Purchase or sell military equipment abroad

Businesses with a head office in Wallonia.

A gunsmith's accreditation is required for the purchase and sale of weapons and ammunition. 

• To import or export military equipment, you must have a licence in advance. 

The documents required depend on your situation: whether or not the equipment will remain within the EU. Please refer to the section that relates to your situation.

Importing military equipment from an EU country - keeping a register

To purchase military equipment from a country in the European Union, you must keep a register and use it to record the movement of imports. In this case, you do not need to carry out any processes with our services.

Importing military equipment from a non-EU country - import licence

To purchase military equipment from a country outside the European Union, you must obtain an import licence.

The import licence is valid for 18 months.

Exporting military equipment to an EU country - transfer licence

To sell military equipment to a country in the European Union, you must obtain a transfer licence.

Prior to the sale, you must carry out the necessary procedures with the destination country to obtain an international import certificate and/or an end-user certificate. 

The transfer licence is valid for 18 months.

Exporting military equipment to a non-EU country - export licence and definitive export commitment

To sell military equipment to a country outside the European Union, you must obtain an export licence. You must also complete a definitive export commitment form.

Prior to the sale, you must carry out the necessary procedures with the destination country to obtain an international import certificate and/or an end-user certificate. For sensitive countries, the end-user certificate must be authenticated by the embassy or a chamber of commerce. 

The export licence is valid for 18 months.

Create your application

Complete the necessary form(s) and attach the requested documents (see supporting documents). 

• To import military equipment 
• from a non-EU country - Import licence application 
• To export military equipment
• to an EU country - Application for export or transfer licence
• to a non-EU country - Application for weapons export or transfer licence and definitive export commitment form

Send your application

Your completed application should be sent to the Directorate for Weapons Licenses: 

• By mail: 

SPW EER
Directorate for Weapons Licences
Boulevard Cauchy 43
B-5000 NAMUR

• By email: licences.dgo6@spw.wallonie.be 

Processing your application

We will assess your application. 

• technical examination of the equipment;
• assessment of the use and end user of the equipment. 

If it is approved, we will send you the signed documents by mail or email. 

The processing time is not fixed and may vary; it may take a few weeks in some cases.

In addition to the completed and signed forms, you must attach the following supporting documents to your application.

• The purchase or sales invoice for the military equipment
• If exporting:
• your advance licence
• the international import certificate and/or an end-user certificate issued by the competent authorities in the destination country. For sensitive countries, the end-user certificate must be authenticated by the embassy or a chamber of commerce.

• 29 DECEMBRE 2006. - Arrêté royal exécutant certaines dispositions de [...] la loi du 8 juin 2006 réglant des activités économiques et individuelles avec des armes.
• 20 SEPTEMBRE 1991. - Arrêté royal exécutant la loi sur les armes
• Directive (EU) 2021/555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 March 2021 on control of the acquisition and possession of weapons (codification)
• 8 JUIN 2006. - Loi réglant des activités économiques et individuelles avec des armes. (aussi appelée "Loi sur les armes")
• 21 juin 2012 - Décret relatif à l'importation, à l'exportation, au transit et au transfert d'armes civiles et de produits liés à la défense
• 22 septembre 2005 - Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon réglementant l'emploi des armes à feu et de leurs munitions en vue de l'exercice de la chasse, ainsi que certains procédés ou techniques de chasse
• 24 AVRIL 1997. - Arrêté royal déterminant les conditions de sécurité lors du stockage, de la détention, du transport et de la collection d'armes à feu, de munitions ou de chargeurs

Option to initiate actions for annulment before the Supreme Administrative Court of Belgium.

The actions must be lodged within 60 days of notification of the decision.