Customs guide

Guide for customs and police officers

This page is intended as a quick reference for customs and police officers - and for airsoft sport players who want to present the legal framework cleanly during a check. All statements refer to the Swiss Weapons Act (WG, SR 514.54) and Weapons Ordinance (WV, SR 514.541).

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.

Short version

•Airsoft / soft-air guns = weapons under Art. 4 para. 1 lit. g WG, NOT firearms.
•No weapons acquisition permit required (Art. 10 para. 1 lit. e WG).
•No carry permit for club / sport events (Art. 27 para. 4 lit. c WG).
•Transport only concealed, unloaded, by the direct route (Art. 28 WG, Art. 51 WV).
•Transfer only by written contract in duplicate (Art. 11 WG), 10-year retention.

Article reference

Article	Norm	Relevance
Art. 4 para. 1 lit. g WG	Weapon definition	Soft-air guns as weapons
Art. 6 WV	Confusability	"Resembling a real firearm"
Art. 7 WG / Art. 12 WV	Acquisition bans	Blocked states, prior convictions
Art. 8 para. 2 WG	Minimum age	18 years
Art. 10 para. 1 lit. e WG	WES exemption	No acquisition permit
Art. 11 WG	Transfer	Written contract, 10 years
Art. 11a WG / Art. 23 WV	Minors	Loan contract
Art. 26 WG / Art. 47 WV	Storage	Protection from unauthorised access
Art. 27 para. 4 lit. c WG	Carrying	No carry permit for club events
Art. 28 WG / Art. 51 WV	Transport	Concealed, unloaded, direct route
Art. 28 para. 1 lit. a WG	Carrying (supplement)	Complements 27 para. 4 lit. c

Border crossing - process

BAZG and fedpol outlined the process in their 2015 and 2019 confirmations as follows:

•Temporary export (Swiss player going abroad): no special permit needed, but Vormerkschein + transfer contract + organiser invitation.
•Import (new entry into Switzerland): obtain fedpol import authorisation before entry.
•Re-entry after temporary export: present Vormerkschein.

Checklist during a control

What the officer looks for

Safe, orderly transport, plausible route explanation, presented documents, factual answers to "what is this and where to?".

•Replica packed in a locked container?
•Magazine / battery separated?
•Transfer contract available?
•Plausible destination (field, club, shop, technician)?
•For import: fedpol authorisation or Vormerkschein?

Communication on both sides

Both players and officers benefit from precise vocabulary:

•"Airsoft gun" / "soft-air gun" / "airsoft replica" - not "rifle" / "pistol" / "gun".
•"Soft-air weapons" is the official designation in the fedpol leaflet and WG context.
•A reference to club / event / sporting character has a de-escalating effect.