Apply for a hunting licence in Schleswig-Holstein

Responsible authority

Untere Jagdbehörde (Kreis or independent city)

The responsible Untere Jagdbehörde depends on the district of residence (Kreis) or the independent city. Open it, enter your place of residence and your request, and the portal will then show the specific responsible authority with address and link to the local page.

Step by step to a hunting licence

1. Find a hunting school or Kreisjägerschaft: Find a recognised hunting school or Kreisjägerschaft in Schleswig-Holstein that offers hunter training in accordance with the Jägerprüfungsverordnung.
2. Complete hunter training: Take part in a hunter training course with the prescribed minimum number of hours and acquire the required knowledge in all exam subjects.
3. Register for the hunter’s exam: Submit a written application, or online if offered, for admission to the hunter’s exam to the responsible Untere Jagdbehörde of your district of residence, and submit all required documents (certificate of good conduct, insurance proof, certificate of attendance, passport photo).
4. Take the hunter’s exam: Take the three-part hunter’s exam: first the written part (180 minutes), then the shooting test (rifle and shotgun), and finally the oral practical exam.
5. Apply for a hunting licence: Submit the completed application for the issuing of the hunting licence, together with all required documents (hunter’s exam certificate, proof of insurance, certificate of good conduct, passport photo, identity card), by post, in person, or online to the responsible lower hunting authority after you have passed the exam.
6. Receive your hunting licence: Once the reliability check has been completed and the authority has processed your application (several weeks), you will receive your hunting licence and can hunt legally.

Required documents

First-time application

• Identity card or passport as a copy or photo
• Application for a hunting licence
• Hunter’s exam certificate
• Proof of valid hunting liability insurance (insurance policy)
• Police certificate of good conduct
• 2 Passport photos (with name and date of birth on the reverse)
• Enrolment certificate (only if studying forestry)
• Employer’s certificate (only if employed in the forestry service)

If moving in from another federal state

• Identity card or passport as a copy or photo
• Application for a hunting licence
• Previous hunting licence (if available)
• Proof of valid hunting liability insurance (insurance policy)
• Police certificate of good conduct
• Hunter’s exam certificate
• Hunting invitation and hunting licence for the main place of residence abroad (only for people without a German residence when applying for a day hunting licence)

Application methods

First-time application

• Online: available
• In person: Personal attendance is generally not strictly required purely to submit the application; identity and signature can be verified via documents or on collection.
• Post: Submission by post with a signed form to the responsible lower hunting authority is possible.

Renewal

• Online: available
• In person: Personal submission to the lower hunting authority is possible, but not strictly required.
• Post: Documents can be submitted by post or posted into the district administration’s letterbox (notice from Kreis Steinburg).

If lost

• In person (required): If the hunting licence is lost, the responsible lower hunting authority must be informed immediately, and it will issue a duplicate.
• Post: The application for a replacement hunting licence can be submitted in writing by post.

If moving in

• Online: available
• In person: Apply to the lower hunting authority of the district of your new place of residence or the independent city.
• Post: Submission by post with a signed form to the responsible lower hunting authority is possible.

Online application

Processing time

Varies depending on the authority

Frequently asked questions

What changed with the amendment of the Landesjagdgesetz Schleswig-Holstein in January 2024?

With the amendment to the Landesjagdgesetz that came into force on 26 January 2024, the wolf was included in hunting law (while remaining subject to a year-round closed season), the nutria was classified under hunting law (year-round hunting season), the use of night-vision technology for fur-bearing predators and nutria was expanded, and group cull plans and proof of shooting competence were introduced for participation in driven hunts for hoofed game.

How long does it take to process a hunting licence application in Schleswig-Holstein?

A statutory maximum time limit is not set out in either the BJagdG or the LJagdG. The city of Norderstedt points out that processing can take several weeks, as, among other things, an unrestricted extract from the Bundeszentralregister is obtained, as well as reliability checks and Verfassungsschutz enquiries.

Is the hunter’s exam valid nationwide?

Yes. A hunter’s exam passed in one federal state is recognised in all other federal states.