The Firearms License is a public document that authorizes an individual to possess or carry a weapon and ammunition within the limits prescribed for each category of the firearm license.

The Firearms License is divided based on the purpose of using the weapon or ammunition and the scope of the authorization to carry or possess a weapon into the following groups:

A – carrying a weapon and ammunition for personal and property protection, B – possession of a weapon and ammunition for personal and property protection, C – possession of a weapon and ammunition for the performance of employment or authorization according to a special regulation, D – possession of a weapon and ammunition for hunting purposes, E – possession of a weapon and ammunition for sporting purposes, F – possession of a weapon and ammunition for museum or collector’s purposes. The Police issue a firearms license to a natural person who has submitted a written request for its issuance, is fully capable of legal acts, has reached the prescribed age, is of good character and reliability, is physically and mentally fit to possess or carry a weapon and ammunition, has demonstrated the professional competence to possess or carry a weapon and ammunition by passing an examination before the examination committee, has a residence in the territory of the Slovak Republic, has demonstrated the need to possess or carry a weapon and ammunition in the proceedings for the issuance of the firearms license. Practical advice: The procedure for assessing the health and mental fitness to possess or carry firearms and the requirements for a medical examination and psychological assessment are determined by the Regulation of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic No. 229/2011 Coll. As of May 1, 2011, the conditions for obtaining a firearms license have been tightened due to a more detailed examination of the psychological fitness of the applicant. In the application for a firearms license, the applicant shall state personal details, identity card number, foreigner’s travel document number, or a document replacing a travel document, the group of the firearms license for which the issuance is requested, justification of the request for the issuance of the firearms license. The applicant shall attach to the application for a firearms licensetwo photographs with dimensions of 30×35 mm, corresponding to the current appearance of the applicant, depicting the applicant in a frontal view with the height of the facial part of the head from the eyes to the chin at least 13 mm, in civilian clothing, without glasses with dark lenses, and without head covering, if its use is not justified by religious or health reasons; in this case, the head covering must not cover the facial part in a way that prevents the identification of the applicant, a medical certificate of health fitness and a psychological assessment of mental fitness to possess or carry a weapon and ammunition, confirmation from the state administration authority that it has authorization according to a special regulation if applying for the issuance of a firearms license for the exercise of this authorization, confirmation from a legal entity engaged in sports activities, including shooting sports according to the rules valid in the territory of the Slovak Republic or international rules on membership, if applying for the issuance of a group E firearms license, an officially certified copy of a valid hunting license if applying for the issuance of a group D firearms license, an officially certified copy of the document that can be credited for the examination of professional competence. A firearms license may be issued to a natural person who has reached the age of 21. A natural person who meets the above conditions and has reached the age of 18 may be issued a firearms license with the designation of group D if the holder has a hunting license. A natural person who meets the conditions and has reached the age of 15 may be issued a firearms license with the designation of group E if they are a member of the state representation in the shooting discipline, and its issuance is expressly agreed upon in writing by their legal representative.

For the purpose of issuing a firearms license, a person is not considered to be of good character, except for a person whose conviction has been expunged, if they have been lawfully convicted of:

an intentional criminal offense against life and health, a criminal offense against freedom and human dignity, except for the criminal offense of restricting personal freedom, the criminal offense of violating the confidentiality of transported messages, and the criminal offense of incest, an intentionally generally dangerous criminal offense, a criminal offense against the republic, a criminal offense against the exercise of the authority of a public authority, a criminal offense against national defense, an intentional criminal offense against the service in the armed forces, a criminal offense against the defense of the homeland, an intentional military criminal offense, a criminal offense against peace and humanity or a criminal offense of terrorism and extremism, a war criminal offense, a criminal offense of killing under § 149 para. 4 and 5 of the Criminal Code, a criminal offense of domestic violence and violence against an entrusted person, a criminal offense of endangerment under the influence of an addictive substance, a criminal offense of poaching, a criminal offense of violent crossing of the state border, a criminal offense of trafficking, a criminal offense of prisoner rebellion, a criminal offense of violence against a group of inhabitants, a criminal offense of dangerous threats, a criminal offense of drunkenness, a criminal offense of animal cruelty, or another criminal offense if committed with a weapon, violence, immediate violence threat, threat of other serious harm, or the use of coercion.

A reliable person is not considered to be someone:

1. Whose criminal prosecution for offenses listed in the preceding paragraph has been conditionally discontinued and has not been finally decided, either acquitted or proven not to have committed the alleged offenses.
2. Who demonstrably excessively consumes alcoholic beverages.
3. Who demonstrably uses narcotics, psychotropic substances, or preparations, the use of which may lead to dependence.
4. Who has been found guilty of an offense under § 69 para. 1 letter a) or b) within the last 2 years.
5. Who has been repeatedly found guilty of an offense within the last two years: a. under § 69 para. 1 letters c) or d), b. in the field of protection against alcoholism and other addictions, c. against civil cohabitation, committed by threats of harm to health, intentional harm to health, or other violence, d. in the field of hunting and fishing or the exercise of fishing rights, e. who, according to findings of the Police Corps unit, does not assure that they will not misuse the weapon.

All documents submitted with the application must not be older than 3 months.

The health fitness of the applicant to possess or carry a weapon and ammunition is demonstrated by a medical certificate of health fitness, issued based on the results of a medical examination by a physician specialized in general medicine providing general outpatient health care for adults, or a physician specialized in pediatrics providing general outpatient health care for children and adolescents.

The mental fitness of the applicant and the firearms license holder to possess or carry a weapon and ammunition is demonstrated by a psychological assessment of mental fitness, issued based on the results of a psychological examination by a clinical psychologist.

The following fees are charged for:

1. Application for the issuance of a firearms license: €30.
2. Conducting an examination or re-examination of professional competence to possess or carry a weapon and ammunition: a. First examination: €50. b. Repeat examination: €30.
3. Application for the extension of a firearms license: €20.
4. Application for the issuance of a new firearms license: €30.
5. Application for the issuance of a European firearms passport: €20.
6. Application for the extension of the validity of a European firearms passport: €4.
7. Application for the issuance of a firearms license: €400.
   • A fee is also charged for an application for the issuance of a purchase permit for each weapon or its main part (€20) and an application for the issuance of a firearms accompanying document for each weapon, its main part, or ammunition (€20).

In addition to the firearms license, the law also recognizes the so-called firearms license. This is defined as a public document that entitles a natural person – entrepreneur or legal entity to acquire ownership of weapons or ammunition and possess them within the limits specified for individual groups of the firearms license.