Frequently Asked Questions
How long will it take to process my application and issue my firearms licence?For new applications, there is a mandatory 28 day waiting period from receipt of your licence application before your licence can be issued. For re-applications for the same type of licence already held which are received prior to the expiry date of the current licence, there is no waiting period. Your application will be processed as soon as possible after this time. What can delay a licence application?
NOTE: You are required to use your full legal name and date of birth for your firearms licence application. If these details vary from the name and date of birth on your drivers licence, your photographic licence cannot be produced until the records of the RTA and Firearms Registry match. If there is a discrepancy, the Firearms Registry will request proof of full legal name and date of birth. If your legal name and date of birth are incorrect at the RTA, you will be requested to attend the RTA to amend your name and/or date of birth on your drivers licence before your firearms licence can be produced. What happens if the reasons for having my firearm licence or permit change?If the genuine reasons for your having your firearms licence or permit can no longer be established, you must inform the Firearms Registry, in writing, within 14 days of ceasing to have your genuine reason (licence) or legitmate reason (permit) - Clause 14 (1) & (2) of the Firearms Regulation 2006. If you can no longer support your genuine reason, you may not be able to retain your Firearms licence. For example, if you hold your licence for the genuine reason of target shooting and you cease your club membership, you can no longer support your genuine reason (uiless you advise the Firearms Registry of a new club membership). What if I want to change my genuine reason or add a new genuine reason?You will need to apply to have a genuine reason added or removed from your licence. You should call the firearms registry on 1300 362 562 or alternatively email the Firearms Registry Licensing Unit at frlicensing@police.gov.au to obtain application forms. It will incur a cost of $75 to have a genuine reason added or removed from your licence, as this requires a new licence to be produced. NOTE: Your updated licence will retain the same expiry date as your current licence. What if I want to add or remove a category on my firearms licence?You will need to apply to have a category added or removed from your licence. You should call the firearms registry on 1300 362 562 or alternatively email the Firearms Registry Licensing Unit at frlicensing@police.gov.au to obtain application forms. You will need to provide your licence details and a pre-printed application form will be posted out to you on the following day. It will incur a cost of $75 to have a category added or removed from your licence, as this requires a new licence to be produced. NOTE: Your updated licence will retain the same expiry date as your current licence. I currently hold a firearms licence for sport/target shooting. Can I shoot on property?If your firearms licence is for the genuine reason of Sport/Target shooting only, you are only authorised to shoot at an approved Sport/Target Shooting Club. If you wish to shoot on rural land you must also hold a licence for the genuine reason of Recreational Hunting and Vermin Control or Primary Production or other such appropriate genuine reason to suit your needs. To add this genuine reason, you should call the firearms registry on 1300 362 562 or alternatively email the Firearms Registry Licensing Unit at frlicensing@police.gov.au to obtain the relevant application forms. Can I have more than one genuine reason on my licence?Yes, provided you have evidence to support each genuine reason you apply for and that they continue. My licence is issued for primary production. Can I shoot on property other than my own?A category C licence issued for the genuine reason of primary production authorises you to shoot on land that is used for primary production that immediately adjoins your own land, provided you have the prior written permission from the owner/occupier to use category C firearms on that land. In all other circumstances, if you wish to shoot on property other than your own, you must also have the genuine reason of Recreational Hunting and Vermin Control. What information is required to support my genuine reason?Each genuine reason for a firearms licence has specific requirements which must be met. FACT Sheets are available for each genuine reason and give details of the requirements you must meet and the supporting documents which must accompany your application. Refer to the Licence page for these FACT Sheets. What happens if I do not provide all the required information to support my licence application?You will be requested to supply further information to support your licence application. If you do not supply the requested information, it may be considered that you no longer wish to proceed with your application and your application may be lapsed or refused. If your licence application is lapsed or refused any subsequent application will be treated as a new application. How long will my licence application take?For NEW applications, there is a mandatory waiting period of 28 days from receipt of your application at the Firearms Registry before your licence can be issued. This means that a licence cannot be issued until after the 28 days has lapsed. Your application will be processed as soon as possible after this time. If your application is a RE-APPLICATION and it was received prior to the expiry of your firearms licence AND there is no change to the categories of licence held, then there is no waiting period for the issue of your licence. If you have lodged your re-application prior to the expiry date of your current licence, the authority of your existing licence to possess and use firearms continues until you are notified of the issue or refusal of your firearms licence. What if I re-apply for my firearms licence and my old licence expires before my new licence is issued?
This means that, as long as your re-application was received prior to the expiry of your current licence, you can continue to possess and use firearms while you are waiting for notification that your licence has been approved for issue. However, if your re-application is received after the expiry of your current licence, you have no continuing authority to possess and use firearms. In this case your firearms must be surrendered to police until the issue of your new licence. Get your re-application in prior to the expiry date of your licence to avoid any problems ! What if I move and my address changes?You must notify the Firearms Registry within 14 days of any change of address. This may be done by completing the 'Change of Personal Details' P658 form available on the Home page. This form is submitted electronically. What do I do if my safe storage address changes?If your safe storage address changes, you must notify the Firearms Registry within 14 days of the change. You must supply the new safe storage address for your firearms and indicate whether all the firearms are being kept at that address. This may be done by completing the 'Change of Personal Details' P658 form available on the Home page. This form can be submitted electronically. How long do I have to wait until my Permit to Acquire is issued?For an initial Permit to Acquire (PTA), there is a mandatory 28 day waiting period after receipt at the Firearms Registry before your PTA may be issued. Your licence must be current and in an issued status before a PTA will be issued. For second and subsequent PTA's for the same type of firearm as one already registered to you or registered to you in the 90 days prior to making your application, there is no waiting period. For example, if you have an issued category A, B or H licence and you already have a category A, B or H type firearm registered to you at the time of making application for a PTA (or have had a firearm of that type registered to you in the 90 days prior to making application for your PTA), there is no waiting period for the issue of your PTA. For the purpose of a PTA application, category A and B firearms are considered to be the same type of firearm. For example, if you have a licence issued for both category A and B and you have a category A type firearm registered to you at the time of making application for a category B type firearm, there is no waiting period for the issue of your PTA. How can I contact the Firearms Registry after business hours?You can email the Firearms Registry: firearmsenq@police.nsw.gov.au What if I wish to cancel my firearms licence or permit?If you no longer require a firearms licence or permit you can notify the Firearms Registry in writing of your wish to cancel your licence or permit. If you have firearms registered in your name, you must dispose of your firearms via a licenced Firearms Dealer and notify the Firearms Registry. The cancellation of your licence or permit cannot take effect until all firearms have been disposed and the Firearms Registry notified. What if my photographic advice has expired?When your firearms licence is approved for issue by the Firearms Registry, you will receive notification to attend a Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) office for production of your photographic firearms licence. You must attend the RTA before the expiry of this notification - usually within 60 days. If you do not attend within the specific timeframe, your photographic advice will expire. Once your advice has expired, it is deemed that you no longer wish to hold a firearms licence. A new application is lapsed. A re-application is deemed surrendered (Clause 18 of the Firearms Regulation 2006) upon expiry of your photographic advice and you are no longer authorised to possess and use firearms. In this case, you will be required to surrender your firearms to police. It is important that you attend the RTA within the timeframe specified on your photographic advice to avoid these problems. If you have a legitimate reason for being unable to attend the RTA for your photographic licence, you must contact the Firearms Registry prior to the expiry of the photo advice for consideration of an extension of the time allowed for you to attend the RTA. What if my firearms licence or permit is lost or stolen?If your licence or permit is lost or stolen, you must notify NSW Police within 14 days. You may do this by calling the Police Assistance Line (PAL) on 131 444. The PAL operators will give you an Event number. You must then contact the Firearms Registry either by phoning or emailing frlicensing@police.nsw.gov.au quoting the Event number and request a duplicate firearms licence or permit. If the above does not address your enquiry, call 1300 362 562 during business hours (8.30-4.30pm AEDST) or alternatively email the Firearms Registry Licensing Unit at frlicensing@police.gov.au. |