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Airgun law · World

Are Airguns Legal in Latvia?

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.

LV

The picture at a glance

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

ClassificationThreshold-based
Age rule18+
PossessionFree for adults
Transfer / saleDealer records
TransportCased
AuthorityNational statute

The rules in detail

Classification
Threshold-based
Energy-based split at 12 J muzzle energy (Weapons Circulation Law art. 1). Low-energy guns (≤12 J, Category F): adults 18+ may buy, keep, transport and use them without a permit, for training and sport competitions (art. 14(3)2). High-energy guns (>12 J, Category D): State Police permit required. They may be used only for hunting (hunter's certificate) or sport (member of a registered shooting-sport organisation with at least a second sport class) (art. 14(6)-(7)); collectors may also hold them under a collection permit (art. 33). These permits are open to Latvian and EU/EEA citizens and to permanent residents from listed countries.
Age rule
18+
18+ for low-energy.
Possession
Free for adults
Low-energy (≤12 J): free for adults. High-energy (>12 J): State Police permit plus a hunter's certificate or sport-shooting credentials.
Transfer / sale
Dealer records
Low-energy: free sale to adults. High-energy: dealer records.
Transport
Cased
Cased.
Authority
National statute
National statute.

Hunting with an airgun

Hunter's certificate and State Police permit required; only hunting-classified high-energy (>12 J, Category D) air guns may be used in hunting (Weapons Circulation Law art. 14(6)).

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
12 J: ≤12 J low-energy (no permit for adults), >12 J high-energy (police permit)
Caliber rule
Not specified at the national level.

Local & import notes

Visitor procedure
Threshold is 12 J muzzle energy. Guns of 12 J or less need no permit for adults. Guns over 12 J need a State Police permit.

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.