Who can carry and carry a weapon?
Verified 04 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
One hunter, one sport shooter or a weapons collector must comply with the regulations governing the carrying and transport of a weapon in the course of their respective activities. In addition, an authorization to carry a weapon may be granted to a person exposed to exceptional risks of harm to his life. The same applies to a person exposed to serious risks to his safety, linked to his professional activity.
The hunting permit and the validation title of the current year give the right to wear the hunting weapon during a hunting-related activity.
The hunting permit gives the right to carry a hunting weapon during a hunting activity. The weapon must be transported so as not to be immediately usable, by a technical device or by dismantling one of its elements.
Failure to comply with the regulations on the carrying and transport of weapons is punishable by imprisonment and one fine which vary according to the category of the weapon. The penalty applies even if the person is in good standing with respect to the possession of the weapon.
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Category C weapon
A person who carries a category C firearm or carries a category C firearm without lawful cause outside his or her home shall be punished by 2 years imprisonment and €30,000 of a fine.
If the offense is committed by at least 2 persons, it is punished by 5 years imprisonment and €75,000 of a fine.
Category D weapon
The rules vary depending on the type of weapon.
Weapon and launcher with a projectile propelled in a non-pyrotechnic manner - category D - h)
The energy at the mouth of the weapon is between 2 and 20 joules.
Examples: paint ball launcher, air rifle.
A person, outside his home, who carries a category D - h) weapon, or carries a category D - h) weapon without lawful cause, shall be punished by a fine of €750.
Class D Firearm
A person who carries a Class D firearm or carries a Class D firearm without lawful cause outside his or her home shall be punished by1 year imprisonment and €15,000 of a fine.
If the offense is committed by at least 2 persons, it is punished by 2 years imprisonment and €30,000of a fine.
Other category D weapon
A person, outside his or her home, who carries another category D weapon, or carries another category D weapon without lawful cause, shall be punished with1 year imprisonment and €15,000 of a fine.
If the offense is committed by at least 2 persons, it is punished by 2 years imprisonment and €30,000 of a fine.
However, in the event of voluntary surrender of the weapon to law enforcement, a procedure of a flat-rate fine may be implemented under conditions. The amount of the fine is €500. It is diminished (€400) or increased (€1,000) according to the time limit for payment of the fine.
You can ask the departmental or interdepartmental federation of hunters in your home.
A sportsman can use his weapon only in the shooting range of an approved sports association. He can have the gun in hand only in front of the launch pad.
The valid shooting license issued by the French Shooting Federation gives the right to carry a weapon as part of the practice of this sport. The weapon must be transported in such a way as to not be immediately usable by a technical device or by dismantling one of its elements.
Failure to comply with the regulations on the carrying and transport of weapons is punishable by fine and one imprisonment. The penalty applies even if the person is in good standing with respect to the possession of the weapon.
The penalty varies depending on the category of weapon.
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Category A or B weapon
A person who carries a category A or B firearm or carries a category A or B firearm without lawful cause outside his or her home shall be punished by 7 years imprisonment and €100,000 of a fine.
If the offense is committed by at least 2 persons, it is punished by 10 years imprisonment and €500,000 of a fine.
Category C weapon
A person who carries a category C firearm or carries a category C firearm without lawful cause outside his or her home shall be punished by 2 years imprisonment and €30,000 of a fine.
If the offense is committed by at least 2 persons, it is punished by 5 years imprisonment and €75,000 of a fine.
You can ask your prefecture (in Paris, at the police prefecture):
The weapons and explosives section does not receive users.
By post
Police Prefecture
Directorate of General Police
Bureau of Administrative Police
Arms and Explosives Section
1 bis rue de Lutèce
75195 Paris Cedex 04
By mail
From contact form
Category C weapon
The collector card is a legitimate means of transport of a Category C weapon in the following situations:
- Activities related to the exhibition in a museum open to the public, the conservation, knowledge or study of weapons
- Participation in a historical re-enactment or cultural event of a historical or commemorative nature. In this case, you must also have a supporting documentfor example, confirmation of registration for the event.
The weapon must be transported in such a way that it is not immediately usable, either by means of a technical device or by dismantling one of its elements.
Failure to comply with the regulations governing the carrying and transport of a Class C firearm is punishable by 2 years imprisonment and €30,000 of a fine. If the offense is committed by at least 2 persons, it is punished by 5 years imprisonment and €75,000 of a fine. The penalty applies even if the person is in good standing with respect to the possession of the weapon.
Category D weapon
You have to be able to provide a legitimate reason to carry and transport a collector's weapon outside his home of category D. The legitimate reason may be, for example, confirmation of registration for a cultural event of a historical or commemorative nature. The weapon must be transported in such a way that it is not immediately usable, either by means of a technical device or by dismantling one of its elements.
Failure to comply with the regulations governing the carrying and transport of a Class D firearm is punishable by fine and one imprisonment. The penalty applies even if the person is in good standing with respect to the possession of the weapon.
The penalty varies depending on the weapon.
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Weapon and launcher with a projectile propelled in a non-pyrotechnic manner - category D - h)
The energy at the mouth of the weapon is between 2 and 20 joules.
Examples: paint ball launcher, air rifle.
A person, outside his home, who carries a category D - h) weapon, or carries a category D - h) weapon without lawful cause, shall be punished by a fine of €750.
Class D Firearm
A person who carries a Class D firearm or carries a Class D firearm without lawful cause outside his or her home shall be punished by1 year imprisonment and €15,000 of a fine.
If the offense is committed by at least 2 persons, it is punished by 2 years imprisonment and €30,000of a fine.
Other category D weapon
A person, outside his or her home, who carries another category D weapon, or carries another category D weapon without lawful cause, shall be punished with1 year imprisonment and €15,000 of a fine.
If the offense is committed by at least 2 persons, it is punished by 2 years imprisonment and €30,000 of a fine.
However, in the event of voluntary surrender of the weapon to law enforcement, a procedure of a flat-rate fine may be implemented under conditions. The amount of the fine is €500. It is diminished (€400) or increased (€1,000) according to the time limit for payment of the fine.
You can ask your prefecture (in Paris, at the police prefecture):
The weapons and explosives section does not receive users.
By post
Police Prefecture
Directorate of General Police
Bureau of Administrative Police
Arms and Explosives Section
1 bis rue de Lutèce
75195 Paris Cedex 04
By mail
From contact form
One a person authorized to acquire a handgun in view of the serious risks to his safety associated with his professional activity may apply for authorization to carry that weapon at the place where he carries out his professional activity.
The request is made by letter addressed to the Ministry of the Interior.
Who shall I contact
The minister's silence for four months means that the application is refused. The authorization, subject to conditions, is issued for a maximum of 1 year, renewable. The person concerned may purchase a maximum of 50 cartridges during the period of authorization.
Failure to comply with the regulations governing the carrying and transport of a Class B weapon is punishable by 7 years imprisonment and €100,000 of a fine. If the offense is committed by at least 2 persons, it is punished by 10 years imprisonment and €500,000 of a fine. The penalty applies even if the person is in good standing with respect to the possession of the weapon.
One person at exceptional risk of harm to life may apply for authorization to carry and transport a handgun.
The request is made by letter addressed to the Ministry of the Interior.
Who shall I contact
The minister's silence for four months means that the application is refused. The authorization, subject to conditions, is issued for a maximum of 1 year, renewable. The person concerned may purchase a maximum of 50 cartridges during the period of authorization.
Failure to comply with the regulations governing the carrying and transport of a Class B weapon is punishable by 7 years imprisonment and €100,000 of a fine. If the offense is committed by at least 2 persons, it is punished by 10 years imprisonment and €500,000 of a fine. The penalty applies even if the person is in good standing with respect to the possession of the weapon.
You can ask your prefecture (in Paris, at the police prefecture):
The weapons and explosives section does not receive users.
By post
Police Prefecture
Directorate of General Police
Bureau of Administrative Police
Arms and Explosives Section
1 bis rue de Lutèce
75195 Paris Cedex 04
By mail
From contact form
On the same subject
Classification of weapons
Port and transport
Criminal sanctions
Rules on the carrying and transport of a weapon
Person exposed to exceptional risks of harm to his life (Article R315-5), person exposed to serious risks due to his professional activity (Article R315-5-1)
Penalties for carrying and transporting a weapon
Penalties for carrying and transporting a Class A or B weapon
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