Overview
Greece regulates civilian firearms through a licensing regime rather than treating gun ownership as a right. The principal statute is Law 2168/1993, officially titled (in translation) "Regulating issues relating to weapons, ammunition, explosives, explosive devices and other provisions." According to the Hellenic Police service descriptions published on the National Registry of Administrative Public Services (mitos.gov.gr) and the Points of Single Contact portal (eugo.gov.gr), Law 2168/1993 governs the acquisition, possession, transport, trade, manufacture and use of weapons and ammunition, and is administered by the Hellenic Police under the Ministry of Citizen Protection.
Law 2168/1993 has been amended repeatedly. The most significant modernisation was Law 4678/2020, which, according to the eugo.gov.gr service pages, harmonised Greek legislation with Directive (EU) 2017/853 (amending Council Directive 91/477/EEC on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons) and implemented the European Commission's Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2403 on deactivation standards. As an EU member state, Greece applies the EU's category system (A/B/C/D) for firearms alongside its domestic rules.
Under this framework, civilian access to firearms is permitted but conditional and purpose-based. The main lawful grounds recognised are hunting, sport shooting, collecting, and—exceptionally—self-defence. Fully automatic firearms, machine guns, sub-machine guns, and military-grade weapons are prohibited for civilians. Handguns and semi-automatic rifles are tightly restricted and generally tied to sport-shooting membership or collecting, rather than being generally available.
Every lawful firearm is licensed to an identified individual (or business) and associated with a specific weapon, so the system functions as a per-firearm registration scheme. Applicants must satisfy character, mental-health and criminal-record conditions before a licence is issued, and licences must be periodically renewed. According to the mitos.gov.gr and eugo.gov.gr service descriptions, a psychiatrist's health certificate is required and must be renewed every three years, standard application fees are in the order of €50.40, and processing deadlines run to about four months.
Greece has also moved to tighten enforcement in response to firearm-related violence. According to Greek news reporting, in November 2025 the Minister of Citizen Protection announced a package of stricter measures—associated with Law 5187/2025—reclassifying certain illegal-possession offences as felonies and increasing penalties, following a fatal shooting in Crete. Because the reporting summarised political announcements rather than the consolidated statutory text, the precise figures below are attributed to those reports and should be confirmed against the official gazette.
The practical effect of this structure is that lawful firearm ownership in Greece is realistic mainly for licensed hunters and registered sport shooters, is administratively demanding, and carries continuing obligations (renewals, secure storage, and restrictions on where a weapon may be carried). Illegal possession—especially of handguns—is treated as a serious criminal matter. The sections that follow describe ownership and licensing, carry and transport, travel and import, hunting and sport shooting, and penalties in more detail, drawing on the official service descriptions and, where primary text could not be verified, generalising rather than asserting unverified specifics.
Ownership & licensing
Civilian ownership in Greece is available only through a licence, and the type of licence depends on the intended use. According to the Hellenic Police service descriptions on mitos.gov.gr and eugo.gov.gr, separate procedures exist for purchasing and transporting a firearm within the country, for possession for hunting or sport, for collectors, and for the trade and manufacture of weapons. Each procedure is grounded in Law 2168/1993 and its implementing ministerial decisions (notably Ministerial Decision 3009/2/23-α΄/1994).
Eligibility turns on both character and health. According to the official service pages, applicants must submit a full copy of their criminal record (Type A / Type I), a certificate from a psychiatrist attesting to their mental fitness, and a solemn declaration under Law 1599/1986 stating that they do not fall under the prohibitive provisions of Article 18 of Law 2168/1993. The same sources indicate that a person is disqualified if, among other things, they have been irrevocably convicted of certain offences—including any misdemeanour prosecuted ex officio and committed with intent for which a prison sentence of at least two years was imposed, offences under Law 2168/1993 itself, and offences under the domestic-violence statute (Law 3500/2006). Persons who have been hospitalised for a serious mental disorder are likewise excluded.
Applications are submitted digitally, in person, or by post to the competent police authority (security departments, sub-directorates, police stations) or through Citizens' Service Centres (KEP). According to the mitos.gov.gr and eugo.gov.gr descriptions, indicative fees are around €50.40 and the processing deadline is about four months. The psychiatrist's certificate must be renewed every three years, which effectively ties licence maintenance to periodic re-verification of mental fitness. Firearm licences are not permanent; they must be renewed, and renewal depends on the holder continuing to meet the eligibility conditions.
The minimum age for firearm-related permits is generally eighteen, consistent with the age of majority; specific categories or activities may carry higher practical thresholds tied to membership requirements. Because Greece licenses each weapon to an identified holder, ownership is registered: the authorities maintain records linking the licence, the holder, and the specific firearm and its essential components. Ammunition purchases are likewise controlled and tied to the relevant licence.
Self-defence is recognised as a possible ground for possession but is treated as exceptional. Available secondary summaries indicate that a self-defence-based authorisation requires the applicant to demonstrate a genuine, specific and ongoing threat that cannot be addressed by other means, and that such authorisations are rarely granted. Because the precise statutory standard and its administration were not verified against primary text in this research session, this ground is described qualitatively rather than with fixed criteria. In all cases, the licence defines what the holder may lawfully do—purchase, possess, transport—so acting outside the scope of the licence (for example, carrying a possession-only firearm in public) is itself an offence under Law 2168/1993.
Carry & transport
Greek law draws a sharp distinction between possessing a firearm and carrying (bearing) it in public. A possession or purchase licence under Law 2168/1993 authorises a person to keep and use a firearm for the licensed purpose; it does not, by itself, authorise walking around armed. General public carry of firearms by civilians is not permitted, and there is no routine civilian right to open or concealed carry comparable to a possession licence.
A separate authorisation to bear arms (οπλοφορία) exists in principle, primarily connected to demonstrated protection needs, but according to available summaries it is granted only in exceptional circumstances and is rare in practice. Because the exact statutory conditions, duration and scope of such a bearing-arms permit were not verified against primary text in this session, they are described here only in general terms; a reader seeking to rely on this route should consult the competent police authority and the current text of Law 2168/1993. For the ordinary licensed hunter or sport shooter, no general carry right attaches to the licence.
What the law does regulate in detail is transport between authorised locations. According to the Hellenic Police service descriptions, a licence to purchase and transport firearms and essential components covers movement of the weapon within the country, and transport is expected to be direct—typically between the holder's residence and the authorised activity (a hunting ground, a licensed shooting range, a dealer, or an authority). Available summaries indicate that during transport the firearm should be unloaded and carried in a secure case, and that ammunition should be kept separate; secure storage at home is likewise expected so as to prevent access by unauthorised persons. These handling and storage expectations flow from the general obligations of licence holders rather than granting any right to carry a ready weapon in public.
Greece has also narrowed where firearms may lawfully be present. According to Greek news reporting on the 2025 measures associated with Law 5187/2025, restrictions on carrying firearms were extended to large social gatherings—such as weddings, fairs and festivals—with possession or carrying at such events treated as a felony. This reflects a longstanding concern with celebratory gunfire and firearm display at public events, particularly in some regions. The same reporting describes aggravating treatment where a weapon is carried or used in connection with other crimes.
In summary, the carry regime is restrictive: possession is licensed and purpose-bound; transport is permitted but constrained to direct movement between authorised places with the weapon secured; general public carry is not available as a matter of course; and any bearing-arms authorisation is exceptional. Carrying a firearm outside these narrow permissions—or in newly restricted settings such as festive gatherings—exposes the holder to criminal liability. Where specific handling rules (case type, storage standards) could not be confirmed against primary text, they are stated as general expectations rather than precise statutory requirements, and readers should verify current details with the competent authority.
Travel & import
Because Greece is an EU member state, firearm movement into and within the country is shaped by both domestic law (Law 2168/1993, as amended by Law 4678/2020) and the EU firearms framework (Directive (EU) 2017/853 amending Directive 91/477/EEC). According to the eugo.gov.gr service descriptions, Law 4678/2020 aligned Greek rules with the EU directive and adopted the EU deactivation standard (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2403). In practice this means that bringing firearms into Greece is a permit-based process, and different procedures apply to live firearms, deactivated firearms, and collectible or heirloom items.
For deactivated firearms, the eugo.gov.gr service page states that an import licence is administered by the Hellenic Police and that deactivated weapons must be accompanied by a certificate of deactivation issued by an official verification authority of the country of origin. Applicants must satisfy the same general eligibility conditions used across the licensing system—criminal-record checks, mental-health assessment, and a declaration that they do not fall under the prohibitive provisions of Law 2168/1993. Indicative processing figures (a fee around €50.40 and a deadline of roughly four months) mirror the other firearm services.
For collectible weapons, historical relics and family heirlooms, the National Registry of Administrative Public Services lists a dedicated import permit. This route recognises that antique, historical and inherited items may be lawfully brought in and held under conditions distinct from those for operational firearms, again subject to police authorisation and the applicant meeting the standard eligibility requirements.
For live firearms and ammunition, importation is likewise licensed. Commercial importation is handled through the trade and manufacture licensing regime for economic operators, while individuals importing for personal licensed use must obtain the appropriate authorisation before the weapon enters the country. The EU dimension is significant for intra-EU movement: transfers of firearms between EU member states are governed by the directive's authorisation and notification mechanisms, and travellers moving firearms within the EU for hunting or sport are expected to carry the appropriate documentation (such as a European Firearms Pass for licensed hunters and sport shooters). The precise documentary requirements for a given trip depend on the category of firearm, the purpose, and the states involved.
Visitors and non-residents should not assume that a foreign licence permits them to bring or carry a firearm in Greece; entry with a firearm requires prior Greek authorisation, and undocumented importation is treated as illegal possession. Because the exact documents, quantities and conditions for each import scenario were not all verified against primary statutory text in this research session, this section describes the structure of the rules and the governing instruments rather than enumerating fixed thresholds. Anyone planning to import or travel with a firearm should confirm current requirements with the Hellenic Police and consult the official service descriptions on mitos.gov.gr and eugo.gov.gr, as well as the consolidated text of Law 2168/1993 and Law 4678/2020, before travelling.
Hunting & sport shooting
Hunting and sport shooting are the two most common lawful bases for civilian firearm ownership in Greece, and each has its own requirements layered on top of the general licensing conditions of Law 2168/1993.
For hunting, the standard permitted firearm is the smoothbore shotgun. Available summaries of Greek practice indicate that hunting weapons are limited to smoothbore long guns of a minimum length and a limited loading capacity, and that rifled, scoped or semi-automatic configurations associated with military or precision use are not permitted for ordinary hunting. Because the precise capacity limit and minimum-length figure were not confirmed against a primary source in this research session, they are not stated numerically here; the general rule is that hunting arms are ordinary shotguns of restricted capacity rather than high-capacity or military-style weapons. In addition to holding the appropriate firearm licence, a hunter must obtain a hunting licence and, in practice, be an active member of a recognised hunting association; the hunting licence is administered under wildlife and forestry rules and is renewed periodically (commonly on an annual, season-based cycle). Hunting is further constrained by season, location and protected-species rules that sit outside the firearms statute but effectively govern when and where a hunting firearm may be used.
For sport shooting, access to a broader range of firearms—including handguns and certain rifles that are otherwise tightly restricted—is generally tied to membership of a recognised shooting federation or club and to documented participation in the sport. Available summaries indicate that sport-shooting authorisations are linked to specific firearms and to demonstrated competitive activity, and that higher practical thresholds (such as club membership and training) apply. The licensed sport shooter may keep and use the authorised firearm for target shooting at licensed ranges, but this does not translate into a general possession or carry right beyond the sport context.
Both hunters and sport shooters remain bound by the core obligations of the licensing system: valid criminal-record and mental-health documentation (with the psychiatrist's certificate renewed every three years, according to the official service descriptions), secure storage, and transport limited to direct movement between home and the authorised activity with the weapon unloaded and cased. Ammunition is controlled and tied to the relevant licence and activity.
The distinction between the two routes matters for what a person may own: the hunting route is narrow (shotguns for lawful hunting), while the sport route can, in principle, justify handguns or rifles that would not be available to an ordinary applicant—provided the federation-membership and activity conditions are met and maintained. In both cases the firearm is registered to the holder, and the authorisation lapses or must be revisited if the underlying qualifying activity (association or federation membership, valid hunting licence, ongoing competition) ceases. Where specific numerical limits (capacity, barrel length, licence duration) could not be verified against primary text in this session, this section deliberately describes the rules qualitatively rather than asserting figures.
Penalties
Breaches of Greece's firearms law are prosecuted under Law 2168/1993, which sets out offences for unlawful acquisition, possession, carrying, transport, trade, manufacture and use of weapons and ammunition, with penalties that scale according to the type of weapon and the seriousness of the conduct. As a general matter, the more dangerous the weapon and the more culpable the conduct (for example, carrying or using a firearm in connection with another crime), the heavier the sanction—ranging from fines to imprisonment. Because the consolidated penalty provisions and their subsections were not all verified against primary statutory text in this research session, specific ranges are attributed and generalised rather than asserted with precision.
Eligibility rules also function as a de facto penalty regime: under Article 18 of Law 2168/1993, certain convictions permanently or temporarily bar a person from holding a firearm licence. According to the official service descriptions, disqualifying convictions include felonies, drug offences, offences connected with organised crime or terrorism, offences under the firearms law itself, and—among misdemeanours—those prosecuted ex officio and committed with intent for which a prison sentence of at least two years was imposed, as well as domestic-violence offences under Law 3500/2006. A person who loses eligibility can have a licence refused or revoked.
Greece substantially increased enforcement severity in 2025. According to Greek news reporting on measures associated with Law 5187/2025, announced by the Minister of Citizen Protection in November 2025 after a fatal shooting in Crete, the illegal possession, carrying or transport of handguns (pistols and revolvers) was reclassified as a felony rather than a lesser offence. The same reporting describes substantially increased fines and multi-year imprisonment for such offences, heavier treatment for repeat offenders previously convicted under Law 2168/1993, aggravated penalties where firearms are used in connection with other crimes (such as extortion or animal theft), and the extension of carrying prohibitions to large social gatherings such as weddings, fairs and festivals, where possession or carrying was made a felony. The reporting also describes an incentive for voluntary surrender: handing weapons in to the police before enforcement sweeps could exempt an offender from punishment. Because these descriptions summarise political announcements and secondary reporting rather than the verified statutory text, the precise fine amounts and prison terms are not stated as fixed figures here and should be confirmed against the official gazette; what can be stated with confidence is the direction of the reform—illegal handgun possession is now treated as a serious felony, and penalties were increased.
Beyond the headline offences, the law also penalises related conduct: unlawful trade or manufacture, tampering with or reactivating deactivated weapons, and possession of prohibited weapons (automatic firearms, war material and similar) attract serious criminal liability. In practice, lawful licence holders who comply with the conditions of their licence—valid documentation, secure storage, lawful transport, and use limited to the authorised purpose—operate within the permitted framework, while acting outside those conditions moves conduct into the criminal sphere. Given the 2025 tightening, the practical exposure for illegal possession is significant, and readers should treat the specific penalty details as matters to verify against the current consolidated text of Law 2168/1993 as amended.
Sources
- National Registry of Administrative Public Services (mitos.gov.gr) — Licence to purchase and transport firearms and essential components within the country (accessed 2026-07-17)
- Points of Single Contact (eugo.gov.gr) — Licence to import deactivated firearms (851533) (accessed 2026-07-17)
- General Directorate for Defense Investments and Armaments (gdaee.mil.gr) — Law 2168/1993 (Regulations concerning Weapons, Ammunition, Explosives etc.) (accessed 2026-07-17)
- LegalClarity — Can You Own Guns in Greece? Rules, Permits, and Penalties (accessed 2026-07-17)
- GreekReporter — Greece Unleashes Measures to End Gun Violence and Vendettas on Crete (Law 5187/2025 measures) (accessed 2026-07-17)