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Airgun law · World

Are Airguns Legal in Cyprus?

Yes, but heavily regulated.

Legal in principle, but the compliance burden is high, often with firearm-grade steps for the airguns most people want.

Tier 2: Major Restrictions

Full firearms-licence regime for the airguns most enthusiasts would actually buy.

CY

The picture at a glance

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

ClassificationThreshold-based
Age rule21+
PossessionTiered (below threshold free)
Transfer / saleVariable
TransportVariable
AuthorityNational statute
Before you buy or sell
  • Do not assume EU firearm-pass concepts make US visitor import easy.
  • Airsoft/6 mm replicas may be treated as airguns but outside the 4.5 mm airgun limit.
  • Northern Cyprus may have separate enforcement and licensing practice.
  • Transporting an air pistol or revolver requires a separate police transport licence (Law 113(I)/2004 s.24A).

The rules in detail

Classification
Threshold-based
Firearms and Ammunition Law framework; air rifles are controlled as licensable weapons, commonly treated within Category D / air-rifle licensing rather than freely possessed sporting goods.
Age rule
21+
18+ for ordinary shotgun / air-rifle licensing; 21+ may apply in some sport-shooting firearm contexts.
Possession
Tiered (below threshold free)
Residents must obtain police authorization/licence for each air rifle. Cyprus Police materials indicate separate licensing per Category D firearm or air rifle.
Transfer / sale
Variable
Transfer/sale should be through licensed local channels and tied to police paperwork; do not treat private sale as free.
Transport
Variable
Transport only for lawful purpose, unloaded, discreet, and with licence paperwork. Public carry is not a practical lawful use case.
Authority
National statute
National law administered by Cyprus Police / Chief of Police; Republic of Cyprus law does not necessarily apply in the same way in the north.

Hunting with an airgun

Prohibited / not a lawful airgun use.

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
No reliable joule threshold found; licence requirement appears to control the item rather than a power band.
Caliber rule
Ordinary police licences cover airguns up to 4.5 mm (.177); above 4.5 mm the Chief of Police may licence only members of registered shooting clubs, exclusively for shooting at licensed ranges (Law 113(I)/2004 s.23). 6 mm airsoft has been reported as a legal gray-area because it exceeds the airgun pellet diameter limit.
Travel note
Avoid casual tourist import. Cyprus is an EU member but not a free-airgun jurisdiction.

Local & import notes

Visitor procedure
Third-country visitors need a special import permit from the Director of Customs (valid max. three months, own use, signed declaration; Law 113(I)/2004 s.32) and must present the airgun to a District Police Director for inspection and registration within two working days of arrival (s.33). Pre-clear with Cyprus Customs/Police and the airline 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.