How licensing works in Australia

Firearms licensing in Australia runs on two levels. A national agreement sets the shared framework, and each state and territory turns it into its own laws and runs its own licensing. This guide explains the general shape so you know what to expect. For the actual rules, ask your club and check your state or territory registry.

Who sets the rules

The Department of Home Affairs describes firearm regulation as a shared responsibility between the Commonwealth and the states and territories. State and territory police are generally the ones who administer firearms, through a registry or licensing unit.

The framework they work within is the National Firearms Agreement. National Cabinet agreed an updated 2026 version on 26 August 2026. The agreement sets minimum requirements, and it says nothing prevents a state or territory from adopting additional or stricter rules. That's why the broad steps look similar everywhere while the details don't.

The agreement sets national terms for every licence. Applicants must show a genuine reason, be a fit and proper person, prove their identity and complete safety training. In the 2026 agreement, reached on 26 August 2026, governments also agreed to make Australian citizenship a condition of holding a licence, with a limited exception for some lawful non-citizens to be set in state or territory legislation. Like the rest of the agreement, it takes effect through each state and territory's own laws, so check with your registry for when and how it applies. The agreement also says licence applicants must be 18 or over. Younger shooters come under separate junior arrangements, which can include a junior licence or permit and vary by state and territory. The agreement also defines national licence categories, which group firearms by type, and says which categories each genuine reason allows.

The general path for target shooters

1. 1

   Step 1: Try it under supervision

   Many clubs run supervised sessions for people without a licence, usually called come-and-try days. The Australian Clay Target Association says most clay clubs offer one, and associations such as SSAA Victoria run them too.

2. 2

   Step 2: Join an approved club

   Applicants must show a genuine reason for a licence, and personal protection is never one. For target shooting, the reason is backed by membership of an approved club.

3. 3

   Step 3: Complete the safety training

   First-time applicants complete an accredited firearms safety course. Your registry or club can tell you which course applies and who runs it.

4. 4

   Step 4: Apply to your registry

   The registry checks the national requirements, such as your identity, your genuine reason and whether you're a fit and proper person, and it needs to be satisfied with how you'll store firearms. Each state and territory adds its own forms and checks.

5. 5

   Step 5: Wait for the decision

   Licences are issued only after a waiting period. Processing times vary by registry and over time, so check your registry's website.

6. 6

   Step 6: Get a permit for each firearm

   A licence doesn't let you buy any firearm you like. You need a separate permit to acquire for every firearm.

7. 7

   Step 7: Keep participating

   Your licence depends on keeping your genuine reason. Clubs keep attendance records, and handgun licences under the agreement carry minimum participation in club competitions.

Handguns have extra steps

Under the national agreement, target pistol shooters go through extra checks. A person applying to join a club for handgun shooting must get a police check and give the club two character references, and the club must endorse each application to acquire a handgun. The agreement also sets a 12 month period of graduated access: in the first six months a new shooter can't own a handgun and must complete safety training and take part in club shooting, and in the second six months ownership is limited. States and territories can add to this, and how it's administered and recorded differs. See Joining a club and getting licensed for how clubs run their probation.

What differs between states and territories

The shared framework means the ideas carry across borders, but the specifics change. In general terms, expect these to differ:

• how and where you lodge an application, and the forms and fees involved

• which safety course your registry approves and who delivers it

• processing times

• whether and how young people can shoot or hold a permit

• storage specifications, transport rules and inspections

• any rules a state adds on top of the national agreement

The Australian Clay Target Association's joining page puts it plainly: police in each state issue licences, and the requirements for each state vary. The registry for your state or territory is the authority on what you need to do.

If you move or travel

A licence is issued under one state or territory's law. If you move, registry guidance is to contact the registry in your new state or territory about its licensing and storage requirements. If you travel interstate to shoot, the National Firearms Safety Code advises contacting the relevant registry before you go.

Where to go next

• Find your registry in the State firearms registries list, which links to the licensing authority for every state and territory.

• Talk to the club you want to join about how its membership process fits with licensing in your state.

• Read Storage and transport basics before you buy a safe.