Bulgaria’s gun laws let any adult citizen or legal resident apply to the Ministry of the Interior for a firearms permit, provided they have no criminal record, pass a psychological evaluation, complete safety training, and can point to a recognized reason for owning the weapon. The governing statute is the Law on Weapons, Ammunition, Explosives and Pyrotechnic Products, in force since 2010.1Convention on Cluster Munitions. Annex C Details of Applicable Bulgarian Legislation Everything that follows flows from that permit: what you can buy, how you can carry it, where you can take it, and what happens if you break the rules.
Who Can Apply
You must be at least 18, which is the age of legal majority in Bulgaria. There is no separate, higher threshold for particular weapon categories. Applicants must be Bulgarian citizens, EU citizens residing in Bulgaria, or third-country nationals with legal residence.2Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior. Issuance of Permits for Carrying and Use of Firearms and Ammunition
You also have to state a valid purpose. The law recognizes four: self-defense, hunting, sport shooting, and cultural use such as film, theater, or collections.3Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria. Law on the Control of Explosives, Firearms and Ammunitions – Article 5 If your stated reason later falls away, the permit can be revoked.
Two categories of applicant are shut out. Anyone sentenced for an intentional crime, or currently under criminal investigation for one, cannot receive a permit, and existing permits are revoked on the same grounds.4Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria. Law on the Control of Explosives, Firearms and Ammunitions – Article 12 A history of mental health conditions that suggest a public safety risk is also disqualifying.
What You Can Own
The purpose stated on your application determines the weapons you may legally acquire:
- Self-defense: pistols, revolvers, and smooth-bore rifles.
- Hunting: smooth-bore and grooved-bore (rifled) rifles.
- Sport shooting: pistols, revolvers, smooth-bore rifles, and grooved-bore rifles.
- Cultural purposes: all firearm types, including automatic weapons, but restricted to film and television productions, theatrical performances, and collections, and only when secured against unauthorized access and configured for that cultural use.
Ammunition allowances per firearm are set by implementing regulations rather than the statute.5Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria. Law on the Control of Explosives, Firearms and Ammunitions – Article 6 Gas pistols and certain high-energy air rifles sit in a lower tier and only require notification to local police rather than a full license.
Automatic firearms are off-limits for ordinary civilian ownership. The only exceptions are the cultural-purpose route above and special authorization by the Minister of the Interior for high-risk security operations.3Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria. Law on the Control of Explosives, Firearms and Ammunitions – Article 5 EU Directive 2017/853 further restricts civilian access to the most dangerous weapons, including semi-automatic firearms converted from fully automatic ones.6European Commission. EU Legislation on Civilian Firearms The Council of Ministers can prohibit or restrict additional categories by regulation whenever public safety or Bulgaria’s international obligations require it.
Getting the Permit
Assemble your documentation before going to the police. You will need three things:
- A psychological evaluation from a licensed clinic confirming your fitness to handle firearms.
- Criminal record clearance showing no convictions for intentional crimes and no pending proceedings.
- A safety training certificate from a mandatory course covering both theory and practical handling. Applicants who have not passed this course are automatically denied.
The application goes to the Ministry of the Interior and must identify both the weapon type and the specific purpose. If what you state does not match what your supporting documents show, expect a rejection. Permits carry a fixed validity period defined by the implementing regulations.7Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria. Law on the Control of Explosives, Firearms and Ammunitions – Article 7
The fee for a permit to carry and use firearms is BGN 20, roughly €10, paid at the local police office when you file.2Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior. Issuance of Permits for Carrying and Use of Firearms and Ammunition Separate permit types for acquisition, storage, or trade may carry different fees. A background check follows before the permit is issued or denied.
How You Can Carry
A valid permit does not mean you can carry however you like. You may carry only one self-defense firearm at a time, and open carry is banned outside professional guarding activities.8Law for Control over the Explosives, Firearms and Munitions. Bulgaria Law on Firearms – Articles 14a and 15a
Carrying is prohibited outright in these situations:
- Political, trade union, and cultural events.
- Sport events, unless the firearm is needed for the event itself.
- Entertainment venues, bars, and nightlife establishments between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- During or after consuming alcohol or narcotics.
The barrel must always be empty. Storing, carrying, or transporting a firearm for self-defense, guarding, sport, or cultural purposes with a round chambered is illegal.9Law for Control over the Explosives, Firearms and Munitions. Bulgaria Law on Firearms – Article 15b
Storage at Home
Firearms and ammunition must be kept under safe storage precautions that prevent theft and unauthorized access. In practice that means a locked metal safe at your registered residence. Local police can inspect storage conditions, and failing an inspection puts your permit at risk.
Penalties
Consequences run from administrative fines to prison, depending on the offense.
Carrying a lawful firearm without your permit physically on you draws a fine of up to 100 leva (about €50). A repeat offense pushes the range to 100–200 leva, and systematic violations rise to 200–500 leva plus a one-year permit revocation.10Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria. Law on the Control of Explosives, Firearms and Ammunitions – Article 29
Using a firearm outside its permitted purpose, or in a way that endangers public health or life, means confiscation of the weapon and revocation of the permit for one to five years. If the misuse happens while you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs, revocation runs five to ten years. A second such offense results in permanent revocation with no route back to legal ownership.11Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria. Law on the Control of Explosives, Firearms and Ammunitions – Article 25
Illegal weapons possession is a criminal offense under Article 339 of the Bulgarian Penal Code. When firearms offenses are tied to organized criminal groups, sentences can reach five to fifteen years of imprisonment.
Self-Defense Is Not Automatic Authorization to Fire
Self-defense is one of the four recognized purposes for ownership, and pistols, revolvers, and smooth-bore rifles are the designated tools for it. Owning the weapon and lawfully using it, however, are different questions. The firearms statute does not spell out when lethal force is justified; it only warns that using a firearm outside its stated purpose or in a way that endangers public safety leads to confiscation and one to five years of revocation.11Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Bulgaria. Law on the Control of Explosives, Firearms and Ammunitions – Article 25 Whether a specific act of self-defense was lawful is decided under the Penal Code’s general provisions on justifiable defense. A carry permit is not, by itself, permission to fire.
Visitors and EU Travelers
Bulgarian firearms permits are only available to citizens, EU citizens residing in Bulgaria, and legally resident third-country nationals.2Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior. Issuance of Permits for Carrying and Use of Firearms and Ammunition Tourists and short-term visitors have no general right to possess or carry personal firearms in the country. Transit of weapons through Bulgarian territory operates under special licenses issued by an interdepartmental commission and is designed for commercial shipments, not individual travelers.
EU citizens who lawfully own firearms in their home country can use the European Firearms Pass to travel between member states with registered weapons, typically for hunting trips or shooting competitions.12Bulgarian Ministry of the Interior. Issuance of a European Firearms Passport You will generally need an invitation from a relevant Bulgarian sporting or hunting organization, and the firearm must be listed on the pass.