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Accreditation

Gunsmith license from the Federal Police: how to get accredited

Anyone who repairs or services other people's firearms needs a gunsmith license from the PF. The application is in person, free, and valid for 5 years.

See gunsmith listings in the directory

Required documents

  • Standard gunsmith license form, filled in and signed (template on the PF website)
  • ID document and CPF (Brazilian taxpayer number) (original and copy, or certified copy), with a minimum age of 25, except for the exceptions in art. 28 of Lei 10.826/2003
  • Recent 3x4 photo
  • Proof of address issued within the last 60 days (if it is in another person's name, attach their statement with a copy of their ID)
  • Clean criminal record certificates from the Federal, State, Military and Electoral Courts
  • Company articles of association or incorporation document and latest amendment, or, for self-employed workers, proof of municipal registration
  • Psychological aptitude report for handling firearms, issued by a psychologist accredited by the PF
  • Army Certificado de Registro (CR, the registration certificate), only if the activity involves products controlled by the Exército (Brazilian Army)

Step by step

  1. Prepare the workshop

    Portaria 2.259/2011-DG/DPF requires a site with restricted access and protection against theft, such as bars on doors and windows and an alarm, cameras or an electronic lock. Firearms received must be kept in a locked cabinet or compartment, separate from ammunition.

  2. Take the psychological assessment

    Book the assessment with a psychologist accredited by the PF (the list is on the PF website, by state). The report must conclude that you are fit to handle firearms.

  3. Gather the documents

    Prepare the documents on the list, legible and up to date. Obtain the certificates close to the application date. The Army CR is only required if you will work with controlled products.

  4. File the application with the PF

    Submit the form and documents in person at the Delegacia de Controle de Armas (DELEARM, the firearms control office) of the PF Superintendency in your state or at the office indicated. Keep the case number.

  5. Have the workshop inspected

    The PF inspects the firearm storage areas, the repair equipment and, if there is one, the test firing area. If there are irregularities, the PF may give up to 60 days to correct them.

  6. Take the technical assessment

    The firearms control office schedules the assessment with a PF weapons and shooting instructor. It checks safety rules, knowledge of parts and assembly and disassembly of a revolver, pistol, carbine and shotgun.

  7. Start working and renew every 5 years

    Once the license is issued, you are registered in Sinarm. Keep the logbook of firearms received up to date. The license is valid for five years and the gunsmith must apply for renewal before it expires.

    Where to file the request: Get a gunsmith license (licença de armeiro) on gov.br

Understand the service

The gunsmith license (licença de armeiro) is the authorization from the Polícia Federal (Federal Police) for those who repair or service other people's firearms. The application is in person and free, includes a workshop inspection and a technical assessment, and the license is valid for five years. Without it, the professional cannot serve the public, and a CAC (colecionador, atirador ou caçador: collector, shooter or hunter) cannot get the permit to take the firearm to the workshop.

What the gunsmith license is

Decreto 11.615/2023 defines the gunsmith as a professional registered with the PF, qualified to repair or service firearms, whose workplace has suitable facilities for storing firearms, repair equipment and test firing. Gunsmiths and their licenses are registered in Sinarm (Sistema Nacional de Armas, the PF's national firearms registry).

The specific rule for the activity is Portaria nº 2.259/2011-DG/DPF, which the PF still cites as the basis of the service.

Who needs it

  • Anyone who repairs, adjusts or services other people's firearms, self-employed or as a company.
  • Professionals who want to serve CACs: since July 2025, IN DG/PF nº 311/2025 requires repairs and restorations of collection firearms to be done by a gunsmith accredited by the PF. To issue the guia de tráfego (traffic permit) to the workshop, the CAC attaches the gunsmith's proof of registration and the authorized address.

What a gunsmith may not do

  • Reload ammunition or own equipment for it.
  • Alter a firearm to make it equivalent to a prohibited or restricted-use firearm, or to mislead forensic experts and authorities.
  • Manufacture firearms, frames, barrels or bolts, or sell material.
  • Alter the original features of collection firearms.

Breaking the rules may lead to revocation of the license, without prejudice to criminal penalties. Working without a license subjects the professional to the penalties of art. 17 of Lei 10.826/2003.

Common mistakes that delay the application

  • Workshop without physical barriers and a locked cabinet on the inspection date.
  • Psychological report from a psychologist not accredited by the PF.
  • Articles of association out of date or missing the latest amendment.
  • Proof of address older than 60 days.
  • Not being prepared to assemble and disassemble the four firearm types.

After getting the license

The PF may carry out inspections without prior notice. Changed address or facilities? Notify the PF unit before working at the new location, because the authorization is tied to the address.

Once licensed, you can register in the Tiro Seguro directory so people who need servicing can find you.

Recent changes

  • July 1, 2025: the PF took over CAC registration and oversight from the Exército. IN DG/PF nº 311/2025 began to require a PF-accredited gunsmith for repairs on collection firearms and the gunsmith's registration to issue the traffic permit to the workshop.
  • gov.br service page: updated on 07/24/2026, it keeps Portaria 2.259/2011 as the basis and states a five-year validity.
  • December 31, 2024: Decreto 12.345/2024 amended Decreto 11.615/2023 on several points, keeping the definition of gunsmith.

Disclaimer

This guide is for information only and does not replace the official rules or advice from a professional. Rules change: always check the current version of Lei 10.826/2003, Decreto 11.615/2023 (with the amendments of Decreto 12.345/2024), Portaria 2.259/2011-DG/DPF and IN 311/2025-DG/PF before applying.

Sources

Regulations and official pages used in this guide. Always check the version in force.

Frequently asked questions

Direct answers to the most common questions about this service.

Do you need a Federal Police license to be a gunsmith?

Yes. Anyone who repairs or services other people's firearms needs the gunsmith license from the PF (Polícia Federal), with registration in Sinarm. Working without a license is subject to the penalties of art. 17 of Lei 10.826/2003.

How long is the gunsmith license valid?

Five years, according to Portaria 2.259/2011-DG/DPF and the service page on gov.br. The gunsmith must apply for renewal before it expires.

How much does the gunsmith license cost at the PF?

The service is free, according to gov.br. The professional only pays for the psychological assessment, the workshop upgrades and the permits.

Does a gunsmith need an Army CR?

Only if the activity involves products controlled by the Exército (Brazilian Army). Without such use, the PF accepts accreditation without a CR (Certificado de Registro), as stated on the official service page.

How does a CAC take a firearm to the gunsmith?

With the Guia de Tráfego Especial (special traffic permit) issued in Sinarm-CAC, attaching the gunsmith's PF registration proof and the workshop's authorized address (art. 39 of IN DG/PF 311/2025). Collection firearms may only be repaired by a gunsmith accredited by the PF.

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