FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION (MOVEMENT IN MEMBER STATES AND OTHER MATTERS) [ S.L.480.01 1 SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 480.01 FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION (MOVEMENT IN MEMBER STATES AND OTHER MATTERS) REGULATIONS 1st May, 2004 LEGAL NOTICE 56 of 2004, as amended by Legal Notices 366 and 463 of 2010, 392 of 2018, 121 of 2020, 34 of 2025 and 76 of
- The title of these regulations is the Firearms and Ammunition (Movement in Member States and other Matters) Regulations.
- In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires: ''the Act'' means the Arms Act; ''ammunition'' means that ammunition required for use in a firearm; Citation. Definitions. Amended by: L.N. 463 of 2010; L.N. 121 of
- Cap.
- ''the Commissioner'' means the Commissioner Police; ''Member States'' are those states which are members of the European Union as on the date of the coming into force of these regulations; ''firearm'' has the same meaning assigned to it by article 2 of the Act: Provided that for the purposes of regulation 7A ''firearm'' shall mean any portable barrelled weapon that expels, is designed to expel or may be converted to expel a shot, bullet or projectile by the action of a combustible propellant; ''firearms pass'' is equivalent to a licence in terms of the Act and such pass shall be applicable as between Member States, containing such information as is listed in Schedule II of these regulations; ''possession'', for the purposes of these regulations, is the right of a non-resident national of a Member State to keep, carry and use a firearm in Malta for the purpose indicated in the firearm pass. 3.
(1)A licence may be issued by the Commissioner to a national of a Member State residing in a Member State other than Malta, for the acquisition of a firearm or ammunition, for export to the applicant’s country of residence provided such national (
- a)fulfils the conditions for the acquisition of a licence under the Act; (
- b)obtains authorization for the acquisition of the firearm or ammunition from his country of residence; (
- c)submits to the Commissioner all requested details including the details listed in regulation 5
(1)on the prescribed form.
(2)The Commissioner shall, prior to authorising the acquisition of a firearm or ammunition for transfer to another Member State under the provisions of the Act, examine all Licence for export by non-resident nationals of Member States. 2 FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION (MOVEMENT IN MEMBER STATES AND OTHER MATTERS) [ S.L.480.01 conditions for transfer, in particular with respect to security. Licence for possession of firearms in Malta by a non-resident national of a Member State. 4.
(1)A licence may be issued by the Commissioner to a national of a Member State residing in a Member State other than Malta for the possession of that firearm or ammunition in Malta, provided such national: (
- a)fulfils the conditions for a licence under the Act; (
- b)submits to the Commissioner a written declaration testifying to, and justifying his intention to, possess the firearm or ammunition in Malta.
(2)Where a licence for the acquisition and possession of firearm or ammunition is issued in terms of this regulation, the Commissioner shall inform the applicant’s country of residence. Transfer of firearms to Member States. Amended by: L.N. 76 of 2026. 5.
(1)An application for a licence under the provisions of the Act for the transfer of a firearm or ammunition to a Member State shall include the following details: (
- a)the names and addresses of the person selling or disposing of the firearm or ammunition and of the person purchasing or acquiring it or, where appropriate, of the owner; (
- b)the address to which the firearm or ammunitions are to be consigned or transported; (
- c)the number of firearms to be consigned or transported; (
- d)the particulars enabling the firearm or ammunition to be identified and also an indication that the firearm has undergone a check in accordance with the Convention of the 1st July, 1969 on the Reciprocal Recognition of Proofmarks on Small Arms; (
- e)the means of transfer; (
- f)the date of departure and the estimated date of arrival.
(2)Before issuing the licence, the Commissioner shall examine the conditions under which the transfer is to be carried out, in particular with respect to security.
(3)The Commissioner shall include all the information indicated in sub-regulation
(1)in the licence, which licence shall accompany the firearm or ammunition to the Member State of destination and, where applicable, to the Member State of transit. The licence shall be produced by the holder when and as required: Provided that the Commissioner shall also communicate the relevant details to the Member States of destination and transit prior to the transfer. Dealers transferring to other dealers in Member States. Amended by: L.N. 76 of 2026. 6.
(1)The Commissioner may grant a licence to a dealer licensed under the Act authorising the dealer to transfer firearms or ammunition to dealers in other Member States without applying for a licence under the provisions of the Act.
(2)A licence in accordance with the provisions of the Act may, for the purposes of these regulations, be issued for a maximum period of three
(3)years and may be suspended or revoked by means of a FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION (MOVEMENT IN MEMBER STATES AND OTHER MATTERS) [ S.L.480.01 3 reasoned decision issued by the Commissioner at any time.
(3)The Commissioner shall notify dealers licensed under the Act, with a list of firearms and ammunition notified to it by the other Member States, which list shall indicate the firearms and ammunition that can only be transferred to these Member States with their prior authorisation.
(4)A dealer shall submit the information referred to in regulation 5
(1)(
- a)to (
- f)to the Commissioner in not less than ten
(10)working days prior to the transfer of a firearm to another Member State in terms of this regulation.
(5)The Commissioner shall forward all information received by him pursuant to subregulation
(4)to the Member State of destination or where applicable to the Member State of transit, prior to the transfer. 7. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Act, a licence to import a firearm or ammunition into Malta from another Member State shall not be required where: Importation of firearms from another Member State. (
- a)the transfer is licensed by the competent authority of the Member State from where the firearm or ammunition is transferred; (
- b)the transfer takes place between a dealer established in a Member State and a local dealer, and the former is licensed by the competent authority in his state to transfer firearms to other dealers in Member States, without requiring specific authorisation for such transfer: Provided that the aforementioned licences issued by the competent authorities of the Member State from where the firearm or ammunition is to be transferred, shall in the case of a transfer under paragraph (
- a)contain all the details listed in regulation 5
(1), whilst in the case of transfers under paragraph (b), they shall contain the details referred to in regulation 5
(1)(a) to (f): Provided further that the licence authorising its transfer accompanies the firearm or ammunition transferred to Malta. 7A.
(1)With respect to firearms manufactured or imported in Malta from outside the European Union on or after 14 September 2018, it shall be ensured that any such firearm, or any essential component, placed on the market has been: (
- a)provided with a clear, permanent and unique markingin accordance with the technical specifications laid down in Schedule I of these regulations and any relevant provisions of the Act and regulations without delay after manufacture and at the latest before its placement on the market, or without delay after its importation in Malta from outside the European Union; and (
- b)registered in compliance with this Act without delay after manufacture and at the latest before its placement on the market, or without delay after its importation in Markings. Added by: L.N. 366 of 2010. Amended by: L.N. 463 of 2010. Renumbered/ Amended by: L.N. 392 of 2018. Amended by: L.N. 121 of 2020; L.N. 34 of 2025; L.N. 76 of 2026. 4 [ S.L.480.01 FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION (MOVEMENT IN MEMBER STATES AND OTHER MATTERS) Malta from outside the European Union: Provided that item 1A of Schedule I shall only apply to firearms and essential components placed on the market for the first time on or after 22nd July 2025.
(2)The unique marking referred to in sub-regulation
(1)shall include the name of the manufacturer or brand, the country or place of manufacture, the serial number and the year of manufacture, if not already part of the serial number, and the model where feasible. This shall be without prejudice to the affixing of the manufacturer's trademark. Where an essential component is too small to be marked in compliance with this regulation, it shall be marked at least with a serial number or an alphanumeric or digital code: Provided that no such marking shall be required for items falling under Schedule II, Part I, items 7 and 8, Schedule II, Part II and Schedule III, excluding item 2 of the Act: Provided further that no such marking shall be required for firearms or essential components that are of particular historical importance, as determined by the Commissioner in consultation with the Weapons Board.
(3)The marking shall be affixed to an essential component of the firearm, namely the breech-closing mechanism, the frame, receiver, the chamber or the barrel of the firearm, the destruction of which would render the firearm inoperable.
(4)Each package of complete ammunition shall be marked with the name of the manufacturer, the identification batch number, the calibre and the type of ammunition.
(5)Firearms transferred from government stocks to civilian use shall be marked with the name of the transferring entity, MPF MT, for arms transferred from the Police Force, AFM MT, for arms transferred from the Armed Forces of Malta, and CF MT for arms transferred from the Malta Prison Service. The year of transfer of the firearms from government to civilian use shall also be marked: Provided that no such marking shall be required for items falling under Schedule 2, Part 1, items 7 and 8, Schedule 2, Part 2 and Schedule 3 excluding item 2 of the Act: Provided further that no such marking shall be required for antique, artistic, historical or rare firearms, as well as other firearms deemed by the Weapons Board to be unsuitable for such marking. Commissioner’s right to inspect licences. Substituted by: L.N. 76 of 2026. 8.
(1)The Commissioner shall request an inspection of all licences accompanying firearms and ammunition transferred to, or from Malta to be carried out in accordance with these regulations. The Commissioner shall also verify that the Member State of destination has issued its prior consent in relation to the firearms and ammunition in question.
(2)The Commissioner shall prohibit a transfer of a firearm to, or from Malta where a licence is not so produced. FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION (MOVEMENT IN MEMBER STATES AND OTHER MATTERS) [ S.L.480.01 9.
(1)The Commissioner shall, on an application made to him on the prescribed form, issue a firearms pass to a licence holder licensed under the Act.
(2)The firearms pass shall be valid for a period of five years from date of issue but may be further extended for another period of five years.
(3)The firearms pass shall contain the basic information set out in Schedule II of these regulations.
(4)The firearms pass issued to historical re-enactors shall authorise the following firearms classified in Category C of the Firearms Directive (EU) 2017/853, namely: (
- a)Repeating long firearms excluding repeating and semiautomatic long firearms with smoothbore barrels that are 60 cm in length or less; (
- b)long firearms with single shot rifled barrels; (
- c)Rimfire and centre-fire semi-automatic long firearms whose loading device and chamber can together hold not more than 3 rounds; (
- d)single shot short firearms with rim fire percussion whose overall length is not less than 28cm; (
- e)deactivated firearms; (
- f)single shot long firearms with smoothbore barrels.
(5)The firearms pass issued to hunters shall authorise the following firearms classified in Category C of the Firearms Directive, namely: (
- a)Repeating long firearms excluding repeating and semiautomatic long firearms with smoothbore barrels that are 60 cm in length or less; (
- b)Rimfire and centre-fire semi-automatic long firearms whose loading device and chamber can together hold not more than 3 rounds; (
- c)single shot long firearms with smoothbore barrels.
(6)The firearms pass issued to target shooters shall authorise the following firearms classified in Category A, B and C of the Firearms Directive, namely: (
- a)firearms in Schedule I of the Act that may be acquired by holders of a Target Shooter A Special Licence; (
- b)firearms in Schedule II excluding item 8 of the Act; (
- c)firearms in Schedule III of the Act;.
(7)Provided that applicants in relation to sub-regulations
(4),
(5)and
(6)are: (
- a)in possession of a European firearms pass listing such firearm or firearms; and (
- b)are able to substantiate the reasons for their journey, in particular by producing an invitation or other proof of their hunting, target shooting or historical re- 5 Firearms pass. Amended by: L.N. 392 of 2018; L.N. 121 of 2020. 6 [ S.L.480.01 FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION (MOVEMENT IN MEMBER STATES AND OTHER MATTERS) enactment activities destination. in the Member State of
(8)Sub-regulations 4, 5 and 6 shall not apply to journeys to a Member State that, either prohibit the acquisition and possession of the firearm in question or make it subject to authorisation. In that case, an express statement to that effect shall be entered on the European firearms pass. Member States may also refuse the application of this derogation in the case of firearms classified in Schedule I Part I item 15 of the Act.
(9)A firearms pass shall be non-transferable and must always be in possession of the person using the firearm to which the firearm pass relates.
(10)Changes in the possession or characteristics of firearms indicated on a firearm pass, as well as the loss or theft of such firearm shall always be indicated on the firearms pass. Marksmen and hunters. Amended by: L.N. 366 of 2010; Substituted by: L.N. 121 of
- Marksmen, hunters and historical re-enactors shall not require a licence under the Act with respect to any firearms or ammunition brought into Malta and to be used for target shooting, hunting or historical re-enactments, provided they are in possession of a European firearms pass that is validly issued and generally contains the information referred to in the Schedule II, and provided further they are able to substantiate the reasons for their presence in Malta by producing an invitation for participation in a target shooting, hunting or historical re-enactment activities or other proof of their hunting, target shooting or historical reenactment activities in Malta: Provided that the Commissioner has been informed of, and has consented to, the holding of such activity. Prohibited firearms and prior authorizations.
- (Deleted by L.N. 463 of 2010). Penalties.
- Any person found guilty of infringing any of these regulations shall be liable to the penalty listed in articles 51 to 60 of the Act. Book of stock account.
- Any licence which, after the coming into force of these regulations, is issued to a person to act as a dealer in arms proper other than firearms, including a renewal of the licence in terms of the Act, shall keep the records mentioned in the Act for a minimum period of five years even if the dealer renounces to or loses the licence, provided that the provisions of this regulation shall be deemed to have been complied with if the said books are, on such renunciation or loss, delivered to the Commissioner for safekeeping, in which case the Commissioner shall keep the said books for the period mentioned herein. FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION (MOVEMENT IN MEMBER STATES AND OTHER MATTERS) Added by: L.N. 121 of
- Amended by: L.N. 34 of
- [ S.L.480.01 SCHEDULE I (Regulation 7A
(1)(a)) Technical Specifications for the marking of Firearms and their essential components 1. The font size used in the marking shall be at least 1.6 mm. A smaller font size may be used for the marking of essential components that are too small to be marked in compliance with Article 4 of Directive 91/477/EEC. 1A. The minimum depth of the marking shall be at least 0,0762 millimetre. 2. For frames or receivers made from a non-metallic material, the marking shall be applied to a metal plate that is permanently embedded in the material of the frame or receiver in such a way that: (
- a)the plate cannot be easily or readily removed; and (
- b)removing the plate would destroy a portion of the frame or receiver. Provided that the Commissioner may authorise the use of other techniques for marking the frames or receivers, insofar as those techniques ensure an equivalent level of clarity and permanence for the marking. 3. 4. The alphabet used in the marking shall be Latin. The numeral system used in the marking shall be Arabic. 7 8 [ S.L.480.01 FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION (MOVEMENT IN MEMBER STATES AND OTHER MATTERS) SCHEDULE II (R EGULATION 9) Amended by: L.N. 121 of 2020. FIREARMS PASS The pass shall include the following sections: (
- a)identity of the holder; (
- b)identification of the arm or firearm, including a reference to the category within the meaning of the Council Directive 91/447/EEC of 18 June 1991 on Control of the acquisition and possession of weapons; (
- c)period of validity of the pass; (
- d)section for use by the Member State issuing the pass (type and references of authorizations); (
- e)section for entries by other Member States (authorizations to enter territory); (
- f)the statements: The right to travel to another Member State with one or more of the firearms classified in category A, B or C mentioned in this pass shall be subject to one or more prior corresponding authorisations from the Member State visited. Such authorisations may be recorded on the pass. The prior authorisation referred to above is not in principle necessary in order to travel with a firearm classified in category C with a view to engaging in hunting or historical re-enactment activities or with a firearm classified in category A, B or C for the purpose of taking part in target shooting, on condition that the traveller is in possession of the firearms pass and can establish the reason for the journey: Provided that where the Commissioner has received information in accordance with Article 8
(3)of Directive 91/477/EEC, that the possession of certain firearms classified in category B or C is prohibited or subject to authorisation in a Member State, he shall add whichever of the following statements apply: "A journey to … (State(
- s)concerned) with the firearm … (identification) shall be prohibited." "A journey to … (State(
- s)concerned) with the firearm … (identification) shall be subject to authorisation.