Weapons: the rules for travellers in 148 countries (2026 list)

🔪 What counts as a weapon

• Pocket knives, multi-tools and even a corkscrew can be classified as a weapon depending on blade length and lock type.
• Pepper spray and personal alarms are banned or restricted in a surprising number of countries.
• Tasers and knuckledusters are prohibited essentially everywhere.
• Replica and toy guns have led to real arrests, particularly in Asia.

🧭 Safer alternatives

• A loud personal alarm without chemicals is legal nearly everywhere.
• A doorstop wedge secures a hotel room without any legal risk.
• Souvenir blades, spearguns and antique weapons need an export permit far more often than people expect.

Which countries are strict on weapons?

112 countries rate weapons as banned or a serious risk for travellers: Algeria, Angola, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Cuba, Denmark, Djibouti, DR Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia (Bali), Ireland, Italy, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Macao, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia, South Korea, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Sweden, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, UAE (Dubai), Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Which countries set limits on weapons?

36 countries allow it under conditions (age, place, quantity, permit): Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czechia, Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Guatemala, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, Montenegro, Namibia, New Zealand, North Macedonia….

How do I check the rules for my destination before I fly?

Open LawsTravels: pick your destination, the topic “Weapons” shows the level, the thresholds and the penalties, offline. 3 topics are free on every country.