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What are the five categories of firearm licences?

To obtain a Firearms Licence an applicant must have a genuine reason for using or possessing a firearm. This genuine reason will determine the Category of licence for which you may apply.

The Category of licence will also determine the type of firearm you will be authorised to use and possess.

You should take the following steps in completing your application form:

1. Identify your genuine reason for using or possessing a firearm and tick the appropriate box or boxes.
2. Identify the Categories of firearm that coincide with your genuine reason and tick the appropriate box or boxes.
3. Provide a statement in the appropriate part outlining the need for the category of firearm for which you seek a licence. In the case of a genuine reason of recreational hunting and vermin control the details of the property where you will be using a firearm for recreational hunting or vermin control must be provided.

The categories of firearms licences are as follows:

CATEGORY A

Category A firearms are:

• Air rifles;
• Rimfire rifles other than self loading;
• Shotguns other than pump action or self loading; and
• Shotgun and rimfire rifle combinations.

Application may be made for a Category A licence if you are able to provide the Commissioner for Police with the necessary documentation to support your genuine reason for using or possessing a firearm of that category.

Eg. If your genuine reason is sport or target shooting you must be a current member of an approved shooting organisation that conducts competitions or activities involving the use of this type of firearm and produce evidence of current membership.

CATEGORY B

Category B firearms are:

• Muzzle loading firearms;
• Centrefire rifles other than self loading; and
• Shotgun and centrefire rifle combinations.

An applicant for a Category B licence in addition to establishing a genuine reason for holding the licence must also produce evidence to the Commissioner's satisfaction that there is a need to possess or use a firearm of this category.

CATEGORY C

Is only available to a primary producer or a person employed or engaged in primary production or a bona fide collector subject to certain conditions.

CATEGORY D

Is only available to a professional shooter whose principal occupation is the controlling of vertebrate pest animals or a bona fide collector subject to certain conditions.

CATEGORY H

Is only available to members of pistol clubs, persons employed as firearm dealers, security guards and security agents or a bona fide collector subject to certain conditions.

It is possible to make application for a licence for more than one category of firearm if you are able to satisfy the Commissioner of Police that you have a genuine need for each category.