Air travel

Flying with Airsoft to international events

Practical report and checklist for travelling by air to an Airsoft event abroad. Example: Dark Emergency 2026 in Mahlwinkel (DE), flight Zurich - Berlin with SWISS. Rules differ by airline and airport; the steps below apply at Zurich Airport Terminal 1.

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.

1. Before the flight (≥ 2 weeks ahead)

Registration deadline

Airsoft replicas must be registered with the airline at least 48-72 h before the flight (approval request). Recommended: at least 2 weeks ahead so there is buffer time if the request is declined.

Register with the airline (e.g. SWISS) by phone via the Customer Hotline. Important: in the phone menu do NOT pick "special baggage" - the system will hang up. Pick "other" or "general" to reach a real agent and declare sports-weapon baggage there.

Declare BB ammo (6 mm plastic BBs) at the same time. It travels in checked baggage and also receives a "SEC Approved" tag.

Prepare documents

Vormerkschein (ASVD template), purchase / transfer contracts for the replicas, event invitation / ticket, ID card or passport, flight confirmation.

2. Check-in at Zurich Airport (Terminal 1)

No digital boarding pass · no self bag drop

Online / mobile check-in will be rejected once weapon transport is registered. Boarding pass must be collected at the counter. Self bag drop is not possible.

At the counter immediately announce: "I have a registered sports weapon (Airsoft)." Have ID/passport and flight confirmation ready.

Checked baggage is tagged normally but handed back to you - customs and weapon inspection come first.

The hard case with the replicas gets a "SEC Approved" tag. Then go to the airline supervisor (SWISS: in T1) - pay the weapon transport fee (SWISS: CHF 90). Card or cash only, no Twint. Cash only at the Business counter.

3. Weapon inspection (external firm)

After payment stay with the supervisor. A specialised weapon-inspection firm at Zurich Airport is called - an employee (often in a suit) collects you and walks you to the inspection room in T1.

The employee only checks that the packaging meets transport rules (unloaded, no battery, hard case). No customs duties. Fee: CHF 60 (cash exact, or card - no Twint).

Afterwards they walk you to the customs counter in T1.

4. Customs - temporary export (BAZG)

What to say at customs

"I am declaring the temporary export of my Airsoft equipment. These are imitation weapons that count as weapons under Art. 4 Abs. 1 Bst. g WG but are not firearms. Under Art. 10 Abs. 1 Bst. e WG they are exempt from the weapon acquisition permit. Per BAZG letter, for temporary export and re-import to a sports event the event invitation, purchase / transfer contracts and a filled-in Vormerkschein suffice. Please stamp my Vormerkschein to confirm the approved export."

Present all documents: Vormerkschein, purchase / transfer contracts, event invitation.

Calm and slow

Open the hard case calmly, step back, let the officer inspect. Do not interrupt. Stress: temporary export, will be re-imported on return.

With the stamped Vormerkschein, the inspection-firm employee takes the case back (after you secure it) and ensures it reaches the aircraft.

Drop remaining checked baggage at the normal counter.

5. Carry-on - batteries & power banks

IATA lithium limits

Max. 100 Wh per battery / power bank, total max. 4 power banks per person (S-AEG battery not counted). All lithium batteries and power banks must travel in carry-on, stowed under the seat in front of you, not in the overhead bin.

Never put batteries in checked baggage - fire risk, prohibited by all airlines.

6. Arrival in Germany - customs at entry

You MUST go through customs

Pick up your baggage at the oversized-baggage belt/area and MANDATORILY proceed to customs. Skipping this is weapon smuggling and illegal import of an imitation weapon.

German customs officers at larger airports are usually trained on Airsoft. Open the case, show the F-marking (orange muzzle plug), the Vormerkschein with the Swiss export stamp and the contracts. In practice the check takes a few minutes with proper paperwork.

7. Return trip - Berlin → Zurich

Announce at the counter again, no self bag drop. Leave the SEC-Approved tags from Zurich on the case - it speeds things up.

Say "Airsoft" explicitly

Insist that the airline agent tells the Bundespolizei "Airsoft replicas", not just "weapons". Otherwise armed officers with submachine guns will show up.

Go to the oversized-baggage drop, wait for the Bundespolizei. Have all papers ready, hand over key/PIN. DO NOT open it beforehand, DO NOT open it yourself. Mark the F-plug with tape and an arrow if it is hard to see.

After inspection the case is placed in the lift; wait until the lift is gone / shows red.

Zurich arrival: a Swissport employee brings SEC baggage to the oversized-baggage belt (must be handed over in person). Have your boarding pass with baggage stickers ready. Then go to customs yourself - present the Vormerkschein. Thanks to the export stamp it is quick (short explanation may be needed). Open the case only on request.

8. Customs quick reference

Legal basis (Switzerland)

Airsoft / Soft-Air replicas count as weapons (Art. 4 Abs. 1 Bst. g WG), are exempt from the acquisition permit (Art. 10 Abs. 1 Bst. e WG) and require no carry permit for club activities (Art. 27 Abs. 4 Bst. c WG, Art. 28 Abs. 1 Bst. a WG).

BAZG confirmations

EZV confirmation 2015 (see ASVD download): private export and re-import of Airsoft for sport purposes without special authorisation. EZV letter 2019: temporary export of domestic Airsoft replicas for sport events confirmed.

9. Checklist

•Airline registration ≥ 2 weeks ahead, BBs declared
•Vormerkschein (ASVD) filled in
•Purchase / transfer contracts for every replica (copies)
•Event invitation or ticket
•ID / passport
•Lockable hard case; battery out; unloaded
•F-marking visible, marked if needed
•Cash/card for fees (SWISS: CHF 90 airline + CHF 60 inspection)
•Batteries & power banks ≤ 100 Wh, max 4 power banks in carry-on
•Buffer: be at check-in ≥ 3 h before departure