Accessories and the law — what applies in which country

United States (federal law) only with a permit or exemption

Under federal law a suppressor is a firearm that must be registered (26 U.S.C. § 5845(a)(7)): acquisition only with an approved application and entry in the federal registry; possession without registration is a crime (26 U.S.C. § 5861(d)). State law differs – some states prohibit possession.

Legal reference: 26 U.S.C. § 5845(a)(7); 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d) · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – NFA and your authority decide.

Canada prohibited

Every suppressor is a prohibited device (Criminal Code s. 84(1)). Possession without a licence is an offence, and the law provides such a licence only for businesses (Criminal Code s. 92(2); Firearms Act s. 11).

Legal reference: Criminal Code s. 84(1); Criminal Code s. 92(2); Firearms Act s. 11 · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – Criminal Code and your authority decide.

Germany only with a permit or exemption

A suppressor is treated like the weapon it is intended for (WaffG Anl. 1 Abschn. 1 UA 1 Nr. 1.3): permit required for a weapon that requires a permit, no permit for a permit-free one. For hunters, the acquisition rules for hunting weapons apply accordingly; they may only use it with long guns approved for hunting that fire centrefire cartridges, when hunting and in hunting practice shooting (WaffG § 13 Abs. 9). The act has no specific rule for sport shooters; a permit requires a need, which the approved rulebooks usually do not establish.

Legal reference: WaffG Anl. 1 Abschn. 1 UA 1 Nr. 1.3; WaffG § 13 Abs. 9 · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – WaffG and your authority decide.

Austria only with a permit or exemption

Suppressors are prohibited, even without a weapon (§ 17 Abs. 1 Z 5 WaffG 1996). Exempt are holders of a valid hunting card who hunt regularly (§ 17 Abs. 3b WaffG 1996); if the hunting card ends, the suppressor must be handed to an authorised person within six months. Sport shooters are not exempt – for them only an exemption permit from the authority remains.

Legal reference: § 17 Abs. 1 Z 5 WaffG 1996; § 17 Abs. 3b WaffG 1996 · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – WaffG 1996 and your authority decide.

Switzerland only with a permit or exemption

Suppressors are weapon accessories: acquisition and transfer are prohibited (Art. 4 Abs. 2 lit. a, Art. 5 Abs. 2 lit. d WG); the canton may grant an exemption for legitimate reasons (Art. 28b WG). The law names e.g. professional needs, physical disability and collecting – not hunting or sport, but the list is not exhaustive. Since 1 February 2025 the federal hunting ordinance no longer lists the suppressor among prohibited hunting aids; the canton may still prohibit it for hunting. Anyone who acquired one lawfully may keep it.

Legal reference: Art. 4 Abs. 2 lit. a, Art. 5 Abs. 2 lit. d WG; Art. 28b WG · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – WG and your authority decide.

Poland only with a permit or exemption

A permit for a weapon fitted with or adapted for a suppressor is only issued for hunting (art. 10 ust. 5 pkt 3 uoBiA) – and even then it may only be used for a sanitary cull ordered by the authority (art. 10 ust. 5a uoBiA). Sport, collector and protection permits do not cover it. Whether the suppressor alone may be acquired is not regulated by the law; this is disputed.

Legal reference: art. 10 ust. 5 pkt 3 uoBiA; art. 10 ust. 5a uoBiA · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – uoBiA and your authority decide.

Czechia only with a permit or exemption

Suppressors are subject to the rules for category R4 weapons (§ 9 odst. 4 z. č. 90/2024 Sb.): handling only with a firearms authorisation or firearms licence; the law does not require a particular purpose.

Legal reference: § 9 odst. 4 z. č. 90/2024 Sb. · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – z. č. 90/2024 Sb. and your authority decide.

Estonia only with a permit or exemption

The right to own a suppressor comes with the weapons permit (RelvS § 20¹ lg 3). It may only be fitted and used at a shooting range, a shooting ground, when hunting and in the further cases the law refers to there; on a long gun registered for hunting or sport it may stay fitted as long as the gun is only carried there (RelvS § 20¹ lg 3¹).

Legal reference: RelvS § 20¹ lg 3; RelvS § 20¹ lg 3¹ · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – RelvS and your authority decide.

Lithuania only with a permit or exemption

Suppressors may only be acquired, owned and used by holders of a weapons permit for sport, hunting, service in the Riflemen's Union or soldiers' training (GŠKĮ 13 str. 11 d.); otherwise they are prohibited (GŠKĮ 7 str. 3 d. 6 p.). A permit for self-defence or collecting is not enough.

Legal reference: GŠKĮ 13 str. 11 d.; GŠKĮ 7 str. 3 d. 6 p. · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – GŠKĮ and your authority decide.

Finland only with a permit or exemption

A suppressor requires a permit (ampuma-aselaki 3 §, 18 §). Anyone holding a permit to possess a firearm needs no separate permit to acquire, own or transfer one (ampuma-aselaki 19 § 1 mom. 3 k.).

Legal reference: ampuma-aselaki 3 §, 18 §; ampuma-aselaki 19 § 1 mom. 3 k. · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – ampuma-aselaki and your authority decide.

Italy prohibited

Manufacture, import and sale of suppressors are only permitted for the armed forces, state corps or export (art. 2, secondo comma, L. 110/1975); hunting with a suppressed firearm is prohibited (art. 21 co. 1 lett. u) L. 157/1992). Possession of an existing suppressor is not expressly regulated by the provision.

Legal reference: art. 2, secondo comma, L. 110/1975; art. 21 co. 1 lett. u) L. 157/1992 · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – L. 110/1975 and your authority decide.

United States (federal law) not covered by firearms law

Federal law does not mention weapon lights or lasers in any of its firearms lists (18 U.S.C. § 921, 26 U.S.C. § 5845). State law differs, including hunting law.

Legal reference: 18 U.S.C. § 921, 26 U.S.C. § 5845 · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – GCA/NFA and your authority decide.

Canada not covered by firearms law

The lists of prohibited devices (Criminal Code s. 84(1); SOR/98-462) do not mention weapon lights or lasers. Use when hunting is governed by the provinces.

Legal reference: Criminal Code s. 84(1); SOR/98-462 · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – Criminal Code and your authority decide.

Germany prohibited

Devices intended for firearms that illuminate or mark the target – such as target lights, lasers or aiming-point projectors – are prohibited items (WaffG Anl. 2 Abschn. 1 Nr. 1.2.4.1). There is no exemption for hunters; the only option is an exemption from the Federal Criminal Police Office on application (WaffG § 40 Abs. 4).

Legal reference: WaffG Anl. 2 Abschn. 1 Nr. 1.2.4.1; WaffG § 40 Abs. 4 · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – WaffG and your authority decide.

Austria not covered by firearms law

The weapons act does not mention weapon lights or lasers. Prohibited are devices for target illumination or marking specially developed for military use – they count as war material (§ 18 Abs. 1 WaffG 1996 i.V.m. § 1 Art. I Z 8 KMV). Use when hunting is governed by the hunting act of the federal state, often with prohibitions.

Legal reference: § 18 Abs. 1 WaffG 1996 i.V.m. § 1 Art. I Z 8 KMV · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – WaffG 1996 and your authority decide.

Switzerland depends on the device

Laser sights including their mounts are weapon accessories: acquisition only with an exemption permit from the canton (Art. 4 Abs. 2 lit. b, Art. 5 Abs. 2 lit. d WG). A plain weapon light is not mentioned in the weapons act. When hunting, artificial light sources and laser sights are prohibited (Art. 2 Abs. 1 lit. e JSV) unless the canton allows otherwise.

Legal reference: Art. 4 Abs. 2 lit. b, Art. 5 Abs. 2 lit. d WG; Art. 2 Abs. 1 lit. e JSV · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – WG and your authority decide.

Poland not covered by firearms law

The weapons act does not mention weapon lights or lasers. Artificial light is prohibited when hunting (art. 42aa pkt 12 Prawo łowieckie); a light attached to the weapon is only allowed when tracking wounded game (§ 4 ust. 3 rozp. MŚ z 23.03.2005).

Legal reference: art. 42aa pkt 12 Prawo łowieckie; § 4 ust. 3 rozp. MŚ z 23.03.2005 · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – Prawo łowieckie and your authority decide.

Czechia depends on the device

The weapons act does not mention weapon lights. Lasers that can dazzle (class 3B or 4) are weapons subject to notification (příloha 1 bod 1.5.7 z. č. 90/2024 Sb.). Artificial target illumination is prohibited when hunting (§ 45 odst. 1 písm. g) z. č. 449/2001 Sb.) unless the authority grants an exemption.

Legal reference: příloha 1 bod 1.5.7 z. č. 90/2024 Sb.; § 45 odst. 1 písm. g) z. č. 449/2001 Sb. · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – z. č. 90/2024 Sb. and your authority decide.

Estonia depends on the device

A laser sight may only be acquired and owned for the purpose of the respective shooting sport, collectors excepted (RelvS § 20¹ lg 4); the weapons act does not mention weapon lights. When hunting, artificial light sources as well as laser and night sights are prohibited (JahiS § 24 lg 4); exceptions are set by the environmental authority.

Legal reference: RelvS § 20¹ lg 4; JahiS § 24 lg 4 · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – RelvS and your authority decide.

Lithuania depends on the device

Laser sights may only be acquired, owned and used by holders of a weapons permit for sport, hunting, service in the Riflemen's Union or soldiers' training (GŠKĮ 13 str. 11 d.). A plain weapon light is not a weapon accessory; when hunting artificial light is prohibited, but spotlights mounted on the rifle are allowed for certain species such as wild boar and fox (GŠKĮ 2 str. 19 d.; Medžioklės įstatymas 15¹ str. 7 p.).

Legal reference: GŠKĮ 13 str. 11 d.; GŠKĮ 2 str. 19 d.; Medžioklės įstatymas 15¹ str. 7 p. · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – GŠKĮ and your authority decide.

Finland not covered by firearms law

The weapons act does not mention weapon lights or lasers. When hunting, artificial light sources and devices that illuminate the target are prohibited (metsästyslaki 33 § 1 mom. 5 k.); exceptions apply to wild boar hunting, tracking wounded game and unprotected mammals (metsästyslaki 33 § 3 mom., 49 §; metsästysasetus 14 §).

Legal reference: metsästyslaki 33 § 1 mom. 5 k.; metsästyslaki 33 § 3 mom., 49 §; metsästysasetus 14 § · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – metsästyslaki and your authority decide.

Italy not surveyed

There is no checked statement for this country. That is not a clearance.

United States (federal law) not covered by firearms law

Federal law sets no capacity limit for magazines; the former limit expired in 2004 and has been repealed (18 U.S.C. § 922(w) (repealed)). Several states do limit capacity, however – for example California, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Washington and Colorado – some as a sales ban, some as a possession ban. This list is not complete; the law of the state decides.

Legal reference: 18 U.S.C. § 922(w) (repealed) · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – GCA and your authority decide.

Canada prohibited

A magazine is a prohibited device if it holds more than 5 rounds for a semi-automatic firearm other than a handgun – rimfire excepted – or more than 10 for a semi-automatic handgun commonly available in the country, rimfire included (SOR/98-462 Schedule Part 4 Item 3); for handguns not commonly available, more than 5 already applies. Rounds are counted in the cartridge the magazine was designed for; magazines permanently reduced to the limit are allowed. Possession without a licence is an offence, and the law provides such a licence only for businesses (Criminal Code s. 84(1), s. 92(2); Firearms Act s. 11).

Legal reference: SOR/98-462 Schedule Part 4 Item 3; Criminal Code s. 84(1), s. 92(2); Firearms Act s. 11 · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – SOR/98-462 and your authority decide.

Germany prohibited

Detachable magazines for centre-fire ammunition that hold more than 20 (handgun) or more than 10 rounds (long gun) of the smallest permitted calibre are prohibited items, together with their bodies (WaffG Anl. 2 Abschn. 1 Nr. 1.2.4.3/1.2.4.4) – the wording makes no distinction between self-loaders and repeaters. A magazine that fits both handguns and long guns counts as a handgun magazine unless its owner may possess a long gun in which it can be used. Existing possession is only protected if a magazine acquired before 13 June 2017 was reported by 1 September 2021; otherwise the only option is an exemption from the Federal Criminal Police Office on application (WaffG § 58 Abs. 17; § 40 Abs. 4).

Legal reference: WaffG Anl. 2 Abschn. 1 Nr. 1.2.4.3/1.2.4.4; WaffG § 58 Abs. 17; § 40 Abs. 4 · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – WaffG and your authority decide.

Austria only with a permit or exemption

Magazines for semi-automatic centre-fire weapons are prohibited if they hold more than 20 (handgun) or more than 10 rounds (other firearm) (§ 17 Abs. 1 Z 9 und 10 WaffG 1996). The authority may grant an exemption; sport shooters who lawfully own a category B firearm are entitled to the exemption for the firearm, and magazines for a firearm held under such a permit need no separate one (§ 17 Abs. 3 und 3c, § 58 Abs. 13 WaffG 1996). Anyone who lawfully owned such magazines when the ban took effect and reported this within two years is granted an exemption.

Legal reference: § 17 Abs. 1 Z 9 und 10 WaffG 1996; § 17 Abs. 3 und 3c, § 58 Abs. 13 WaffG 1996 · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – WaffG 1996 and your authority decide.

Switzerland only with a permit or exemption

Magazines for semi-automatic centre-fire weapons holding more than 20 (handgun) or more than 10 rounds (long gun) are high-capacity loading devices (Art. 4 Abs. 2bis WG). Only someone entitled to acquire the corresponding firearm may acquire them – usually with a cantonal exemption permit, for example for sport shooting or as a collector; anyone who acquired them lawfully may keep them. A firearm equipped with such a magazine counts as a prohibited weapon (Art. 5 Abs. 1 lit. c, Art. 16b, Art. 28c WG).

Legal reference: Art. 4 Abs. 2bis WG; Art. 5 Abs. 1 lit. c, Art. 16b, Art. 28c WG · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – WG and your authority decide.

Poland not covered by firearms law

The firearms act does not mention magazines: it lists the essential parts of a firearm exhaustively, and the magazine is not among them (art. 5 ust. 2 uoBiA). It therefore sets no capacity limit.

Legal reference: art. 5 ust. 2 uoBiA · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – uoBiA and your authority decide.

Czechia only with a permit or exemption

Magazines for centre-fire firearms that hold more than 20 (handgun) or more than 10 rounds (long gun) are over-limit magazines (příloha 1 bod 3.5 z. č. 90/2024 Sb.). The rules for ammunition category S2 apply to them: handling only with a firearms permit or firearms licence plus an exemption granted for named reasons, for example to sport shooters with a year of training or competition records, to collectors or for professional purposes (§ 9 odst. 5, § 49, § 150 odst. 6 z. č. 90/2024 Sb.). Anyone who lawfully acquired them under the old law may keep them; in the firearm, the new rules apply.

Legal reference: příloha 1 bod 3.5 z. č. 90/2024 Sb.; § 9 odst. 5, § 49, § 150 odst. 6 z. č. 90/2024 Sb. · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – z. č. 90/2024 Sb. and your authority decide.

Estonia only with a permit or exemption

Magazines for semi-automatic centre-fire firearms holding more than 20 (pistol) or more than 10 rounds (rifle) may only be acquired, owned and carried for named purposes (RelvS § 20¹ lg 7): a shooting discipline that requires them – with proof of club membership and competition –, historical re-enactment, collecting, the Defence League or national defence. Hunting and self-defence are not among them; they may only be used at a shooting range. Firearms with such a magazine registered before 1 March 2020 remain permitted on the previous terms (RelvS § 28 lg 1 p 2¹; § 91 lg 24).

Legal reference: RelvS § 20¹ lg 7; RelvS § 28 lg 1 p 2¹; § 91 lg 24 · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – RelvS and your authority decide.

Lithuania only with a permit or exemption

Magazines for semi-automatic centre-fire firearms holding more than 20 (handgun) or more than 10 rounds (long gun) are prohibited in civilian circulation (GŠKĮ 7 str. 3 d. 1 p.). Only someone who lawfully owns such a category A firearm may acquire and own them, and only for that firearm (GŠKĮ 11 str. 3 d.); permits for such firearms go, for example, to athletes with competition records, members of a shooting organisation, the Riflemen's Union and soldiers. Hunters and collectors are not named.

Legal reference: GŠKĮ 7 str. 3 d. 1 p.; GŠKĮ 11 str. 3 d. · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – GŠKĮ and your authority decide.

Finland only with a permit or exemption

Magazines for semi-automatic centre-fire firearms holding more than 20 (short firearm) or more than 10 rounds (long firearm) count as firearm parts (ampuma-aselaki 3 § 2 mom.); acquiring and owning them requires a permit. A permit is only granted to sport shooters with at least twelve months of club membership, for reservist training (long firearms only), to collectors, for professional reasons and for demonstrations – not for hunting. Anyone who already holds a permit for the corresponding particularly dangerous firearm needs no separate one to acquire them (ampuma-aselaki 44 b §; 19 § 1 mom. 4–5 k.).

Legal reference: ampuma-aselaki 3 § 2 mom.; ampuma-aselaki 44 b §; 19 § 1 mom. 4–5 k. · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – ampuma-aselaki and your authority decide.

Italy only with a permit or exemption

Magazines holding more than 20 rounds for handguns or more than 10 for long guns may only be manufactured, imported and sold for the armed forces or for export, subject to sporting use (art. 2, secondo comma, L. 110/1975) – regardless of ignition type or action. Only sport shooters belonging to a shooting federation recognised by CONI or to the Tiro a Segno Nazionale may acquire and own them; every such magazine must be reported within 72 hours (art. 12 co. 4 D.Lgs. 104/2018; art. 38 TULPS). For anyone who lawfully owned one on 13 June 2017, the previous law applies.

Legal reference: art. 2, secondo comma, L. 110/1975; art. 12 co. 4 D.Lgs. 104/2018; art. 38 TULPS · Checked 09/2026 · No guarantee – L. 110/1975 and your authority decide.