failure to comply with the rules on the divestment of the weapon shall be punished by a fine of €750
Rule for a Class A or B weapon (Article L312-4)
Rule for a Class A or B weapon (section R312-51)
Rule for a Class C weapon (section R312-55)
Divestiture of the weapon
Customized Account Holder in the Weapons Information System (AIS)
FAQ
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