Firearms Licences

There are a number of requirements an applicant must meet to apply for a firearms licence.

The applicant must:

• provide genuine reasons for having a firearms licence
• be 18 years or over
• be viewed as a suitable person by the registrar
• be able to prove his or her identity through 100 points of identification material
• meet secure home storage and safety requirements for their firearm(s)
• Provide proof of residency within the ACT.

If applying for a licence for the first time, the applicant must undertake a firearms training and safety course that is compliant with the firearms registrar’s standards. These courses are available through various clubs and authorised firearms instructors.

A child may apply for a Minors Firearms Licence for Categories A, B or H.

The applicant must:

• Be between 12 and 18 years of age
• Have completed an approved firearms training course
• Be a member of an approved shooting club
• Have the written agreement of the applicant’s parent or guardian who is a firearms licensee endorsed for target shooting
• be viewed as a suitable person by the registrar
• be able to prove his or her identity through 100 points of identification material
• meet secure home storage and safety requirements for their firearm(s)
• Provide proof of residency within the ACT.

A minors Category A or B licence may also be considered for instruction that is about the safe use of firearms for primary production where the parent or guardian is licenced for primary production.

An applicant for this sort of licence must provide evidence that they are an ‘active member’ of an approved club and the applicant participates in regular competitions and/or club activities.

An 'active member' is a person who participates in club shooting activities on at least four occasions a year, or makes a personal contribution, other than financial, to the club.

Evidence to be provided in support of this application:

Applicants living on or using rural land must:

• prove that they are the owner of the land e.g. Rates Notice
• submit with their application, a completed Land Owners/Occupiers Permission For Recreational Hunting Form and a current copy of the land owner’s rates notice. The Land Owners/Occupiers Permission form must cover the duration of the applicant’s licence (5 years).

Applicants using reserved land for the purpose of recreational hunting and/or vermin control must provide evidence of permission from the Environment ACT, TAMS or other authority to use the firearm(s).

Applicants involved in primary production must provide documentation proving that the applicant is a person whose occupation is that of a primary producer, or who is the owner, lessee or manager of land used for primary production and that the intention to use the firearm is solely in connection with farming or grazing activities.

Applicants involved in vertebrate pest animal control must prove that they are a professional contract shooter.

Applicants involved in business or employment must demonstrate that it is necessary in the conduct of the applicant’s business or duration of employment to possess or use the firearm.

Applicants involved in animal welfare must be:

• an officer of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
• a veterinary surgeon
• a person employed by or within an administrative unit with responsibilities for animal welfare or an owner, transporter, drover or other animal handler who may need to destroy animals to avoid their suffering.

Applicants who are firearms collectors must be members of a collectors club or association which is approved by the registrar and whose members collect the type of firearms for which the licence is sought.

Applicants submitting as composite entity must demonstrate that they are a body corporate, partnership or government agency which is required to possess firearms for use by its employees in the legal performance of its functions.

Special need conditions for category A, B, C and H firearms

In addition to meeting the genuine reason criteria for ownership of a firearm, applicants for category A, B, C and H firearms are required to satisfy the firearms registrar that they have a special need for the firearm to carry out the specific task at hand.

This category applies to:

• air rifles
• rimfire rifles - other than self loading
• shotguns - other than pump action or self loading
• shotgun and rimfire rifle combinations
• paintball guns.

You may apply for a Category A licence if you are able to provide the Firearms Registrar with the necessary documentation to support your genuine reason for using and/or possessing a firearm of that category.

For example, if your genuine reason is sport or target shooting, you must produce evidence of your current membership of an approved shooting organisation that conducts competitions or activities involving the use of this type of firearm.

This category applies to:

• muzzle loading firearms - other than pistols
• centrefire rifles - other than self loading
• shotgun and centrefire rifle combinations.

As well as establishing a genuine reason for holding the licence, you must produce evidence to the firearms registrar’s satisfaction that there is a genuine need to possess and/or use a firearm of this category.

This category is only available to primary producers, people employed or engaged in primary production, or bona fide firearms collectors (subject to certain conditions). Please refer to Schedule 3 of the Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) for further information.

This category of firearm can only be authorised by the ACT Police and Emergency Services Minister. This category is only available to professional shooters whose principal occupation is the controlling of vertebrate pest animals. Significant supporting documentation must be provided to the registrar with the applications. Please refer to Schedule 3 of the Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) for further information.

A category H licence can only be issued to an adult licence holder who has a genuine reason to possess or use a firearm for one or more of the following reasons:

1. Sport or target shooting
2. Business or employment
3. Firearms collector.

Evidence must be provided to the registrar of the listed reasons. If the reason for possession or use of a firearm is for sport or target shooting, the applicant must provide written evidence that their licence application is supported by their respective shooting club.

New Category H licence applicants

The following steps are required for a person to obtain a new Category H licence application.

1. The applicant must complete a six month probationary period with an approved shooting club.
2. The applicant must be an active member of an approved shooting club and complete the required training.
3. The applicant will supply a criminal history check to the club.
4. The applicant must have two character references that the applicant will supply to the approved club.

At the completion of the six month probationary period, with evidence of the training being completed and the supporting documentation from the approved club, the applicant can then lodge the Adult Firearms Licence for Category H.

Renewal of Category H licence applicants

Renewal of Category H applicants must provide an Adult Firearms Licence application, and in addition to the pre-requisite documents, documentation from the approved club supporting the licence application.

It is a condition of your licence that, if your firearm has been stolen, lost or destroyed you must report that fact to the firearms registry within two days of becoming aware of its loss, theft or destruction.

A licensee or the holder of a permit must notify the registrar of any change of address within seven calendar days.

A person must not, without a reasonable excuse, have a firearm on his or her possession in a public place, or discharge a firearm near a street or in a public place.

It is illegal to send or receive firearms in the mail in the ACT. It is also illegal to direct or request another person to do so.

It is an offence to handle a firearm while under the influence of alcohol or any other drug. Transferring possession of a firearm to such a person is also prohibited.

You must produce your licence or permit when requested by a police officer. If you do not have the licence or permit in your immediate possession, you must produce it to a police officer as soon as practicable within 24 hours, or state your name and residential address to the police officer.