Germany Sword Laws: Is a Katana Legal to Own & Import? | TOUKENZA
Germany Sword Laws: Is a Katana Legal to Own & Import?
Last updated: 2026-06-06
Table of Contents
If you are a collector in Germany asking whether a katana is legal, the short answer is yes for ownership and no for carrying it around in public. German weapons law (the Waffengesetz, WaffG) draws a sharp line between owning a sword at home, which is free for adults, and carrying one in a public place, which is generally forbidden. A genuine Japanese sword is treated as a cut-and-thrust weapon (Hieb- und Stoßwaffe), not a prohibited weapon, so it sits on the lawful side of that line for ownership. This page sets out the ownership rule and the age it applies from, the §42a public-carry ban and its legitimate-interest exceptions, what happens at customs when the sword comes from Japan, and the import tax position. Every legal point links a primary German government or statutory source so you can verify it before you buy.
Is It Legal to Own a Katana in Germany
Owning a katana in Germany is legal for adults. A traditional Japanese sword is a cut-and-thrust weapon, and the question is only whether the Waffengesetz prohibits or restricts it. The general age rule is in §2 of the Waffengesetz
, which provides that handling weapons is permitted only to persons who have completed their eighteenth year of life ("Der Umgang mit Waffen oder Munition ist nur Personen gestattet, die das 18. Lebensjahr vollendet haben"). So acquisition and possession of a sword are open to adults, and an eighteen-year-old may lawfully buy and keep one.
What matters next is that a traditional sword is not on the prohibited list. The prohibited weapons in Anlage 2 of the Waffengesetz, Abschnitt 1, are specific items such as butterfly knives (Butterflymesser), spring-loaded and falling knives (Spring- und Fallmesser), fist knives (Faustmesser), and weapons disguised as everyday objects — not a conventional katana with a visible blade and scabbard. A traditionally made Japanese sword is neither prohibited under Abschnitt 1 nor subject to a special acquisition permit, so for an adult its acquisition and possession at home are free. There is no registration card, no licence, and no police permission required simply to own the sword and display it.
Carrying and Transport (§42a WaffG)
Ownership is free, but carrying the sword in public is a different matter. §42a of the Waffengesetz forbids the carrying (Führen) of certain weapons in public, and a cut-and-thrust weapon such as a sword falls within that prohibition. "Führen" means having the weapon ready to hand outside your own home, business premises, or enclosed property, so the ban is about walking around in public with the sword, not about keeping it at home.
The law then provides exceptions for a legitimate interest (berechtigtes Interesse). §42a expressly allows carrying in connection with the exercise of a profession (Berufsausübung), the cultivation of customs and tradition (Brauchtumspflege), sport (Sport), or a generally recognised purpose (allgemein anerkannter Zweck). A practitioner taking a sword to a martial arts dojo, a performer at a cultural event, or a professional with a job-related reason can therefore have a legitimate interest. Crucially, the prohibition also does not apply to transport in a closed container ("für den Transport in einem verschlossenen Behältnis"). In practice this is how collectors move a sword lawfully: keep it sheathed and packed in a locked or closed case, transport it directly to and from the dojo, event, or your home, and do not carry it ready to hand on the street. Treat the precise wording as subject to change and read the current statute before relying on a point; this page is general information, not legal advice.
Import Rules and Customs
Bringing a katana into Germany from Japan is an import from a non-EU country, so customs rules apply. German customs (Zoll) require that weapons brought in from a third country are always declared to the customs office without being asked ("stets unaufgefordert anzumelden"), as set out on the Zoll page on weapons and ammunition. Declaration is the first practical step: present the sword to customs rather than trying to slip it through.
The good news is the weapons-law side. Zoll distinguishes between weapons that need a prior import permit and those that adults may bring in permit-free. As the Zoll page on bringing in and taking weapons explains, certain weapons may be brought into Germany by adults permit-free ("erlaubnisfrei"), in contrast to firearms, which need a prior permit from the weapons authority. Because a traditional sword is a freely acquirable weapon rather than a permit-requiring or prohibited one, there is no weapons-law import permit to obtain for it — the obligation is the customs declaration, not a Verbringungserlaubnis. Within the EU the movement of such a sword is simpler still, with no customs import step between member states. From Japan, treat the customs declaration as essential and confirm the current customs position before you ship, since rules and procedures change. Our how to buy from Japan guide explains the export papers that should travel with the sword.
Duties and Taxes
The tax that matters at import is the import VAT (Einfuhrumsatzsteuer), and here Germany is less generous than some of its neighbours. German VAT law applies a reduced 7 percent rate to imports of certain works of art and collectors' items, but the reduced rate does not extend to antiques. The reduced rate set out in §12 of the Umsatzsteuergesetz applies only to the items listed in Anlage 2 to the Umsatzsteuergesetz, which, as reintroduced from 1 January 2025 by the Jahressteuergesetz 2024, covers works of art (Kunstgegenstände) and collectors' items (Sammlungsstücke) but not antiques under tariff heading 9706. So an antique Japanese sword classified as an antique is generally imported at the standard German VAT rate of 19 percent, not the reduced 7 percent — unlike in France, where antiques attract a reduced import rate. Treat the precise classification of any individual sword as a matter for customs rather than something to assume.
In practice this means import VAT is a real cost to budget for. Customs duty is a separate question from VAT, and here antiques are treated more kindly: antiques under heading 9706 are commonly duty-free in the EU customs tariff, so the duty and the import VAT can land differently on the same sword. Rates, reliefs, and classifications change and can be queried at the border, so verify the current figures with Zoll before you rely on a number, and keep this as general guidance rather than a binding rate.
Buying from Japan
Importing and owning a genuine nihonto in Germany is straightforward for the adult collector: ownership is free, and the public-carry rule has clear exceptions for transport and legitimate interest, though import VAT on an antique sword is charged at the standard rate rather than a reduced one. The practical path is to buy a sword whose authenticity and age are documented, ship it with the Japanese export papers, declare it honestly at customs, and keep it for display and study at home or transport it in a closed case to a dojo or event.
For how other jurisdictions compare, see our sword laws by country hub, and to understand the authentication papers that prove a blade is a genuine antique nihonto, read our NBTHK certificate guide. The export and shipping process is covered step by step in our how to buy from Japan guide. If you would like help choosing a sword or finding a specific piece, you can ask through our consultation window or submit a search request. This page is general information, not legal advice, so confirm the current federal and customs rules before you commit.
FAQ
Is it legal to own a katana in Germany?
Yes, owning a katana is legal for adults. A traditional Japanese sword is a cut-and-thrust weapon (Hieb- und Stoßwaffe), not a prohibited weapon. The prohibited list in Anlage 2 Abschnitt 1 of the Waffengesetz covers items such as butterfly knives, spring and falling knives, fist knives, and disguised weapons, not a conventional katana. Under §2 of the Waffengesetz handling weapons is permitted from the completed eighteenth year of life, so an adult may acquire and keep a sword freely, with no registration card or licence required just to own it. This is general information, not legal advice, so confirm the current rules before you buy.
How old do I have to be to buy a sword in Germany?
You must be an adult. §2 of the Waffengesetz provides that handling weapons is permitted only to persons who have completed their eighteenth year of life. So acquisition and possession of a traditional sword are open to anyone aged 18 or over. There is no separate licence or permit needed simply to own and display a freely acquirable sword, but the public-carry rules in §42a still apply to carrying it outside the home. Verify the current statutory position before you rely on it.
Can I carry my katana in public in Germany?
Generally no. §42a of the Waffengesetz forbids carrying (Führen) a cut-and-thrust weapon such as a sword in public, meaning having it ready to hand outside your home or property. The law allows exceptions for a legitimate interest (berechtigtes Interesse) such as the exercise of a profession, the cultivation of custom and tradition (Brauchtumspflege), or sport, and the prohibition does not apply to transport in a closed container. In practice, keep the sword sheathed and packed in a closed or locked case and transport it directly to a dojo or event rather than carrying it ready to hand on the street.
Do I need a permit to import a katana from Japan to Germany?
There is no weapons-law import permit to obtain for a traditional sword, because it is a freely acquirable weapon rather than a permit-requiring or prohibited one. German customs (Zoll) explain that certain weapons may be brought in by adults permit-free, in contrast to firearms, which need a prior permit. What you must do is declare the sword to customs without being asked when bringing it from a non-EU country, as Zoll requires weapons from a third country to be declared unsolicited. Rules and procedures change, so confirm the current customs position before you ship.
What import VAT applies to an antique Japanese sword in Germany?
Germany is less generous than some neighbours here. The reduced 7 percent import VAT (Einfuhrumsatzsteuer) under §12 of the Umsatzsteuergesetz applies only to the items in Anlage 2, which, as reintroduced from 1 January 2025 by the Jahressteuergesetz 2024, covers works of art and collectors' items but not antiques under tariff heading 9706. So an antique Japanese sword classified as an antique is generally imported at the standard German VAT rate of 19 percent, not the reduced 7 percent — unlike France, which extends a reduced rate to antiques. Customs duty is separate, and antiques under heading 9706 are commonly duty-free in the EU customs tariff. Rates and classifications change, so verify the current figures with Zoll before relying on a number.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the relevant authorities or a qualified professional.
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