The Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (the Act) introduces a range of significant reforms affecting firearms licensing, acquisition, and compliance activities in NSW.
The provisions under the Act are being implemented in stages. Some provisions commenced on 24 December 2025, further provisions will commence on 1 July 2026, and additional reforms will be proclaimed at later dates.
Changes commencing 1 July 2026
The following changes will apply from 1 July 2026:
Summary of key changes:
- Removal of the 5-year licence term
- Increasing the oversight of licence holders when re-establishing their genuine reason(s) for being issued with a licence at renewal
- New safe storage requirements for Permit to Acquire (PTA) applications
- Additional eligibility requirements for PTA applications, including terrorism related checks
- Strengthened identity verification requirements for licences and permits
- Delegation of matters relating to criminal intelligence decisions
Firearm licence terms
From 1 July 2026, a firearm licence may only be issued for a maximum of 2 years, or a shorter period where this applies to certain licence types. Licences can no longer be issued for a 5-year term.
The Gun Safe portal will be updated to reflect this change. A 5-year licence term will no longer be available when submitting a firearms licence application, including new applications and renewals.
Firearm licences issued prior to this date will not be affected and will continue in force for their original approved term.
For applications that are in progress, where a 5-year licence has been requested and the application is not finalised before 1 July 2026, the licence will be issued with a 2-year term. This reflects that legislation will no longer permit the issue of a 5-year licence.
Where a 5-year licence application fee of $200 has been paid and the application is not finalised before this date, a partial refund of $100 will be provided. This reflects the difference between the 5-year and 2-year licence fees.
Refunds will be processed as part of the transition to the new licensing arrangements. While every effort will be made to finalise refunds promptly, processing timeframes may vary during this implementation period. We appreciate your patience.
Increasing the Oversight of Licence Renewal Applications - Substantiating Genuine Reason(s)
From 1 July 2026, there will be increased oversight of firearm licence renewal applications.
Applicants will be required to provide supporting evidence to re-establish their genuine reason(s) for being issued with a licence when applying to renew their firearms licence.
This ensures licence holders continue to meet their legislative requirements associated with their licence, while increasing oversight over a licence holder’s genuine reason obligations.
Permit to Acquire (PTA) requirements
Safe storage requirements
From 1 July 2026, a Permit to Acquire (PTA) must not be issued unless the Commissioner is satisfied that the applicant will meet applicable safe storage and safety requirements.
To meet this requirement:
- The Gun Safe PTA application will provide you with instructions if a safe storage inspection is required by police
- The inspection must relate to the applicant’s nominated storage address
- The inspection must have a satisfactory (passed) outcome
- The inspection must meet or exceed the safe storage level required for the firearm being acquired
The Gun Safe PTA application process will be updated to reflect this requirement. The nominated safe storage address will be checked for a valid safe storage inspection. Where a valid inspection cannot be identified, the applicant will be required to provide a safe storage inspection event number.
PTA applications cannot be submitted unless a valid safe storage inspection is confirmed.
To request a safe storage inspection by police, you will need to contact your local Police Area Command or Police District by email.
Click here for a list of email addresses for all Police Area Commands and Police Districts.
If you are unsure of the Police Area Command or Police District relevant to your safe storage address, you can use the ‘Police Station Search’ function on the NSW Police Force website. Enter your suburb or postcode to identify the relevant Police Area Command or Police District.
Terrorism-related checks
Additional eligibility requirements apply to the issue of a PTA from 1 July 2026.
A PTA must not be issued unless the Commissioner is satisfied that, to the Commissioner’s knowledge, the applicant has not been investigated by a Commonwealth or State law enforcement or intelligence agency in relation to terrorism-related offences or associations with a prescribed terrorist organisation.
The Commissioner must also be satisfied that the applicant is not an associate of, or residing at the same residential address as, a person who has been investigated for terrorism-related offences or associations with a prescribed terrorist organisation.
These requirements form part of the mandatory considerations for the issue of a PTA.
Identity verification requirements
New requirements apply to the verification of identity for firearms licence and permit applications.
These requirements are consistent with existing application processes and do not introduce changes to how applicants provide identity information.
Applications must not proceed unless the Commissioner is satisfied that the applicant’s identity has been verified. This applies to both licence and permit applications, including renewals.
Applicants must provide the necessary consents, documents and information to enable identity verification. If this information is not provided within the required timeframe, the application will be taken to have been withdrawn.
Identity verification will be a mandatory pre-condition to the issue of a firearms licence. A licence must not be issued unless the Commissioner is satisfied that the applicant’s identity has been verified.
These changes formalise and strengthen identity verification requirements within the legislation.
These changes do not introduce any new requirements relating to citizenship.
Delegation of decision-making functions
From 1 July 2026, changes to the legislation will allow certain decision-making powers involving the consideration of criminal intelligence to be delegated to senior police officers.
This amendment enables these powers to be exercised by a police officer of or above the rank of Assistant Commissioner.
This change supports timely decision-making while maintaining appropriate levels of senior oversight. It does not change application requirements or processes for licence or permit applicants.
Changes implemented 24 December 2025
The following changes commenced on 24 December 2025 and remain in effect:
Restrictions on Permit to Acquire (PTA) applications (firearm limits)
Restrictions on PTA applications have applied since 24 December 2025.
A PTA must not be issued if it would result in a licence or permit holder exceeding the number of firearms authorised under their licence.
PTA applications that would exceed these limits will not be issued. Such applications are taken to have never been made, and no refund will be provided.
Applicable limits (for PTA applications):
No more than 10 firearms for licensees with genuine reasons of:
- Primary production
- Occupational requirements related to rural purposes
- Animal welfare
No more than 10 firearms for licensees with genuine reasons of:
- Sport/target shooting
- Business or employment
- Vertebrate pest animal control
Unless a greater number of firearms is approved by the Commissioner in accordance with the regulations. The regulation changes will be made in due course, therefore the limit which is immediately effective for the purpose of PTA applications is 10 firearms.
No more than 4 firearms for all other licensees (e.g. with genuine reasons of recreational hunting/vermin control).
No limitation for:
- Firearm dealer licensees
- Firearm collector licensees
If a licensee has more than one applicable limit, the highest limit will apply. There is no immediate seizure of firearms for those currently above the new limits. Further information will be provided regarding compliance and the buyback scheme before the new limits take effect.
Removal of NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) appeal pathway
External appeal rights to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) have been removed for all firearms-related decisions, except decisions to make a Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO).
Internal review processes remain available.
Future Changes
Additional provisions under the Act will be introduced at later dates.
Further information will be provided prior to the commencement of future reforms.
Legislation
The legislation is available here for reference: Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025