Inheriting Firearms in Malta: What Heirs Need to Know
Losing a family member is hard enough without having to deal with paperwork. If the person who passed away owned firearms, those firearms now need your attention, and Malta's Arms Act (Chapter 480) sets out clearly what happens next.
In short: as an heir, you become legally responsible for the firearms straight away, and you have two years to have them transferred to a licensed person, deactivated or handed in to the Police. This guide explains how that works, your options, the licenses involved and who to contact.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Requirements can change, so always confirm with the Police Weapons Office.
What the law says
Under Article 42 of the Arms Act, when a license holder dies:
Their heirs, or a custodian they appointed beforehand who already holds a license, become legally responsible for the firearms and ammunition.
The heirs are treated as lawfully in possession of the firearms under the deceased's license, but only for a limited time.
Within two years, the firearms must be transferred to a licensed person, deactivated, or delivered to the Police.
The two years are a deadline, not a grace period to relax. Start the process as early as you can: license applications and transfers take time.
First steps when you inherit firearms
Step 1: Contact the Police Weapons Office
Get in touch with the Police Weapons Office promptly. They'll explain what needs to happen to the firearms and what paperwork you'll need. Their contact details are at the end of this guide.
Step 2: Keep the firearms secure, and don't use them
You're now responsible for the firearms. They must stay locked in a safe, unloaded, with ammunition kept separately, so that nobody else can get to them. Don't use, lend or give them away.
Firearms are kept at the residence where the license holder's ID card is registered. If the firearms need to be kept somewhere else, even temporarily, speak to the Police first (see below).
Step 3: Find out what you've inherited
Malta's law divides firearms into categories, and the category decides which license you'd need to keep them:
Schedule 2 firearms are the most common: shotguns, rifles and pistols.
Schedule 1 firearms are more strictly controlled. They're generally automatic firearms from 1946 and earlier.
If you're not sure what you have, the Police Weapons Office can advise you. A licensed dealer can also help you identify the firearms.
Step 4: Decide what you want to do, and start early
Within the two years, you'll need to take one of the routes below: get licensed and have the firearms transferred to you, sell them to a licensed person, have them deactivated, or hand them in to the Police.
If the firearms need to be kept somewhere else
Firearms must always be kept at the residence where the owner's ID card is registered. If you need to store them at a different location, even temporarily (for example, while a house is being cleared or sold), you must speak to the Police first and tell them:
which firearms will be stored at the other location
why they need to be stored there
the safety measures you've put in place to keep them secure there
Never move firearms to another address without talking to the Police first.
Option 1: Keep the firearms with a Collector's License B
The Collector's License B (formerly known in Malta as the "to keep" license) is designed for exactly this situation. It lets you keep inherited firearms legally in your own name, even if you've never been a shooter. Once you're licensed, the firearms are transferred to you.
What it allows, and what it doesn't
It covers Schedule 2 firearms only: shotguns, rifles and pistols.
The firearms can't be used. They're kept, not fired.
You can't buy more firearms under this license.
It doesn't cover Schedule 1 firearms. Those need a Collector's License A Special (see below).
How to apply
You don't need to join a club, and no insurance is needed.
You must keep the firearms in a safe.
You must provide a medical certificate confirming your mental and physical health when you apply.
You apply at your local police district. Firearms licenses can't be applied for online.
Like every license application, it's reviewed by the Weapons Board before it's approved.
Cost and renewal
The Collector's License B costs €20 a year. It's the only firearms license that can be renewed and paid for online, through armi.gov.mt. You only need a medical certificate when you first apply, not for renewals.
👉 Need a safe? Browse safes on the Maltaguns marketplace or find a store on our stores page.
Option 2: Keep Schedule 1 firearms with a Collector's License A Special
To keep inherited Schedule 1 firearms in your own name, you need a Collector's License A Special. This isn't a license you can get straight away:
You must have held a Collector's License A for at least two years.
You'll need a recommendation letter from your club. Some clubs may ask you to complete a separate course first.
You apply at your local police district, and the application is reviewed by the Weapons Board.
Schedule 1 firearms can't be fired with live ammunition, even if they're in working order. They're kept to own and preserve a piece of history.
Because of the two-year wait for the special license, heirs who don't already hold a Collector's License A usually can't get one in time. In that case, the Schedule 1 firearms will normally need to be sold to a licensed person through a licensed dealer, or handed in to the Police, within the two years. Speak to the Police Weapons Office early. Read our collector's license guide to find out more.
Option 3: Use the firearms with a target shooter license
If you'd like to shoot the firearms you've inherited, you'll need a target shooter license instead. This means joining a club, completing a course and passing a police test.
A Target Shooter License A (TSL A) covers pistols and rifles, with magazines of up to 20 rounds for pistols and up to 10 rounds for rifles.
A Target Shooter License B (TSL B) covers smooth-bore guns only, such as shotguns.
Our guide How to Get Your Target Shooter License in Malta explains the full process. Browse the clubs listed on Maltaguns to get started.
Option 4: Sell, deactivate or hand in the firearms
If you don't want to keep the firearms, you can, within the two years:
Sell them to a licensed person, or pass them to a licensed dealer to sell on your behalf. You can find stores on our stores page.
Have them deactivated, so they can no longer fire. Deactivated firearms don't need a license but must still be registered to the owner.
Hand them in to the Police. The Police Weapons Office will explain how.
Every sale is followed by a transfer handled by the Police: at the Police Depot in Floriana in Malta, or normally in Gozo, at the Police Office in Rabat, if the buyer lives in Gozo. Call the Police Weapons Office to confirm where your transfer should happen.
On Maltaguns, firearm listings are visible to verified license holders only, and Maltaguns doesn't handle firearm payments or transfers.
The paperwork
Firearms passed on through inheritance go through the same transfer process as any other firearm. The Police list two forms for this:
the Proforma for the Transfer of a Firearm
an inheritance transfer form
Both are available from the Police, and the Weapons Office can tell you exactly what to submit. The firearms may also be inspected by the Police Ballistics Unit if needed.
FAQs
Can I keep an inherited firearm while I apply for my own license?
The law treats heirs as lawfully in possession under the deceased's license for up to two years, and makes you responsible for keeping the firearms secure. Contact the Police Weapons Office promptly, keep the firearms locked away, and start your application straight away.
How long do I have to sort out inherited firearms?
Two years from the death. Within that time, the firearms must be transferred to a licensed person, deactivated or handed in to the Police. Start as early as possible.
Can I move the firearms to my own house?
Firearms are kept at the residence where the owner's ID card is registered. Speak to the Police before moving them anywhere else, even temporarily, and tell them which firearms, why, and how they'll be kept secure.
Do I need to join a club to keep inherited firearms?
Not for a Collector's License B. You'll need a safe and a medical certificate, and you apply at your local police district.
Can I shoot the firearms I've inherited?
Not under a Collector's License B. To shoot them, you'd need a target shooter license, and Schedule 1 firearms can't be fired with live ammunition.
Can I keep inherited automatic firearms?
Only with a Collector's License A Special, which needs at least two years on a Collector's License A. Otherwise, the firearms need to be sold to a licensed person or handed in within the two years.
How much does a Collector's License B cost?
€20 a year, and you can renew and pay online at armi.gov.mt.
Can I apply for a license online?
No. All firearms license applications go through your local police district. Only the Collector's License B can be renewed online.
Can I use an inherited firearm for self-defence?
No. Malta has no self-defence license. Firearms licenses are for sport shooting, collecting and hunting only.
Official contact: Police Weapons Office
Address: Police General Headquarters, St. Calcedonius Square, Floriana, FRN 1530 (pulizija.gov.mt/en/contact)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM – 2:15 PM (closed for a 15-minute break, 12:00 PM – 12:15 PM). Hours may change. Check with the Police before visiting.
Email: weapons.police@gov.mt
Telephone: 2294 2110
Online renewal (Collector's License B only): armi.gov.mt
Conclusion
Inheriting firearms comes with legal responsibilities and a two-year deadline, but you don't have to work it out alone. Contact the Police Weapons Office first, keep the firearms secure, find out which schedule they fall under, and then choose your route: a Collector's License B to keep them, a target shooter license to use them, or a sale, deactivation or hand-in if you'd rather not keep them.
Requirements can change. Always confirm with the Police Weapons Office.
Photos: Jochen Anschütz, Milos Jevtic and Matheus Lara on Pexels.