Apply for a new firearm licence

How to apply for a new firearm licence and what you need to do before you submit your application.

On this page

• Before you submit your application
• How to submit a new firearm licence application
  • Step 1: Complete an application form
  • Step 2: Provide identification and medical history (if required) documentation
  • Step 3: Print and mail your application form and documentation
  • Step 4: Processing your application
  • Step 5: Make a payment
  • Step 6: Attend a photo point location

  Learn how to prepare and submit a new firearm licence application in Victoria, as well as information about fees and processing timings.

  Before you submit your application

  Before you start an application, you must:

  • Check your eligibility to hold a firearm licence
  • Be able to provide evidence to justify your genuine reason to own or use a firearm for the category you wish to apply for
  • Complete a relevant firearm safety course covering the firearm you are applying to be licensed for
  • Check to see if your firearm licence application requires a full set of fingerprints to be taken. If it does, apply for a National Police and Fingerprint Records Check and receive a National Police Certificate (opens in a new window) before you lodge an application.
  • Check if your firearm licence application requires a Fingerprint Record Check
  1. apply for a National Police and Fingerprint Records Check
  2. book a fingerprint appointment , and
  3. bring your completed application form to your fingerprinting appointment.

  Firearms licence applications requiring a full set of fingerprints

  You must have a full set of fingerprints taken when applying for a:

  • Category D Longarm Licence
  • Category E Longarm Licence
  • Category 1 Collectors Licence
  • General Category Handgun Licence
  • Category E Handgun Licence
  • Licensed Firearm Dealer Licence (all employees and close associates must be fingerprinted. Contact LRD directly at lrd@police.vic.gov.au for this application).
  • Corporate Licence of any category other than an Antique Handgun Collectors Licence (all responsible officers of the body corporate must be fingerprinted).

  Fingerprint appointment requirements

  When making your appointment:

  • You must inform the customer service officer that the reason you require a full set of fingerprints is for your firearm licence application.
  • Let us know at your appointment if you are applying for a general category handgun licence for armed guard or cash-in-transit purposes, and you want to apply for a private security licence soon or at the same time. We will take two sets of fingerprints at the same time for the one fee.

  How to submit a new firearm licence application

  Step 1: Complete an application form

  Depending on the licence you are applying for, you will need to complete either a hard copy or e-Services application.

  Choose the option available for the licence you require:

  E-Services firearm licence applications

  E-Services firearm applications are required for a:

  • Longarm licence (categories A, B, C, D or E)
  • Handgun licence (general category or category E)
  • Junior firearm licence
  • Provisional general category handgun licence
  • Heirloom firearm licence.

  To complete your application:

  1. Visit the Victoria Police licensing e-Services portal and submit a new firearm licence application.
  2. You will be required to print a copy of your e-Services application. Instructions about providing these documents will be sent to you in a confirmation email from our Licensing and Regulation Division (LRD).

  Hard copy applications

  Hard copy firearms applications are needed for:

  • Category 1 and 2 Firearm Collectors, Antique Handgun Collectors and Ammunition Collectors licences
  • Body Corporate firearm licence
  • Paintball Marker licence.

  To complete your application:

  1. Print and complete the application form for the licence category you wish to apply for:

  • Category 1 and 2 Firearm Collectors, Antique Handgun Collectors and Ammunition Collectors licences
  • Body Corporate firearm licence application
  • Paintball Marker licence

  2. Post your completed application to the Licensing and Regulation Division.

  Step 2: Provide identification and medical history (if required) documentation

  As part of your application, you will be required to provide printed copies of your:

  • certified identification documents
  • genuine reason, and
  • medical documentation (if required).
  • Certified identification documents

  Certified identification documents and identification referees

  • at least one primary identification document (such as a passport or birth certificate)
  • at least one secondary document showing your current residential address (such as a driver licence or permit).

  Copies of your identification documents must be certified by an acceptable referee .

  The referee must be someone who:

  • has known you for at least 12 months
  • is not related to you by either birth or marriage.

  Identification reference

  You also need to provide an identification reference. This must be from the same acceptable referee who certified your identification documents.

  To do this, you must complete and sign the Identification Reference section of your application in the presence of an acceptable referee.

  Acceptable referees

  • registered medical practitioner (such as your general practitioner or dentist)
  • registered and employed nurse
  • registered primary or secondary school teachers employed full-time
  • primary or secondary school principal employed full-time
  • minister of religion who is registered as a marriage celebrant
  • Justice of the Peace
  • bank employee who has the authority to open accounts (such as a bank branch manager)
  • accountant who is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, the Australian Society of Certified Practising Accountants, or the National Institute of Accountants.

  Creating a certified document

  To create a certified document:

  • Create a copy of an original document.
  • Have the copy signed and certified as a true copy of the original by an acceptable referee .

  The person certifying your document must:

  • sight a copy of your original document at the same time they are certifying the copy.
  • certify the front of the document copy (not on the back).

  If you answered ‘yes’ to any medical question in your application, your treating health professional must complete a Health Professional Reporting Notice:

  Health Professional Reporting Notice PDF 649.96 KB
  • email: lrd@police.vic.gov.au .
  • mail: Licensing and Regulation Division, GPO Box 2807, Melbourne VIC 3001.

  You or your treating health professional can send your Reporting Notice to the Licensing and Regulation Division with your firearms application.

  Resources

  Quick guide (firearms): Information for the role of the health professional PDF 451.04 KB

  Step 3: Print and mail your application form and documentation

  After completing your e-Services or hard copy application form, you will need to mail:

  Step 4: Processing your application

  Upon receipt of your application, LRD will process your application.

  If your application is approved, a payment notice will be sent to your mailing address.

  Step 5: Make a payment

  Once you receive your payment notice, you will need to pay the licence fee by the due date.

  Firearm licences are issued for 3 or 5 years, with the exception of provisional handgun licences which are issued for 6- or 12-month periods.

  Fees for each licence type can be found on our Service fees and penalties page .

  Please note that concession and Seniors Card discounts do not apply.

  • BPAY, or
  • cash or cheque at a Westpac Bank.

  Step 6: Attend a photo point location

  After paying the licence fee, you will need to have your photo taken at a VicRoads Customer Service Centre or photo point . The photo will be sent to LRD electronically.

  If you cannot attend a VicRoads photo point, you must complete and mail an Unable to attend an Authorised photo point in Victoria form .

  You must send the form and your photo to:

  Licensing and Regulation Division
  GPO Box 2807, Melbourne, VIC 3001

  Next steps

  Once the Licensing and Regulation Division have processed your application and received your payment and photo, they will:

  1. finalise your licence
  2. mail your licence to you.

  Reasons for application delays

  Your application may be delayed if there is any missing information, or we need to request further information from you.

  We may also refuse your application if information is missing.

  • Missing information
  • provide all relevant supporting information, including:
    • evidence you completed a firearm safety course
    • genuine reason evidence
    • medical history documentation (where required), and
    • your completed Confirmation of Currently Owned Firearms (where required).
    • certifies your identification documents correctly
    • completes the application declaration
    • is on the list of acceptable referees.

    Complex applications, or those with suitability concerns, may take longer to process. The Licensing and Regulation Division (LRD) may need more information from you. We will contact you and let you know what information we need. If you don’t provide the information by the date requested, LRD may refuse to make a decision on your application.

    Contact us

    Get in touch about firearms licensing through our online enquiry form.
    

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