Although it is common to see 18-year-olds in and out of uniform with sophisticated rifles, Israel has very strict regulations for civilians who wish to own a personal weapon. Since the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, there has been a dramatic increase in applications, and some regulations have been eased. See below for more details.

Since the process of obtaining a firearm license has moved to the Misrad L’Bitachon Pnim (Ministry of Public Security – MoPS) the regulations for gun ownership have tightened.

Citizens who apply for a firearm license are subject to several criteria, which can be seen here. To view the landing page on issuing a firearm, click here.

  1. Submit (application, medical declaration, and other documents listed below) online HERE.
    Keep a copy of the forms and attached documents.
  2. The MoPS receives a recommendation from the police and the Ministry of Health.
  3. You will be contacted and you will be given an appointment at one of the MoPS offices.
    1. Following your appointment, you will receive a conditional approval, approving you to continue the process which will be detailed on the approval, and is as follows:
      Purchase a firearm from a licensed supplier or from a private person holding a license for the firearm. The transfer of the license must be done in the licensing bureau by scheduling an appointment at *8657.
    2. Training on the purchased firearm in a licensed shooting range.
      • When purchasing a firearm from a licensed supplier- the training must be done on a firearm similar to the one you are purchasing.
      • When purchasing a firearm from a private person, you must go to the shooting range with the firearm and its legal owner. Please note, that the firearm will stay in the possession of the original owner until you complete the licensing process and present a valid firearm license.
      • The transfer of ownership takes place in the licensing bureau (with an appointment *8657). After this you will get a license, and upon presenting this license you can take possession of the firearm.
      • FYI- In the shooting range they will photograph you, this picture will be presented on your license.
    3. Payment of fee: After receiving a payment slip from the licensing representative, you must pay the fee online, in the post office, or at one of the automated licensing machines placed around the country at select locations.
      Army Reservists are eligible for a 50% discount on the licensing fee, by presenting a certificate that entitles them to a discount (for more information see the Reserves website)
  4. Receiving the license: You must send the approvals and documents regarding the steps you have taken to the Information and Service Center. At first, you will be sent a temporary license in the mail to the address you have provided in your application, after which you will be sent a permanent license (within 90 days).

Important note: A firearm is a dangerous tool. In order to assure your safety and the safety of those who surround you, you are required by law to install a home safe that will house the weapon.
Instructions on installing a home safe

In order to apply for the license, you will need to hand in the application to a clerk at the MoPS office with the following documents:

  1. Health declaration signed by your family doctor.
  2. Copy of your Teudat Zehut and addendum.
  3. Copy of your Miluim (reserve duty), Sherut Leumi, or Ezrachi card or a letter of exemption.
  4. Documents approving the cause you are applying for.

Note: In the shooting range they will photograph you, this picture will be presented on your license.

To issue a firearm license, one must have a justified cause; click here for a detailed list of criteria for granting a license (the list is in Hebrew).

The application with all the above documents may be sent to the MoPS offices by any of the following means. Click here.

The offices of the Firearm Licensing Department only provide services to the public if an appointment is made via the telephone service at: *8657.

The fee is 65 NIS. The fee is annual and you will need to pay the fee every time you renew the firearm. The sum changes from time to time according to the decision of the MoPS. Other related fees are presented here.

Army Reservists are eligible for a 50% discount on the licensing fee, by presenting a certificate that entitles them to a discount (for more information see the Reserves website)

If you were denied you may appeal to a MoPS committee, you will receive an answer within 45 days. Click here.

The replacement of a license is subject to the licensing fee of 65 nis. Click here.

In order to sell your firearm, you will need to apply to the MoPS office and fill out a sale form. This form will be added to the buyer’s application for the firearm license. The ownership will be transferred only once the buyer’s license will be approved. Click here for the sale form.

For the rest of the process click here.

It is illegal to import a firearm for personal use.

You can begin the renewal process 3 months before the expiration date of the license and the renewal must be completed before the expiration date. You can only begin the process after paying the licensing fee. If you did not renew your license on time you must deposit your firearm (including magazines and ammunition) and license to the police department. Please note that possession of a firearm without a license is a criminal offense that can lead to imprisonment.

  1. 3 months before your license expires you will be sent an SMS or Email reminding you to renew your license. Remember, license renewal is your responsibility. You must finish renewing your license before your license expires.
  2. Pay the licensing fee of 65 nis for a year or part of it here. You must print the proof of payment and bring it with you to a licensed shooting range with the rest of your documents.
    Army Reservists are eligible for a 50% discount on the licensing fee, by presenting a certificate that entitles them to a discount (for more information see the Reserves website)
  3. Print out the license renewal forms which include the following:
    • Health declaration. You must sign your family doctor on the health declaration.
    • A declaration you are eligible under one of the criteria for holding a license.
    • A temporary license.
    • Confirmation of training (will be filled out in the shooting range).
    • Form of inspection and propriety of the firearm and details verification (will be filled out in the shooting range).
  4. You must go to the shooting range with all of the forms, the firearm, the ammunition, and the magazines in order to verify the details, check the propriety of the firearm, and in order to go through the proper training.

If the firearm was lost or stolen, you must report this immediately to the police and start the renewal procedure.

  • Upon arrival at the shooting range you must hand over the proof of payment and your documents to the range manager for detailed verification and retraining. In case you lose the proof of payment, click here to reprint.
  • The training requires a propriety check of the firearm and the ammunition and is carried out with your personal firearm only.
  • FYI- In order to put your picture on your license, they will photograph you in the range. Prepare accordingly.
  • The temporary license the firearm’s owner will receive (online, in the post office, or at the licensing bureau) will become valid only once it is signed and authorized by the range. The temporary license will be valid for the whole validity period of the license.
  • Following all of the above stages as necessary, your permanent license will be sent to the mailing address you have stated on your application. If you did not specify a mailing address, the license will be sent to the address you are registered under which is recorded in The Population Ministry’s registry.

You may get a license to hold a firearm as a souvenir in the following cases:

  1. First-degree inheritor of the deceased firearm owner.
  2. Recipient of a firearm as a gift.
  3. A firearm holder who wishes to preserve his personal firearm listed on his license.
Application

You must fill out the firearm application form. In the application type, mark ‘New’. Under criteria, mark ‘Souvenir’. You must fill out the application and attach the required documents mentioned below, and press ‘Send’.

Required Documents

While applying for a license to hold a firearm as a souvenir, applicants must attach the following documents as per the nature of the application:

  • Inheritance- An official document proving it is an inheritance (a will or an inheritance order)
  • Present- Proof you have received the firearm as a present
  • Preserving your personal firearm- A letter clarifying your request to preserve the firearm in a disabled state or a temporarily disabled state.
    (FYI: Regarding permanently disabling a firearm, where you split the firearm in half, it is not necessary to hold a license, rather it is enough to have confirmation of having permanently disabled the firearm).

This service is free of charge

Comments
  • In case of inheritance, you must send a copy of the confirmation of depositing the firearm to the Information and Service Center of the licensing bureau.
  • You may receive the firearm as a souvenir only after it has been temporarily disabled by a licensed firearm vendor. This process will be carried out by the licensing bureau by appointment via the Information and Service Center.

To check your eligibility to receive a license to hold a firearm, you can use the Eligibility Calculator on the MoPS (Ministry of Public Security) website.

* Last updated on December 6, 2023 *

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