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Airgun law · World

Are Airguns Legal in Austria?

Yes, with conditions.

Generally legal, but with real rules to follow, usually age verification and, in some places, a low-power threshold.

Tier 3: Moderate

Threshold-based licensing: a permit-free band for low-power airguns, with a licence required above it.

AT

The picture at a glance

Each measure below scores how restrictive Austria is on that part of owning or transferring an airgun, from permissive (green) to firearm-level (red).

ClassificationThreshold-based
Age rule21+
PossessionFree for adults
Transfer / saleDealer records
TransportCased
AuthorityNational statute

The rules in detail

Classification
Threshold-based
Waffengesetz 1996 (WaffG) § 45 Z 3: compressed-air and CO2 guns under 6 mm calibre are firearms to which only a short list of the Act's rules apply (age limit, weapons bans, safe storage, carrying and cross-border rules), with no energy limit, no licence to own and no registration. Air guns of 6 mm calibre or more get no exemption and are regulated firearms, normally Category C.
Age rule
21+
18+ to possess any weapon, including sub-6 mm airguns (WaffG § 11); authorities can permit 16+ for hunting or sport. Category C (6 mm+ air rifles): Waffenbesitzkarte at 21+, 18–20 only at the authority's discretion with a sport/hunting/professional need.
Possession
Free for adults
Sub-6 mm air/CO2 guns: free for adults, no registration. 6 mm+ air rifles (Category C): since 28 April 2026 acquisition and possession require a Waffenbesitzkarte, Waffenpass or valid hunting card, plus dealer registration. Owners who registered before the change have transitional rules.
Transfer / sale
Dealer records
Dealer records above threshold.
Transport
Cased
Cased.
Authority
National statute
National statute.

Hunting with an airgun

Hunting framework set at Land level; airgun use limited.

Deer
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed
Turkey
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed
Small game
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed
Predators
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed
Other big game
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed

Import & travel

Energy threshold
Calibre-based: under 6 mm free for 18+; 6 mm+ is Category C (WBK, Waffenpass or hunting card)
Caliber rule
Under 6 mm (.177 / 4.5 mm and .22 / 5.5 mm) is licence-free for adults; .25 (6.35 mm) and larger airguns are firearms (normally Category C) that need a WBK, Waffenpass or valid hunting card.
Travel note
German F-mark / 7.5 J limits mean nothing in Austria, because calibre decides. Under-6 mm (.177/.22) airguns are the easy path to own; .25 and big-bore are Category C firearms needing a WBK or hunting card. The Act's cross-border rules still cover all airguns, so check before bringing one in.

Local & import notes

Visitor procedure
Visitor procedures align with general Austrian weapons-law tiers; verify with Bundesministerium für Inneres before travel.

Keep exploring

Open the interactive mapSee how this compares across the map and switch between legal and hunting views.→Ballistics toolkitCheck energy, velocity, and range for any airgun and load.→Ammo databaseBrowse 600+ pellets and slugs by caliber and weight.→

This is a plain-language summary compiled from primary statutes and official guidance. It isn't legal advice. Laws change and local rules vary, so verify the current rules with the relevant authority before buying, selling, or hunting.