Latvia. 2019 ‘Sections 51.’ Law on the Handling of Weapons; Sections 51. Riga: Latvia. 10 April

Relevant contents

Section 49. Temporary Import of Weapons, Their Exchangeable Essential Components, and Ammunition into Latvia from the European Union Member States and Countries of the European Economic Area

(1) A citizen of a European Union Member State and a citizen of a country of the European Economic Area, if he or she has a European firearm pass and a justification for the import of a firearm into Latvia or movement through the territory of Latvia, is entitled to import into Latvia the hunting or sports firearm of Categories A, B, or C indicated in the European firearm pass, its exchangeable essential components and ammunition, or the salute weapon (acoustic weapon) of Category C for professional activities in the field of culture or for historical re-enactments and its ammunition, as well as magazines with the capacity of more than 10 rounds for a long-rifled firearm of Category A classified for sports and magazines with the capacity of more than 20 rounds for a short firearm of Category A classified for sports, the exchangeable essential components, magazines, and ammunition of the abovementioned weapons, to use such weapons according to their type of use in hunting, practice shooting, or shooting sports competitions, and to acquire ammunition appropriate for the weapon, as well as to transport weapons and ammunition through the territory of Latvia.

(2) A citizen of a European Union Member State and a citizen of a country of the European Economic Area who wishes to temporarily import into Latvia salute weapons (acoustic weapons) of Categories A and B classified for the field of culture or for historical re-enactments, firearms of Category B classified for hunting and their exchangeable essential components, high-energy pneumatic weapons of Category D classified for sports and hunting, as well as the ammunition intended for the abovementioned weapons, and to use them according to their type of use in the field of culture or in historical re-enactments, hunting, practice shooting, or shooting sports competitions, must receive a prior consent document for the transportation or conveyance of weapons and ammunition from the State Police.

(3) A citizen of a European Union Member State and a citizen of a country of the European Economic Area are entitled to cross the territory of Latvia if he or she carries with documents confirming lawful transportation of firearms and their ammunition issued by the European Union Member State or the country of the European Economic Area.

(4) The State Police shall inform the relevant competent authority of the European Union Member State or country of the European Economic Area of each prior consent document for the transportation or conveyance of weapons and ammunition issued in accordance with the procedures laid down in Paragraph two of this Section.

Section 50. Temporary Importation of Weapons, Their Exchangeable Essential Components, and Ammunition into Latvia from the Third Countries

(1) Third-country nationals, after receipt of the authorisation for the transportation or the authorisation for the conveyance of weapons issued by the State Police, if they have a justified invitation for entering Latvia and a permit issued by the competent authority of his or her country, are entitled to import the following into Latvia for a time period of up to three months:

1) firearms of Categories B and C classified for sports, their exchangeable essential components and ammunition, magazines with the capacity of more than 20 rounds for a short firearm of Category B classified for sports, and high-energy pneumatic weapons of Category D classified for sports for use in sports competitions;

2) firearms of Category C classified for hunting, their exchangeable essential components and ammunition, and high-energy pneumatic weapons of Category D classified for hunting for use in hunting;

3) salute weapons (acoustic weapons) of Category C and ammunition which is necessary for professional activities in the field of culture or for historical re-enactments.

(2) Citizens of the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, after receipt of the authorisation for the transportation or authorisation for the conveyance of weapons issued by the State Police, if they have a justified invitation for entering Latvia and a permit issued by the competent authority of their country, are entitled to import firearms of Category A classified for sports, their exchangeable essential components and ammunition into Latvia for use in sports competitions for a time period of up to three months.

(3) Third-country nationals, citizens of the parties to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, after receipt of the relevant authorisation, are entitled to transport the weapons indicated in the authorisation, their exchangeable essential components and ammunition through the territory of Latvia, as well as to acquire ammunition appropriate for the weapon.

Section 51. Import of Weapons, Their Exchangeable Essential Components, and Ammunition into Latvia from the European Union Member States, Countries of the European Economic Area, or Third Countries for Permanent Possession or Carrying

A citizen of a European Union Member State, a citizen of a country of the European Economic Area, and a third-country national, having received a permanent residence permit in the Republic of Latvia, are entitled to import into Latvia and permanently possess firearms of Categories A, B, and C classified for hunting, sports, self-defence, or collection, their exchangeable essential components, ammunition, to carry short firearms of Category B classified for self-defence, as well as magazines with the capacity of more than 10 rounds for a long-rifled firearm of Category A classified for sports, magazines with the capacity of more than 20 rounds for a short firearm of Category A, and high-energy pneumatic weapons of Category D and their ammunition, if the State Police has issued the authorisation for the acquisition of a weapon, as well as the authorisation for the transportation or conveyance of a weapon, and after import of weapons, their exchangeable essential components, and ammunition into Latvia the State Police has issued the authorisation for the possession of a weapon, authorisation for the carrying of a weapon, or authorisation for the collection of weapons based on the authorisation for the export of weapons, their exchangeable essential components, and ammunition issued by the competent authority of the European Union Member State, the country of the European Economic Area, or the third country.

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