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Airgun law · World

Are Airguns Legal in Cyprus?

Yes, but heavily regulated.

Legal in principle, yet the compliance burden is high — often firearm-grade steps for the airguns most people actually 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.

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
—
Turkey
Unresolved / not addressed
—
Small game
Unresolved / not addressed
—
Predators
Unresolved / not addressed
—
Other big game
Unresolved / not addressed
—

Import & travel

Energy threshold
No reliable joule threshold found; licence requirement appears to control the item rather than a power band.
Caliber rule
Likely limited to .177 / 4.5 mm for lawful air rifles; 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
Pre-clear with Cyprus Police before travel. A US visitor should not pack an air rifle for Cyprus without written police/import authorization and airline approval.

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