Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for sealing shafts, the apparatus comprising at least one device for positioning at least one first sealing means and a second sealing means on a shaft in a specified manner. At least the first sealing means has a partly elastic wall region for restricting a fluid passage out of a first region, in which a fluid is provided, into a second region, from which the shaft is sealed by the first region. The wall region forms an opening through which the shaft is guided, the diameter of the opening being variable dependent on the diameter of the shaft, and the second sealing means lies over the first sealing means so as to contact same at least in some regions in order to seal the fluid passage.