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Can you own a gun in Norway?

Police permits, the hunter's exam, storage, semi-automatic rifles and visitors.

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Short answer

You can own a gun in Norway only with a police permit, and the firearm must be for a purpose such as hunting, sport shooting or a collection. New hunters must first pass the hunter's exam (jegerprøven), and sport shooters must join an approved shooting organisation. Licensed guns must be kept locked in an approved safe or gun room.

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Why

  1. The hunter's exam consists of a mandatory 30-hour course over nine sessions and an electronic exam, which you can take from the year you turn 14, and passing it puts you in the Norwegian Register of Hunters (Jegerregisteret).
  2. Under the Weapons Act, licensed firearms, or specified parts of them, must be stored locked in an approved safe or approved gun room at the owner's permanent home, and ammunition must also be locked away.
  3. Semi-automatic rifles of military origin, such as AR-15 and AR-10 types, are on a police list of rifles that cannot be acquired for hunting, and older permits for them were valid only until 31 May 2024.

Details

After the hunter's exam you can hunt small game on your own from age 16 and big game from 18. For a sport weapon the age limit is 16 for a rifle or shotgun and 21 for a pistol or revolver, and you must document shooting activity and skill. You also need police permission to inherit or take over a weapon, and the police can still grant a permit for a listed semi-automatic rifle on some other grounds in the Weapons Act.

Tip

If you plan to hunt or compete in Norway without a European Firearms Pass, send the application to the police at least two months before you arrive.

What may differ

Visitors who come to hunt or compete can bring their own firearm. With a European Firearms Pass they can stay up to three months and must show the firearm and pass on request. Without one, they must apply to the police district where they will stay and present the firearm and permit to customs on arrival.

People also ask

  • Are guns legal in Norway?
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Sources

This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check the Norwegian Police (Politiet) before you travel.

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