CONDITIONS FOR OBTAINING A FIREARMS LICENSE

With respect to the current (as well as previous) Arms Act, the Czech Republic belongs to the 3 countries in the world where it is necessary to pass an examination in front of a committee or a commissioner to obtain a firearms license. The three aforementioned countries include the Czech and Slovak Republics and Canada. Moreover, except of this uniqueness, we also have the most demanding examinations of all the mentioned countries. Despite different viewpoints on this matter, we support the professional competence examination.

1. General conditions

There are six general conditions including residence in the Czech Republic, stated age, health qualifications, legal capacity, clean criminal record and reliability.

1.1. Residence in the Czech Republic

For Czech citizens, it is the place of their permanent residence (according to their ID);
for foreigners, it is the place of their permanent, temporary or long-term stay (moreover, EU citizens have to submit an approval issued by their country; for non-EU citizens living in the Czech Republic the possibility of obtaining a firearms license will be assessed by the District Directorate of the Police of the Czech Republic).

1.2. Stated age

21 years (for all firearms license categories);
18 years – only categories 'B' (sport) and 'C' (hunting; the applicant must possess a hunting license);
16 years (category 'C' – hunting; the applicant must be a student or an apprentice at a school where hunting is a part of the curriculum);
15 years (category 'B' – sport; the applicant must be a member of an association the concern of which is shooting).

1.3. Health qualifications

Health qualifications are assessed by a GP who issues a 'Certificate of Medical Fitness';
the GP issues the 'Certificate of Medical Fitness' against a fee amounting to CZK 50–500; the 'Certificate' is based on a medical examination or eventually further examinations (e. g. psychological etc.) that can increase the price;
the GP hands the necessary form over to the applicant who fills it in; after that the GP recommends or doesn't recommend issuing a firearms license to the applicant based on a medical examination (the form can also be downloaded here: www.mvcr.cz/rady/formulare/zbrane/23.doc).

1.4. Legal capacity

The person can act for themselves;
the person owns a valid ID.

1.5. Clean criminal record

The applicant may not be lawfully convicted of a crime (crimes) stated in the Arms Act No. 119/2002 Coll .;
it is not necessary to submit the excerpt from the criminal record (the criminal record is verified by the Police of the Czech Republic);
foreigners have to deliver a confirmation of impunity issued in their country.

1.6. Reliability

The applicant may not demonstrably excessively consume alcoholic beverages or addictive substances;
the applicant's action should not constitute a danger for internal order and security;
reliability is described in the §23 of the Arms Act No. 119/2002 Coll. in detail.

2. SPECIAL CONDITIONS

2.1. Preparation for the 'Professional competence examination'

Proper preparation for the professional competence examination is a must. The 487 test questions are difficult to remember and to understand. Demonstration of safe handling of weapons is considered to be the most important part of the examination for ensuring safety and for future life with a gun. It is necessary to cope with the determined procedures. Shooting with live cartridges, especially from the gun, also deserves a rigorous preparation. We believe that without special preparation the professional competence examination cannot be successfully passed.

Preparation for the examination should include familiarization with the process of obtaining a firearms license and familiarization with the proper contents of preparation for the professional competence examination.

2.1.1. Familiarization with the process of obtaining a firearms license

Contents of preparation for the examination, financial issues;
where the preparation takes place (optional);
date, contents, options and guarantee of the preparation for the examination (optional);
submitting an application at the District Directorate of the Police of the Czech Republic (please fill in on the spot) + a 100 CZK revenue stamp (to be obtained from the Czech post);
date and place of the exam (at the District Directorate of the Police of the Czech Republic; information will be sent at least 10 days before the exam);
have oneself photographed (1 photo; after passing the exam);
have the GP confirm the Certificate of Medical Fitness (the GP provides the form after the exam);
hand the documents (the protocol on the test result, the firearms license request, the Certificate of Medical Fitness issued by the GP, 1 photo) over to the District Directorate of the Police of the Czech Republic;
collect the firearms license from the District Directorate (upon written notice).

2.1.2. Familiarization with the contents of preparation for the professional competence examination

preparation options (time, place, equipment, accessibility, guarantee);
theoretical part (test questions, explanation, possibility of practicing);
weapon manipulation (types of weapons, manipulation procedures, possibility of practicing);
shooting with live cartridges (distance, time, target, weapons, possibility of practicing);

2.2. 'Professional competence examination to obtain a firearms license'

2.2.1. Theoretical part of the professional competence examination

a test containing 30 questions of the Arms Act and related regulations;
it is necessary to obtain a defined number of points in the test, according to the individual categories of the firearms license;
more information can be found in the Arms Act and related regulations (see the table).

2.2.2. Practical part of the professional competence examination

2.2.2.1. Weapon(s) manipulation

the ability to check the weapon(s) whether it is or is not loaded and to bring it to a safe state;
the ability to prepare a weapon (weapons) for shooting, to 'execute shooting' with a blank cartridge, to finish 'shooting';
the ability to remove small defects of the gun(s) that can arise when shooting;
the ability to disassemble and reassemble a weapon (weapons) for cleaning and/or technical state check.

2.2.2.2. Shooting at a target with live cartridges

hit 4 times out of 5 shots, target parts (circles) are evaluated;
the pistol-target distance is 10 or 15 meters, respectively (based on categories);
the rifle-target distance (a small-bore rifle, a shotgun) is 25 meters, with the target intended for small-bore rifles.

3. PROCESS CONDITIONS

get acquainted with the general and specific conditions for obtaining a firearms license;
collect the application form for the professional competence examination from a District Police Directorate (hereinafter DPD), become familiar with the date of the exam, fill in and submit the application form for the professional competence examination on the spot (or at some other time) + a 100 CZK revenue stamp (available at Czech post offices);
DPD informs about the date of the examination on the spot or ensures its delivery via regular mail, at least 10 days before the exam;
get acquainted with the place intended for the preparation for the exam (e. g. a shooting center), prices, the date and detailed contents of the preparation with emphasis on guarantee;
take part in the preparation for the professional competence examination;
have oneself photographed (the 'ID' type, 1 photo);
pass the professional competence examination (the applicant receives a 'certificate of passing the exam');
have the GP confirm the 'Certificate of Medical Fitness';
fill in the form 'Firearms license request' (to be obtained from the shooting center on the day of the examination, from the DPD or from the internet);
prepare the documents for handing them over to the DPD (1 'Certificate of passing the exam', 1 'Firearms license request', 1 'Certificate of Medical Fitness' issued by a GP, 1 photo);
hand the documents over to the DPD;
collect the firearms license from the DPD upon notice (a letter).

4. PAYMENT TERMS

4.1. Before the examination

submitting the application for the examination at the Police of the Czech Republic: CZK 100,- (a revenue stamp)
practical training for the examination (manipulation, shooting with live cartridges) CZK 1,000–1,500,- + ammunition
a photograph CZK 100,-

4.2. The examination

examination itself CZK 1,300,-
examiner's reward CZK 600,-

4.3. After the examination

Certificate of Medical Fitness CZK 100–700,-

4.4. When collecting the firearms license from the DPD

CZK 700,- for each firearms license category (A, B, C, D, E), i. e. CZK 700–3,500,-

4.5. Examples of total price (roughly)

4.5.1. A short gun only

submitting the application for the examination at the Police of the Czech Republic: CZK 100,- (a revenue stamp)
preparation for the examination, practical (optional) CZK 1,000,-
1 photograph CZK 100,-
professional competence examination CZK 1,300,-
examiner's reward CZK 600,-
Certificate of Medical Fitness issued by a GP CZK 500,-
CZK 700,- (revenue stamps) for 1 firearms license category, e. g. 'D' or 'E', on the issue of the firearms license at the DPD
total amount CZK 4,300,-

4.5.2. The most common option

submitting the application for the examination at the Police of the Czech Republic: CZK 100,- (a revenue stamp)
preparation for the examination, practical (optional) CZK 1,500,-
1 photograph CZK 100,-
professional competence examination CZK 1,300,-
examiner's reward CZK 600,-
Certificate of Medical Fitness issued by a GP CZK 500,-
CZK 1,400,- (revenue stamps) for 2 firearms license categories, e. g. 'B' and 'E', on the issue of the firearms license at the DPD
total amount CZK 5,500,-