Renewing a firearms licence during martial law: how to renew and the cost

The imposition of martial law and the onset of a full-scale invasion led to changes in Ukrainian legislation, particularly in the area of civilian firearms circulation. Until February 2022, owners of hunting, traumatic, and other civilian weapons were required to renew their permits for possession and carrying every three years by submitting the appropriate documents to the National Police. However, Order No. 195 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, issued in March 2022, significantly amended the current regulations. Furthermore, in 2023, the Unified Weapons Register (UWR) became fully operational in Ukraine, significantly changing the format of citizen interaction with the permit system and simplifying a number of administrative procedures.

Do I need to renew my weapons permit during martial law? How does this process work? You’ll find answers to these and other important questions in our article.

Automatic Renewal of Firearms Permits: Myths and Reality

Many myths still surround Ministry of Internal Affairs Order No. 195. The most common one is: “During martial law, firearms permits are renewed automatically, so no action is required.” In reality, this statement is only partially accurate and can create certain practical difficulties for gun owners.

Indeed, Order No. 195 stipulates that firearms permits that expired after the imposition of martial law remain valid throughout Ukraine. Their validity is automatically extended for the entire period of martial law and for an additional 10 days after its termination or repeal.

However, there are several important nuances to the automatic renewal of a weapons permit that are worth considering:

Many gun stores are reluctant to sell ammunition, gunpowder, or primers to gun owners with old permits that have formally expired. Sellers are increasingly relying on up-to-date information in the Unified Weapons Register.
Following the implementation of electronic registration, all permits are gradually being integrated into the register. If information about a weapon is missing or not updated in the Unified State Register, this may complicate interactions with the permit system and certain government services.
During inspections of weapons by law enforcement agencies, particularly at checkpoints or during transportation, an expired permit may raise additional questions and require clarification.

Therefore, Order No. 195 does allow you to not renew your weapons permit right now if you are in a combat zone or are physically unable to do so. However, if you live in rear areas, we strongly recommend renewing it using the new procedure to avoid problems and inconveniences.

Procedure for Renewing a Weapons Permit During Wartime

The launch of the Unified Weapons Register has fundamentally changed the outdated process for gun owners interacting with the permit system. While previously, permit renewals involved queues at National Police stations, collecting numerous paper documents, and waiting for a new permit to be produced, today a significant portion of the process has been converted to an electronic format.

What exactly has changed since the launch of the Unified Weapons Register? First and foremost, the reform has significantly reduced paperwork and transferred weapons registration to a single digital system. The permit renewal procedure now has several important features:

Electronic document instead of a paper permit. After renewal, the owner receives an electronic extract from the Unified Weapons Register with a unique QR code.
Online document submission. Documents required for permit renewal can be submitted through the Unified Weapons Register Electronic Account without visiting a police station in person.
Unified database. The registry contains information about the owner, registered weapons, permit history, test firing results, and permit expiration dates.
Automated checks. Thanks to integration with other state registries, some checks previously performed manually are now automated, significantly speeding up application processing.

Citizens who do not use electronic services can still renew their weapons permits through the standard procedure. To do this, they must personally contact the National Police Permit System unit or the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center and submit the required documents. All submitted data is still entered into the Unified Weapons Registry.

How to renew a weapons permit through the EPO (Online)

The launch of the Unified Weapons Register has allowed owners to complete most of the permit renewal process remotely. Now, renewing your permits requires only a few simple steps:

Go to the official website of the Unified Weapons Register (services.mvs.gov.ua). Identify yourself using an electronic signature (QES) or through the BankID system.
In your personal account menu, open the “My Weapons” section. The system will automatically display all weapons registered to you. Select the one whose permit is about to expire and click “Extend Permit.”
Check your personal information, which the system automatically retrieves. If necessary, make changes in the appropriate fields.
Upload scanned copies or high-quality photographs of the documents required for permit renewal.
After verifying all information, complete the application and sign it electronically.

The application is then automatically submitted for review to the National Police department at your place of registration. After the documents are verified and a positive decision is made, the information in the Unified Weapons Register is updated, and an electronic extract appears in the ERO Electronic Account. This document serves as official confirmation of the permit’s validity and contains a secure QR code for quick verification. If necessary, you can save it to your smartphone, download it as a PDF, or print it out.

What documents are needed to renew a weapons permit?

To renew a weapons permit through the Unified Weapons Register or the National Police, you must prepare a standard package of documents:

Ukrainian citizen’s passport;
Taxpayer registration number (TIN);
A current or expired permit to store and carry weapons;
medical certificate in the form No. 127/o;
certificate of completion of training in the rules of safe handling of weapons, which can be obtained at the shooting range after completing specialized courses;
compulsory insurance contract for the civil liability of the gun owner for damage that may be caused to third parties;
receipts for payment of administrative services related to the renewal of the permit.

During martial law, additional documents may be required to renew a weapons permit, such as:

military ID or confirmation of military status;
certificates from the military registration and enlistment office or other authorized bodies.

Specifics for different types of weapons

Depending on the type of weapon you own, the permit renewal procedure may have Certain features.

List of documents required for renewing a hunting weapons permit

For owners of smoothbore and rifled hunting weapons, the standard package of documents described above applies. However, rifled weapons have an additional requirement. Before renewing a permit, it must undergo a test firing procedure at the State Scientific Research Expertise and Forensic Center (SRECC) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. After completing this procedure, the owner is issued a certificate confirming the absence of defects specified in the Instruction, which is added to the permit renewal document package. Smoothbore hunting weapons do not require test firing by law.

Renewal of a Non-lethal Weapon Permit: Additional Requirements

The procedure for renewing a non-lethal weapon permit has its own specifics, as devices for firing non-lethal cartridges are not freely available to civilians and are only available to certain categories of citizens.

Therefore, when renewing a permit, the owner must confirm that they still qualify as a person authorized to own such a weapon. This may require documents confirming their status. This may include a certificate of employment, an official identification card, a membership card for a volunteer formation of a territorial community (VFTG), or other documents required by current legislation. If a person has lost their legal right to own a non-lethal weapon, the licensing authority will refuse to renew the permit.

Cost of Renewing a Firearms Permit

Renewing a firearms permit in Ukraine involves certain costs. These include a medical examination, obtaining an insurance policy, and paying for administrative services. The average cost of a medical examination to obtain a Form 127/o certificate ranges from 400 to 800 UAH, depending on the region and medical facility. Mandatory firearms liability insurance typically costs between 300 and 700 UAH. An administrative fee for reviewing the application and processing permits, ranging from 60 to 150 UAH, must also be paid. If the owner requires test firing, the costs of these procedures are added to the total cost of the firearms permit renewal.

Renewal Deadlines and Procedure

Applications for a firearms permit renewal must be submitted according to the standard procedure no later than one month before the expiration of the current permit. From the moment an electronic or paper application is submitted, law enforcement agencies have up to 30 calendar days to conduct a full background check on the owner (check for criminal records, police reports, or medical contraindications) and decide whether to renew or deny the permit. A new permit is issued for a period of 3 years.

What to do if your permit has already expired

If your firearms permit has expired, you can personally contact the National Police department at your place of residence or registration and submit the necessary renewal documents in accordance with the established procedure. Currently, administrative liability for expired permits does not apply, in accordance with Order No. 195 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

This provision was introduced as a temporary legal protection for citizens who, due to military action, evacuation, military service, or other objective circumstances, are unable to renew their documents in a timely manner. However, it should be remembered that after the end of martial law, each firearms owner will have only 10 calendar days to fully resolve their legal status. Although the law currently protects owners from the negative consequences of late registration, it’s still not a good idea to delay updating your Unified Weapons Register data without a valid reason.

Checklist: 5 Steps for a Quick Renewal

To renew your weapons permit as quickly as possible, use this process:

Step 1. Pass a medical examination and obtain a medical certificate for renewal of your weapons permit, Form No. 127/o, from a certified clinic.
Step 2. Obtain firearms liability insurance online or from any insurance company.
Step 3. If your weapon is rifled, contact your local State Research and Expertise Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for mandatory firing and obtain a certificate of absence of defects.
Step 4. Log in to your ERP Electronic Account, fill out the form, and upload photos. Submit all documents and certificates and sign the application with a digital signature.
Step 5. Wait for the police to complete the document review and receive a new electronic weapons permit (register entry, generated as an extract with a QR code), which will be valid for the next three years.

Although extending a weapons permit during martial law is currently not legally mandatory due to Ministry of Internal Affairs Order No. 195, we still recommend not delaying this procedure. Moreover, since the launch of the ERP, the renewal process has become significantly simpler, faster, and more convenient. Timely document renewal will help avoid difficulties when purchasing ammunition, passing inspections by law enforcement agencies, and will eliminate the need to urgently resolve this issue after martial law ends.