Category B weapons for a sports shooter (subject to authorization)

Verified 20 March 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

What Class B weapons can be acquired and possessed for sport shooting? We'll tell you what you need to know.

This is of handguns (revolver, pistol) and of long guns (gun, rifle):

Tableau - Main category B weapons used for sport shooting (excluding ammunition)

Type of weapon

Weapon

Features

Handgun (pistol, revolver)

Handgun + converted handgun not included in other categories

1-shot ring percussion handgun

1-shot long gun

Long gun

Total length of 80 cm +

or barrel length of 45 cm to +

Weapon of the following calibers: 7,62 × 39, 5,56 × 45, 5,45 × 39, 12,7 × 99, 14,5 × 114

Unless the weapon is classified in category A

Manual Repeating Long Gun

Manual repeating shoulder gun

Projectile less than 20 mm in diameter

31 hits maximum without replenishment

Long gun

Total length of 80 cm +

or barrel length of 45 cm to +

Repeatedly smooth-barreled shoulder gun

Total length of 80 cm +

or barrel length of 60 cm to +

Repeating shoulder firearm with pump-type recharging device

Smooth-barreled weapon and certain rifled guns

Weapon of the following calibers: 7,62 × 39, 5,56 × 45, 5,45 × 39, 12,7 × 99, 14,5 × 114

Unless the weapon is classified in category A

Semi-automatic repeat long guns

Semi-automatic repeating shoulder firearm, center-fire

Projectile less than 20 mm in diameter

Maximum 11 moves without replenishment

Semi-automatic repeating shoulder firearm with ring percussion

Projectile less than 20 mm in diameter

31 hits maximum without replenishment

Long gun

Total length of 80 cm +

or barrel length of 45 cm to +

Semi-automatic repeating smooth-barreled shoulder gun

Total length of 80 cm +

or barrel length of 60 cm to +

Semi-automatic repeating long gun

Looks like an automatic weapon

Weapon of the following calibers: 7,62 × 39, 5,56 × 45, 5,45 × 39, 12,7 × 99, 14,5 × 114

Unless the weapon is classified in category A

You must complete all of the following conditions to possess a Class B weapon for sport shooting:

  • Be of age or, if you are a minor, be a selected shooter participating in international competitions or at least 12 years of age
  • Not be enrolled in FINIADAFINIADA : national register of prohibitions on the acquisition and possession of weapons
  • Do not have on your criminal record bulletin no. 2 of convictions for certain offenses: murder, murder, torture, acts of barbarism, willful violence, rape, sexual assault, drug trafficking... It is the prefecture that requests a ballot.
  • Not behave in a way that would make you or others fear the use of the weapon
  • Not be subject to a prohibition on possessing or carrying a weapon as part of a protection order for victims of violence
  • Not to have been or be admitted to psychiatric care without consent unless you present a medical certificate of less than 1 month.
    The medical certificate must be issued by one of the following health professionals: psychiatrist practitioner, hospital teacher, doctor of the psychiatric infirmary of the police prefecture for Paris, expert approved by the courts, specialist doctor
  • Be in a physical or mental state consistent with possession of a Class B weapon
  • Present a valid license from the Fédération française de tir (for certain category B weapons).

The approach varies depending on whether you are an adult or a minor.

You're an adult

Authorization to acquire or possess a Category B weapon is to be applied for online after having created a SIA account.

Prepare the following documents:

  • Birth certificate extract with marginal entries less than 3 months old. In the absence of marginal entries, attach a certificate of non-inclusion in the civil register and/or in the annexed civil register. If you were born abroad, the birth certificate must be drawn up by a registrar French.
  • Favorable opinion of the Fédération française de tir on the acquisition and possession of weapons excluding their elements. This favorable opinion is linked to the regular practice of shooting.

Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space

When you purchase a weapon from a gunsmith, the weapon is automatically transferred to your digital rack.

You must confirm the purchase of the weapon online through your account AISAIS : Weapons Information System.

If you do not, the purchase is automatically validated after 5 days.

You're a minor

The approach varies depending on whether you participate in international competitions or not.

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You participate in international competitions

Authorization to acquire and possess a Class B firearm must be obtained by mail.

Your file must contain the following documents:

  • Application Form cerfa no. 12644 completed and signed
  • Valid identity document (valid residence card or residence permit for a foreigner)
  • Proof of domicile
  • Declaration on the honor of a compliant installation in your home (safe, strong cabinet, strong room with armored door)
  • Birth certificate extract with marginal entries less than 3 months old. If you were born abroad, the birth certificate must be drawn up by a registrar French.
  • Valid shooting license, issued by the French Shooting Federation
  • Favorable opinion of the Fédération française de tir on the acquisition and possession of weapons excluding their elements. This favorable opinion is linked to the regular practice of shooting.
  • Proof of selection at international competitions.

Send your file to the prefecture of your home.

Who shall I contact

  • Paris Police Department - Arms and Explosives Section

    The Arms and Explosives Section does not receive users.

    By mail

    Police prefecture

    General Police Directorate

    Office of Administrative Police

    Arms and Explosives Section

    1 bis rue de Lutèce

    75195 Paris Cedex 04

    By E-mail

    From contact form

You're in a different situation

If you are 12 years of age or older, you can apply for authorization to possess a Class B weapon for sport shooting.

The request is made by mail.

Your file must contain the following documents:

  • Application Form cerfa no. 12644 completed and signed
  • Valid identity document (valid residence card or residence permit for a foreigner)
  • Proof of domicile
  • Declaration on the honor of a compliant installation in your home (safe, strong cabinet, strong room with armored door)
  • Birth certificate extract with marginal entries less than 3 months old. If you were born abroad, the birth certificate must be drawn up by a registrar French.
  • Valid shooting license, issued by the French Shooting Federation
  • Favorable opinion of the Fédération française de tir on the acquisition and possession of weapons excluding their elements. This favorable opinion is linked to the regular practice of shooting.
  • Certificate of a person exercising parental authority mentioning that the weapon is held for the practice of sport shooting.

Send your file to the prefecture of your home.

Who shall I contact

  • Paris Police Department - Arms and Explosives Section

    The Arms and Explosives Section does not receive users.

    By mail

    Police prefecture

    General Police Directorate

    Office of Administrative Police

    Arms and Explosives Section

    1 bis rue de Lutèce

    75195 Paris Cedex 04

    By E-mail

    From contact form

You can receive a response to your request for authorization to have a Class B firearm in a three-month period.

In the absence of a response within 3 months from the date of receipt of your application, this means that your application is refused (rejection decision).

Menstruation varies depending on whether you are an adult or a minor.

You're an adult

Vous avez choisi

Choisissez votre cas

You had one or more permissions when creating your SIA account as of February 27, 2024

When you create your SIA account, you are granted a new single authorization.

This new authorization is the title of possession of all your category B weapons.

The new authorization is valid until the end of validity date of the most recent authorization you had before the creation of your account.

The new permission replaces the permission(s) you had before creating your SIA account. These old authorizations are no longer valid.

You're in a different situation

Authorization to acquire and possess a Class B weapon shall be granted for 5 years .

You're a minor

Authorization to acquire and/or possess a Category B weapon shall be granted for 5 years .

The rules vary depending on whether you are an adult or a minor aged 12 years or older.

You're an adult

The number of weapons you may be allowed to possess varies depending on whether you are competing in international competitions.

Vous avez choisi

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You participate in national or international competitions

You can acquire and hold to the maximum 15 weapons authorized for sport shooting.

If you have more than 15 weapons, you had until December 31, 2024 to regularize your situation (divestment or neutralization).

You don't compete

The rules vary depending on your situation.

You're a first-time applicant

You are first-time applicant if you are in one of these three situations :

  • You're asking for 1re once an authorization to acquire and possess weapons.
  • You were just 18 years old and, before your majority, you had a minor-specific authorization to possess weapons
  • You had an authorization to acquire and possess weapons, but you were registered in the FINIADAFINIADA : national register of prohibitions on the acquisition and possession of weapons.

You are first-time applicant if you are in one of these three situations :

  • You're asking for 1re once an authorization to acquire and possess weapons.
  • You were just 18 years old and, before your majority, you had a minor-specific authorization to possess weapons
  • You had an authorization to acquire and possess weapons, but you were registered in the FINIADAFINIADA : national register of prohibitions on the acquisition and possession of weapons.

You can hold as much as possible 6 weapons authorized for sport shooting for 5 years from your 1re detention order.

These weapons may only be used in the shooting stands of sports associations approved for shooting.

You're in a different situation

You can acquire and hold to the maximum 15 weapons authorized for sport shooting.

These weapons may only be used in the shooting stands of sports associations approved for shooting.

If you have more than 15 weapons, you had until December 31, 2024 to regularize your situation (divestment or neutralization).

You are under 12 years of age or older

Of specific rules apply to a minor who practices sport shooting.

The number of weapons a minor may be allowed to possess varies depending on whether or not he or she is competing in international competitions.

Vous avez choisi

Choisissez votre cas

You participate in international competitions

You can hold as much as possible 15 weapons authorized for sport shooting.

If you have more than 15 weapons, you had until December 31, 2024 to regularize your situation (divestment or neutralization).

You're in a different situation

You can detain up to 3 weapons 1-stroke ring-percussion handfire.

These weapons may only be used in the shooting stands of sports associations approved for shooting.

Rules vary depending on the type of sport shooting.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

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General case

To purchase a Category B power system, you must present the authorization of the weapon or body or, if necessary, the lower part of the breech box held.

You can purchase the following power systems:

  • Category A1 (11 to 30 strokes, intended for insertion into a semi-automatic repeating central-fire long gun)
  • Category B.

You can buy and hold to the maximum 10 power systems by weapon.

Speed Sporty Shooting (SST)

You can buy and own the following power systems provided you have the certificate of the French Shooting Federation:

  • For a handgun, delivery system for firing more than 20 rounds
  • For a long gun, a power supply system capable of firing more than 30 rounds.

You can buy and hold to the maximum 10 power systems by weapon.

You can buy as much as possible 3,000 cartridges per weapon authorized for sport shooting, for 12 consecutive months.

There are no limitations on the ammunition items for the calibers of the weapons you have.

You must keep your Class B weapon, its components and ammunition, in one of two ways:

  • In a safe or a strong cabinet suitable for the type of material held
  • In a strong point having an armored door and whose doors are protected by bars.

The approach varies depending on whether you are an adult or a minor.

You're an adult

You must apply for renewal not later than 3 months before the date of expiry of the authorization.

If you fail to comply with this deadline, the renewal of the authorization may be refused unless otherwise justified. For example, hospitalization.

The request is made online via your SIA account.

The documents to be provided shall be identical to the original application for authorization

An acknowledgement of receipt is issued to you via your SIA account.

Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space

Warning  

If you do not request the renewal of the authorization in time, you have to divest yourself of your weapon and ammunition or do neutralize your gun.

You're a minor

You must apply for renewal not later than 3 months before the date of expiry of the authorization.

If you fail to comply with this deadline, the renewal of the authorization may be refused unless otherwise justified. For example, hospitalization.

The request is made by mail to the prefecture of your home.

The documents to be provided shall be identical to the initial application for authorization.

An acknowledgement of receipt is sent to you by post with ARAR : Acknowledgment of receipt.

Who shall I contact

  • Paris Police Department - Arms and Explosives Section

    The Arms and Explosives Section does not receive users.

    By mail

    Police prefecture

    General Police Directorate

    Office of Administrative Police

    Arms and Explosives Section

    1 bis rue de Lutèce

    75195 Paris Cedex 04

    By E-mail

    From contact form

Warning  

If you do not request the renewal of the authorization in time, you have to divest yourself of your weapon and ammunition or do neutralize your gun.

Authorization for the acquisition and possession of a Class B weapon, or its renewal, may be refused or withdrawn in the following cases:

  • For any reason public policy or personal safety
  • If you do not meet or no longer meet the required conditions.

You must to divest you of the weapon in a three-month period following the notification refusal or withdrawal.

FYI  

If you have not renewed your sport shooting license, the authorization shall cease to be valid at the end of a period of 3 months following the expiry date of the license.

Buying, selling, or possessing one or more Class B weapons without authorization is sanctioned by a 5-year prison sentence and one fine of €75,000 maximum.

The prison sentence is 10 years and the fine of €500,000 maximum in case of infringement committed in organized band.

The following offenses are punishable by a fine of up to €750 :

  • Move to another department without declaring your new home
  • Purchase or possess more than 10 weapon power systems.

The additional penalties the following may be added:

  • Prohibition of possession or carrying, for a maximum of 5 years, a weapon subject to authorization
  • Confiscation of one or more weapons
  • Withdrawal of the hunting license with a prohibition on applying for a new license for up to 5 years.

The weapon conversion is forbidden to anyone who does not have a gunsmith's license.

Failure to comply with this rule is sanctioned by a contravention of €1,500 maximum.

If the transformation of the weapon results in a change in the category of the weapon, it is a offense punishable by 5 years imprisonment and €75,000 of fine.

However, the addition of accessories (handle, sights...) is allowed if it does not modify the characteristics of the weapon.

Weapons Information System (AIS) - Owner Space

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Prefecture

  • Paris Police Department - Arms and Explosives Section

    The Arms and Explosives Section does not receive users.

    By mail

    Police prefecture

    General Police Directorate

    Office of Administrative Police

    Arms and Explosives Section

    1 bis rue de Lutèce

    75195 Paris Cedex 04

    By E-mail

    From contact form

FAQ