Apply for a permit for the non-commercial acquisition and handling of explosive substances.

Before you are allowed to handle explosive substances as a non-commercial user, you must have been granted a permit under the Explosives Act.

• Application via an online procedure or a written procedure (except for the electronic processing and the possibility to identify oneself beforehand, the two procedures are identical)
• Filling in the forms,
• Add the required documents and evidence,
• Re-examination of the application documents,
• Send the application electronically or print it out and submit it to the authority,
• The authority will contact you if you wish to consult or make enquiries and corrections,
• If necessary, the authority will make an appointment with you for an interview to determine the required personal suitability,

After the documents have been checked, you will receive a decision on the decision and a fee notice with a request for payment.

To obtain a permit to handle explosive substances, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be over 21 years of age to handle black powder, nitrocellulose powder and other propellant powder. Exceptions are possible in individual cases.
• You must be 21 years of age or older to handle category F4 fireworks and category P2 pyrotechnic objects (e.g. rocket motors).
• You must be 18 years of age or older to handle category F2 or F3 fireworks.
• They must have specialist knowledge. The specialist knowledge is demonstrated by a certificate attesting to successful participation in a state or state-recognised training course (not applicable for pyrotechnics category F3).
• You must be reliable. The required reliability is normally given if you have so far behaved lawfully and have no criminal record.
• You must be personally suitable. You are personally suitable if you have no limitations, e.g. in your mental or physical health or due to drug or alcohol addiction.
• You must be able to prove a need. The proof is specific to the target group; hunters, for example, must submit their hunting licence for this purpose, sport shooters and firecracker shooters a certificate of membership and participation in shooting and traditional shooting associations. (Not required for permission to handle fireworks or other pyrotechnic objects such as rocket motors).
• If they wish to store explosive substances, they must have suitable rooms for storage.

• Completed application form for the granting of a permit according to § 27 Explosives Act
• Valid identity card or passport
• Proof of specialist knowledge (proof of successfully completed specialist knowledge course for the planned activity; not required for fireworks of category F3).
• Proof of the need to handle explosive substances (not required for a permit to handle pyrotechnic articles).
• Proof of liability insurance when handling fireworks of categories F3 and F4
• Description of the intended storage (e.g. technical documentation, photographic evidence).
• Permits already issued, if applicable
• For the verification of the reliability of persons from abroad: You need a certificate in a certified translation from the competent judicial or administrative authority of your home country or country of origin about certain facts that are relevant for the assessment of your reliability (e.g. extract from the criminal record).

The amount of the fee is set by the competent authority. As a rule, the fee is calculated according to effort and benefit on the basis of a cost framework.

Fees in Hesse:

• Issue of a permit 70 - 250 euros,
• Renewal of a permit 50 - 205 euros,
• Amendment of a permit 55 - 205 euros.

Deadlines for subsequent submissions/returns are set by the competent authority.

If you already have a permit, you must submit the application for renewal in good time before the expiry of the time limit; it is recommended to apply for renewal 2 - 3 months before the expiry date.

If an application for issuance requires verification of personal suitability and reliability for admission to a specialist knowledge course, the competent authority may waive re-verification if no more than one year has elapsed since issuance of the clearance certificate for participation in the specialist knowledge course.

• § Section 27 of the Explosives Act (SprengG) - Authorisation to purchase and handle

• Form name: Varies depending on the competent authority
• If applicable, link to the aforementioned form:
• Online procedure possible: yes
• Written form required: no
• Personal appearance required: Depending on the respective competent authority

• Application for a clearance certificate.pdf
• Application for a permit according to § 27 of the Explosives Act.pdf
• Application for renewal of a permit according to § 27 of the Explosives Act.pdf
• Questionnaire for the storage of small quantities of propellant powder.pdf
• Instructions for action for customary shooters.pdf
• Leaflet for a permit according to § 27 SprengG.pdf