Acquisition & possession

Acquisition and possession of airsoft guns

Acquisition and possession of airsoft guns in Switzerland follow clear but manageable rules. No weapons acquisition permit is needed (Art. 10 para. 1 lit. e WG), but a written contract is mandatory on every transfer.

Important legal notice

This is not legal advice. The information on this website is for informational purposes only. For legal questions, contact your cantonal weapons office, fedpol, or the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG). Laws and ordinances may change - always check the current legal texts on admin.ch.

Official sources

Translation in progress

This page was machine-translated from the German original and may contain inaccuracies. The German version and the official legal text on admin.ch always take precedence.

No weapons acquisition permit required

Exemption under Art. 10 para. 1 lit. e WG

Airsoft / soft-air guns are expressly exempt from the weapons-acquisition-permit requirement. Neither a WES nor a European Firearms Pass is required.

This exemption applies regardless of muzzle energy. Swiss law does not know the German 0.5-joule rule - all airsoft guns are treated as weapons in Switzerland, but may be acquired without a WES.

Minimum age 18

Acquisition and possession of an airsoft gun are only allowed from the age of 18 (Art. 8 para. 2 WG).

Minors - only via loan contract

Use by minors is permitted exclusively on the basis of a loan contract and under certain conditions (Art. 11a WG, Art. 23 WV). A template is provided by the ASVD. Note: some event organisers additionally exclude minors or require special conditions - always check with the organiser beforehand.

Acquisition exclusion

Certain persons are excluded from acquisition (Art. 7 WG, Art. 12 WV):

•Nationals of certain blocked states (list issued by the Federal Assembly)
•Persons with certain relevant prior convictions (especially violent crimes)
•Persons showing signs of self-endangerment or danger to others

Transfer contract - mandatory on every change of ownership

Art. 11 WG: Written contract mandatory

Every transfer of an airsoft gun - including private transfers between sport colleagues - must be documented in writing. The contract is to be filled out in duplicate by both parties and retained for 10 years.

A template is provided by fedpol under "Applications and forms" (fedpol.admin.ch/de/gesuche-und-formulare). The ASVD offers a practice-adapted variant.

Always carry a copy

For transport, at the border and during police checks it is strongly recommended to carry a copy of the transfer contract. This greatly simplifies controls.

Second-hand purchase (private sale)

Art. 11 WG also applies to private second-hand purchases: written contract, in duplicate, retain for 10 years. It does not matter whether the sale takes place between club members, via classifieds or at a trade fair.

•Before purchase: verify identity and legal age (official ID)
•Contract in duplicate: one copy for the seller, one for the buyer
•10-year retention period - on both sides
•Recommendation: include a photo and any serial number in the contract

Buying from a dealer

Commercial sale of airsoft guns requires a "Weapons-trading authorisation for non-firearms". Anyone selling commercially without this authorisation faces up to five years of imprisonment or a monetary penalty (fedpol trade leaflet).

When buying from a dealer you normally receive a prepared transfer contract on the spot. Check that it is complete and correct before signing.

Special cases: grenades, mines, pyrotechnics

CO2 / gas hand grenades, mines and comparable items are not covered by the Weapons Act - but should still be handled with maximum restraint and never carried in public.

Pyrotechnics: Explosives Act

Grenades with blank cartridges, smoke crackers and similar pyrotechnic items fall under the Swiss Explosives Act. Both import and use are largely subject to authorisation.

Airsoft "rocket launchers" and similar large-format replicas are especially sensitive: due to confusability with grenade launchers (Art. 4 para. 2 lit. c WG) or real military launch devices (Art. 5 para. 3 lit. b WG), particular caution is required.

Pre-purchase checklist

•Over 18? No acquisition exclusion under Art. 7 WG / Art. 12 WV?
•Written transfer contract ready (duplicate)?
•Identity check on the counterparty (official ID)?
•Storage at home arranged (Art. 26 WG / Art. 47 WV)?
•Suitable transport container available (bag/case)?
•Contract copy ready for transport and border situations?