If you have searched for information about firearms permits or authorizations in Romania, you have probably encountered several abbreviations: DAESP, AESP, IGPR, IPJ or DGPMB. At first sight the system looks more complicated than it is.
01 DAESP, AESP, IPJ — who does what?
- DAESP
- Arms, Explosives and Dangerous Substances Directorate, the specialist structure at central level within the Romanian Police.
- IGPR
- General Inspectorate of Romanian Police.
- IPJ
- County Police Inspectorate, relevant to territorial competence within a Romanian county (județ).
- DGPMB
- Bucharest General Directorate of Police.
- AESP
- A commonly used abbreviation for the Arms, Explosives and Dangerous Substances field or territorial structures; the exact local administrative title can vary.
For orientation within the legal framework, start with Romanian firearms law.
02 What is DAESP?
DAESP is the Arms, Explosives and Dangerous Substances Directorate within the Romanian Police. It is the central specialist structure for this field, which extends beyond firearms permits and includes responsibilities concerning firearms, ammunition, explosives and dangerous substances.
The directorate's name appears in Romanian Police forms, pages and communications. The existence of a central structure does not mean that every application from an individual is filed directly at its headquarters.
03 DAESP is the central structure
At IGPR level, DAESP acts as the central specialist directorate. It should not be confused with the territorial services or offices operating within county police inspectorates or the Bucharest police structure.
For a member of the public, the useful question is not only “who coordinates the field?” but also “which territorial structure is competent for the service I need?”
04 Where does someone living in a county apply?
For services such as authorization to acquire a first firearm, official Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs information points to the county police inspectorate whose territorial area includes the applicant's domicile or residence. The same territorial logic appears in other services in this field.
A person living in a Romanian county should not assume that travelling to the central structure in Bucharest is necessary. The first reference should be the official page of the competent inspectorate and the service described in the Ministry's services hub.
05 What is AESP?
AESP is an abbreviation frequently used for the Arms, Explosives and Dangerous Substances field or for territorial structures working in that area. It is not prudent to assume that every unit uses exactly the same administrative title.
Many inspectorates use an official title equivalent to “Arms, Explosives and Dangerous Substances Service”. Other organisation charts may refer to an office or another structure, which is why the exact local name should be checked on the unit's official website.
06 What about Bucharest?
For applicants in Bucharest, official services identify the Bucharest General Directorate of Police, abbreviated DGPMB. This is distinct from IGPR and from the central specialist directorate.
Exact competence depends on domicile, residence and the type of service requested. The official service page is the right reference for current information.
07 Do I need to go directly to DAESP in Bucharest?
As a rule, that is not the starting point for a person living in a county. Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs information for public procedures directs applicants to DGPMB or the territorially competent county police inspectorate, depending on domicile or residence.
If your question concerns the documents themselves, see the separate explanation of the “permis de armă” and acquisition authorization.
08 What services are handled through these structures?
Within their legal powers, the competent structures handle services concerning acquisition authorizations, firearms permits, recording firearms, documents for certain non-lethal firearms and other operations provided by law.
The concrete role of the permit is explained in What is the Romanian “permis de armă”? The exact list of documents and procedural steps should be taken from the current official service, not from an editorial summary.
09 Where should you check the competent structure?
- In the Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs services hub, on the page for the relevant procedure.
- On the official website of the competent county police inspectorate.
- On the DGPMB website for services addressed to people in Bucharest.
- In the current version of Romanian Law no. 295/2004 for the general legal framework.
Check the official domain and update date. Avoid copied lists on third-party sites because they may retain names, addresses or opening hours that are no longer current.
10 Why we do not publish a fixed list of addresses and opening hours here
An office can move. Public opening hours can change. A service can be reorganised. A procedure can become available online.
armedefoc.ro therefore prefers to explain the structure that remains useful over time and link readers to official sources for current operational details.
11 In short
- DAESP is the central specialist directorate within the Romanian Police.
- IGPR is the General Inspectorate of Romanian Police.
- IPJ is the county police inspectorate, relevant to territorial competence.
- DGPMB handles the competent services for Bucharest.
- AESP is a common abbreviation; the exact local structure name should be verified officially.
Official sources
Romanian Law no. 295/2004 — consolidated version, Romanian Legislative Portal ↗
Authorization to acquire a first firearm — Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs services hub ↗
Authorization to acquire subsequent firearms — Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs services hub ↗
Related articles
What is the Romanian “permis de armă” and what rights does it record? →
“permis de armă” vs acquisition authorization →
Frequently asked questions
What does DAESP mean?
DAESP is the Arms, Explosives and Dangerous Substances Directorate, the central specialist structure within the Romanian Police.
What does AESP mean?
It is an abbreviation used for the Arms, Explosives and Dangerous Substances field or structures. The exact administrative title can differ locally.
Where does someone living in a county submit an application?
To the territorially competent county police inspectorate according to domicile or residence, as indicated by the applicable official service.
Where does someone in Bucharest apply?
Official services identify DGPMB for applicants in Bucharest, depending on the concrete procedure.
Why should I check the local police website?
The structure name, office address, public opening hours and filing channels can change, and the local official page provides the current operational information.
// EDITORIAL NOTE
armedefoc.ro is an informational and educational project only. This material does not constitute legal advice. Check the current legislation and competent authorities for your individual situation.
Paul G.
Creator & editor