Gun licence for sport shooting in Australia

The National Firearms Agreement sets out what every government has agreed to require. It binds governments, not shooters, and each state writes its own version, in places stricter and in places looser. What the agreement asks, and the main departures:

Genuine reason

Every licence needs a genuine reason, and personal protection is never one. For a target shooter’s handgun, the reason is sport or target shooting as a member of an approved club.NFA paras 9–10, 14(a)

Probation

The agreement: no handgun of your own for the first six months, with a safety course and minimum participation; then, if your club certifies it, one .22 rimfire or one centrefire pistol plus one .177 air pistol for six months. Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia count the six months in the club before the licence, and the handguns allowed in the first year differ from state to state: see the table by state.NFA para 38(b)

Every year

The agreement asks for at least six club-organised competitive matches a year and, for each different type of handgun owned for different events, at least four club-organised shoots; falling short makes the shooter liable to have the licence revoked. Every state and territory sets its own figure: see the table by state.NFA para 40(e)(ii)–(iii)

Which handguns

The agreement: at most .38 calibre and 10 rounds, a barrel of at least 120 mm (semi-automatic) or 100 mm (revolver or single shot) unless built for target shooting, and up to .45 only for Metallic Silhouette and Single (Western) Action. Victoria allows larger calibres by authorisation, Tasmania up to .46, and the ACT’s Firearms Act and Regulation set no magazine limit.NFA para 14(b)–(c); Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 7A; Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 18(4)

Every gun

The agreement: a separate permit to acquire for every firearm, after a wait of at least 28 days, and your club endorses each handgun and names the discipline it is for. Most states shorten the wait when you already own a registered gun, and Western Australia adds each gun to the licence instead of issuing a permit.NFA paras 38(a)(iii), 45–47; Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 31A(2); Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 107(2); Weapons Regulation 2016 (Qld) s 101(3); Firearms Act 2015 (SA) s 23(10); Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 61(b); Firearms Act 1997 (NT) s 35(5); Firearms Act 2024 (WA) s 29, 189

The licence

The agreement: at least 18, a fit and proper person, an accredited safety course, a licence of at most five years issued after at least 28 days, and since August 2026 Australian citizenship, with exceptions each state sets. Queensland and the Northern Territory give category A and B longarm licences ten years. Of the agreement’s citizenship condition, only Queensland’s is in force, and it exempts sport shooters; South Australia may already refuse anyone who is neither a citizen nor a permanent resident, and Western Australia requires citizenship, permanent residence or a prescribed residence.NFA paras 33–37; Weapons Act 1990 (Qld) s 10(2C), 20(1); Firearms Act 1997 (NT) s 14(1); Firearms Act 2015 (SA) s 15(1); Firearms Act 2024 (WA) s 159

Your state decides

You are licensed under your state’s or territory’s law, which is in places stricter and in places looser than the agreement: see the table by state.NFA para 2

After the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, the Commonwealth, the states and the territories signed an updated National Firearms Agreement in August 2026, the first change since 2017. It commits every government to make Australian citizenship a condition of a licence, with exceptions in its own law, and to make 3D-printed firearms and their blueprints a crime; the Commonwealth will give security and organised-crime assessments for licensing decisions (NFA paras 33–34, 43, 63; National Cabinet, 26 August 2026). Each state and territory legislates in its own time. On 12 October 2026:

• New South Wales: the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025 is in force in part. Since 24 December 2025, no permit to acquire is issued that would take a sport shooter past 10 firearms, and licence decisions go to internal review instead of NCAT (Firearms Act 1996 Sch 3 cl 38, s 75A). Since 1 July 2026, a new licence runs two years (s 21), and a permit needs the Commissioner to be satisfied about your storage (s 31(3)), which the registry checks by a police storage inspection before it accepts the application (NSW Police). The cap itself and a citizenship requirement await proclamation (Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025, Sch 2).
• Victoria: the Firearms Amendment Act 2026 has been in force since 19 August 2026, except its citizenship and background-check Parts, which await proclamation (s 2). The government will not cap the number of firearms.
• Queensland: citizenship has been a condition since 3 August 2026, except for sport or target shooting and occupational reasons (Weapons Act 1990 s 10(2)(h), 10(2C)).
• Western Australia: the Firearms Act 2024 replaced the 1973 Act on 31 March 2025, with a Competition Licence of up to 10 firearms. No firearms bill is before Parliament.
• South Australia: the only change since 2021 is a 3D-printing offence, in force since 19 February 2026, and no firearms bill is before Parliament.
• Tasmania: the Firearms Amendment (Strengthening Firearms Security) Bill 2026, which as introduced adds a citizenship requirement and no cap, has passed the House of Assembly with amendments and goes to the Legislative Council later this year. New Firearms Regulations take effect on 19 October 2026.
• Australian Capital Territory: the Firearms (Public Safety) Amendment Bill 2026, with a cap of 10 firearms for sport shooters, has been presented but not passed. It would start on 1 January 2028 at the latest.
• Northern Territory: the Firearms Amendment Act 2026, in force since 30 June 2026, keeps the probation and participation rules. It lets a licence run on while you apply for the next one, lets the Commissioner add conditions during a licence, makes it an offence to destroy or deactivate a firearm without approval, and requires notice within two working days when you dispose of a firearm (Firearms Act 1997 s 13(2A), 14(4), 68, 90(2)). There is no citizenship requirement.

1. Join an approved pistol club. Under the agreement you get a police check and give it to the club with your application, with two character references from people who have known you for at least two years and details of your other clubs and guns (NFA para 38(a)(ii)–(iv), 38(b)(i)).
2. Spend time in the club before you own a handgun. Some states ask for it before you apply: six months’ membership and three handgun competitions in Queensland (Weapons Act 1990 s 18B); six months and five approved matches in Victoria (Firearms Act 1996 s 15(2)(b), 123F); six months in a handgun club in Western Australia (Firearms Regulations 2024 r 24(3)); three months on a supervised permit in the Northern Territory (Firearms Act 1997 s 15B(2)). If you already hold a target-shooting handgun licence from another state: Victoria drops the six months, but not the five matches (Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 15(2)(b)(ii), 15(3), 123F); Queensland drops the six months and three competitions if you have held that licence for at least 12 months, met that state’s participation and been in a club there for the last six months (Weapons Act 1990 s 18B(3)), and the first-year limit on the first two of those conditions alone (s 131(2)); the Northern Territory drops the supervised permit (Firearms Act 1997 (NT) s 15B(3)); and in Western Australia the six months may be in an interstate or overseas handgun club (Firearms Regulations 2024 r 24(1)).
3. Take the accredited safety course for a first licence, and the pistol course your club runs where your state asks for one (NFA para 37; Firearms Regulation 2017 (NSW) cl 144).
4. Apply to your state’s or territory’s firearms registry for a category H licence for sport or target shooting, with your club’s support. A first licence is issued after at least 28 days in most states, and after 42 days in Western Australia (NFA para 36(c); Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 11(2); Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 33; Weapons Regulation 2016 (Qld) s 10; Firearms Act 2015 (SA) s 15(8); Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 35; Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) s 60; Firearms Act 2024 (WA) s 170(1)).
5. Serve the probation: in NSW, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory no handgun of your own for the first six months of the licence, and in the ACT a pistol only at the club; in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia those months came before you applied. Then only a few handguns of set kinds: for the licence’s first year in most states, its first six months in Victoria, and in Western Australia until six months after the grant and 12 months in a handgun club. The table by state below gives the rules.
6. For each handgun, apply for a permit to acquire, with your club’s endorsement of your storage and of the discipline the gun is for. The agreement asks for a wait of at least 28 days; most states shorten it when you already own a registered gun (NFA paras 38(a)(iii), 45–47; Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 31A(2); Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 107(2); Weapons Regulation 2016 (Qld) s 101(3); Firearms Act 2015 (SA) s 23(10); Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 61(b); Firearms Act 1997 (NT) s 35(5)).
7. Store it in a locked steel safe, bolted to the building unless your state exempts a heavy safe, with the ammunition locked away separately (NFA para 48(c)(ii)–(iii); see Storage).

To keep a handgun licence you must shoot in club matches every year (in Victoria and Queensland, every year you own a handgun). The national agreement asks for this:

National minimum

The agreement asks for at least six club-organised competitive matches a year and, for each different type of handgun owned for different events, at least four club-organised shoots; falling short makes the shooter liable to have the licence revoked.NFA para 40(e)(ii)–(iii)

Every state and territory sets its own figure in its law or licence conditions; the table below gives them. What counts differs:

• NSW counts any shooting activity of an approved pistol club, practice and training included, but at least six must be competitive matches, in which scores are kept and results recorded; officiating at a match counts (Firearms Regulation 2017 cl 105–106).
• Victoria counts handgun target shoots and approved matches on at least 10 separate days a calendar year, at least six of them as a competitor (Firearms Act 1996 s 16(3)–(4)).
• Queensland counts only handgun competitions if your handguns are of one class; with two or more classes, practice shoots organised by an approved pistol club also count toward the four per class, but at least six must be competitions. Each must be on a different day, by financial year, and you keep a participation record endorsed by the club’s range officer on the day (Weapons Act 1990 s 133–134, Sch 2).
• Western Australia counts only competitions the club has registered with the Commissioner, or recognised external ones, shot with a gun on your licence (Firearms Regulations 2024 r 26).
• The Northern Territory’s regulation counts shooting events, at least three in every quarter; NT Police count only competitive events, not working bees, range duties or committee meetings, and want your record by 31 January (Firearms Regulations 1997 reg 39; NT Police participation record).

The national agreement asks clubs for an audited annual report with their members’ participation (NFA para 38(a)(v)). NSW, Victoria, the ACT and the Northern Territory require a yearly club return in their law; a Queensland club reports when the police ask, and a Western Australian club after each registered competition. In the ACT you also give the registrar your club’s statement that you are a financial and active member within 30 days after each calendar year ends (Firearms Regulation 2008 reg 20). Several states let the registry lower the figure for reasons outside your control, such as illness; South Australia also accepts work or another reason the Registrar accepts, and the Northern Territory any reason that satisfies the Commissioner (Weapons Act 1990 s 133(7); Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 16AA; Firearms Regulations 2017 (SA) reg 14(10)(c); Firearms Act 1997 (NT) s 15C(d)). In Western Australia the Commissioner can reduce or waive it for a reasonable excuse, but only before the 12-month period ends, so ask in good time (Firearms Regulations 2024 r 28).

For rifles and shotguns held for target shooting, three jurisdictions set a figure: NSW (four club activities a year), Western Australia (the same six competitions, on the one Competition Licence) and the ACT (four activities, or another personal contribution to the club). Elsewhere club membership is enough, except for clay-target Category C shotguns, which need four competitions a year in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

The handgun probation and the yearly participation, as the law of each state and territory sets them on 12 October 2026. “Longarms” are rifles and shotguns held for target shooting.

Some figures come from the police, not the law. Tasmania’s Act leaves the participation rate to the licence conditions, and the figures above are the ones Firearms Services publishes (Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 47(3)(b)). The NSW registry also asks for three recorded competition shoots in the first six months of the probationary pistol licence, as part of the club’s safety course, which the Act and Regulation do not mention. ACT Policing describes the six months as a probation with a club before you apply for the licence; the Act puts them in the licence’s first six months (Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) s 75).

• New South Wales: two years for a licence issued since 1 July 2026; licences issued before keep their term. The probationary pistol licence runs 12 months (Firearms Act 1996 s 21). At renewal the registry asks for evidence of your genuine reason again (NSW Police). The fee is $100 (Firearms Regulation 2017 cl 113).
• Victoria: up to five years for a handgun or A and B licence (Firearms Act 1996 s 39(1)).
• Queensland: up to five years for a concealable firearms licence, ten for A and B. A renewal includes your participation record (Weapons Act 1990 s 20(1), 18B(4)).
• Western Australia: one, three or five years, as you choose. A Competition Licence costs $354, $408 or $445 to grant and $39, $80 or $117 to renew (Firearms Act 2024 s 179(1); Firearms Regulations 2024 Sch 10).
• South Australia: at most three years for a licence that covers handguns, five for A, B or C only (Firearms Act 2015 s 17(1); Firearms Regulations 2017 reg 27); SAPOL lists $313 for three years.
• Tasmania: three or five years, as you choose, $125.44 or $176.40 in 2026–27 (Firearms Services). Renew before the licence expires or within 14 days after (Firearms Act 1996 s 49, 36A(1)).
• Australian Capital Territory: five years (Firearms Act 1996 s 78(1)). An application for a licence costs $487, and one for a further licence $54, from 1 July 2026 (Firearms (Fees) Determination 2026, items 402–402.1); check with the registry which applies to a renewal.
• Northern Territory: no renewal; you apply for a new licence, and if you apply before the old one expires it continues until the new one is decided (Firearms Act 1997 s 14(3)–(5)). The registry gives a category H sports shooter’s licence five years, for $269 (NT Police).

The national agreement sets no number. After the first year, it asks that each further handgun be backed by a genuine need, adequate storage and the discipline it is for (NFA para 38(c)).

• New South Wales: since 24 December 2025, no permit to acquire is issued that would take a sport shooter past 10 firearms of all categories together. The cap itself, 10 or a higher number the Commissioner approves under regulations not yet made, awaits proclamation, and firearms already held above it are not seized for now (Firearms Act 1996 Sch 3 cl 38; Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025, Sch 2[9]; NSW Police).
• Western Australia: a Competition Licence holds at most 10 firearms; more only for “elite firearms” in a discipline where you compete consistently at state, national or international level (Firearms Act 2024 s 30; Firearms Regulations 2024 r 25).
• Australian Capital Territory: a cap of 10 for sport shooters is in a bill that has not passed.
• Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory: no cap. Each permit needs a genuine need, weighed against the guns you already hold (Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 104(2); Weapons Act 1990 s 42(3)(b); Firearms Act 2015 (SA) s 23(3)(d); Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 60(4)(b); Firearms Act 1997 (NT) s 35B(2)).

The national agreement asks for at most .38 calibre and 10 rounds, a barrel of at least 120 mm for a semi-automatic and 100 mm for a revolver or single shot unless the pistol is built for target shooting, and calibres over .38 up to .45 only for Metallic Silhouette and Single (Western) Action (NFA para 14(b)–(c)). The states write their own versions, each with its own exceptions:

• NSW: a large calibre pistol permit for metallic silhouette or single action shooting, and a special pistol licence for ISSF pistols with shorter barrels; a magazine over 10 rounds is an offence (Firearms Act 1996 s 4C, 16B, 51E; Firearms Regulation 2017 cl 76).
• Victoria: over .38, and over .45, only with the Chief Commissioner’s authorisation, which is not tied to particular events (Firearms Act 1996 s 7A).
• Queensland: over .38 only by a condition on the licence for an accredited event, a metallic silhouette or single-action competition; a short barrel is allowed if the pistol is at least 250 mm long overall (Weapons Act 1990 s 132; Weapons Regulation 2016 s 161).
• Western Australia: a large calibre handgun only for Metallic Silhouette or Western or Single Action (Firearms Regulations 2024 r 23, 29).
• South Australia: over .38 up to .45 for metallic silhouette or single (western) action, and a shorter barrel for a highly specialised target pistol (Firearms Regulations 2017 reg 14(4)–(5)).
• Tasmania: up to .46 with approval for the prescribed events, Metallic Silhouette and Western (Single) Action; a shorter barrel only for those events (Firearms Act 1996 s 18(3)–(4)).
• ACT: up to 11.43 mm for Metallic Silhouette and Single Action; the ACT Firearms Act and Regulation set no magazine limit for handguns (Firearms Act 1996 Sch 1; Firearms Regulation 2008 reg 12).
• Northern Territory: up to .45 for Metallic Silhouette and Single Action Match, and ISSF specialised target pistols (Firearms Regulations 1997 reg 36, 38).

Muzzle-loading and cap-and-ball (percussion) handguns, which take no cartridges, are outside the calibre and barrel limits in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, and black-powder or muzzle-loading pistols and cap-and-ball revolvers in the Northern Territory (Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 4(1), 4C; Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 3(1), 7A(6); Weapons Act 1990 s 132(4) and Weapons Regulation 2016 s 162; Firearms Regulations 2024 (WA) r 23(4); Firearms Regulations 2017 (SA) reg 14(6); Firearms Regulations 1997 (NT) reg 36(1)).

• Air guns: see Air rifles below.
• Rifles and shotguns for target shooting: categories A and B, with membership of an approved club; category C shotguns only for clay-target shooters with a physical need, or who were registered ACTA shooters owning such a shotgun on 15 November 1996 (NFA para 13(b)).
• Hunting is a separate genuine reason, shown with a landowner’s permission (NFA para 15).
• Collectors hold a collector’s licence, and a handgun collector must belong to an accredited historical society (NFA paras 19, 39).
• The clubs: Target Pistol Australia runs pistol shooting nationally, and the NRAA fullbore rifle. Your licence needs a club approved under your state’s law.

No licence-free air rifle

Every state’s and territory’s firearms law counts an air rifle as a firearm, and no Act or regulation leaves one out for low power: there is no licence-free class, and possessing one needs a licence as for any other firearm, save the supervised shooting in the table below.NFA para 25(a); Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 4(1); Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 3(1); Weapons Act 1990 (Qld) Sch 2; Weapons Categories Regulation 1997 (Qld) s 2; Firearms Act 2024 (WA) s 6; Firearms Act 2015 (SA) s 4(1), 5(1)(a); Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 3, 14(1); Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) s 6, Sch 3; Firearms Act 1997 (NT) s 3, Sch 2

Toys and gel blasters

The nearest exclusions are toys and, in Victoria, one special device: in Western Australia a thing that is obviously a child’s toy and fires nothing likely to injure; in South Australia a children’s toy that fires toy projectiles, never a BB gun or an airsoft gun; and in Victoria a compressed-air or gas device of up to 7 mm and 50 m/s, built to be mounted on a radio-controlled model warship, when used in model warship activities. NSW, Victoria and South Australia also leave out dog-training launchers. Gel blasters are firearms in South Australia, but not in Tasmania while unmodified; elsewhere, ask the registry.Firearms Act 2024 (WA) s 6(3)(g); Firearms Regulations 2017 (SA) reg 4–5, 8A, 44(f); Firearms Regulations 2018 (Vic) reg 6(c), (e); Firearms Regulation 2017 (NSW) cl 4(j); Firearms Regulations 2016 (Tas) reg 4–5, from 19 October 2026 Firearms Regulations 2026 (Tas) reg 5–6

Which licence

For target shooting, an air rifle is licensed like the other Category A rifles (see Rifles and shotguns, under Long guns and collectors). Western Australia puts one over .25 calibre in Category B, and a self-loading one in Category C, or D with more than 10 rounds.NFA paras 13(b), 25(a); Firearms Regulations 2024 (WA) Sch 3

Short air rifles

A short air rifle can need a handgun licence, or more. In Queensland any firearm under 75 cm long is Category H. In NSW and Tasmania one that can be raised and fired with one hand and is no longer than 65 cm overall is a pistol, and in the ACT the same up to 70 cm. In Victoria a firearm is a handgun if it is no longer than 65 cm, or if it can reasonably be raised and fired with one hand, or carried or concealed about the person. In South Australia one with a barrel under 250 mm, or under 750 mm overall or folding to that, is a prescribed firearm, the class that also holds automatic firearms.Weapons Categories Regulation 1997 (Qld) s 7(1); Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 4(1); Firearms Regulation 2017 (NSW) cl 142; Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 3; Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) Dictionary “pistol”; Firearms Regulation 2008 (ACT) reg 69; Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 3(1); Firearms Act 2015 (SA) s 5(1)(f); Firearms Regulations 2017 (SA) reg 7(1)(c), (d), (f)

Air pistols

An air pistol is a handgun: the agreement puts it in Category H, and every state and territory licenses it as a handgun (in Victoria, a general category handgun). It needs the same licence, permit and club as a cartridge pistol, and in NSW, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia it is its own kind of handgun in the participation rules. Possessing one without a licence carries a higher maximum penalty than an air rifle in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory, up to 14 years in NSW and Queensland.NFA para 29; Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 7(1), 8(1); Firearms Regulation 2017 (NSW) cl 106(2); Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 7(1); Firearms Regulations 2018 (Vic) Sch 7; Weapons Act 1990 (Qld) s 50(1); Weapons Categories Regulation 1997 (Qld) s 7, 7AA; Firearms Act 2024 (WA) s 5, 214, 221; Firearms Act 2015 (SA) s 5(1)(e), 8(7), 9(4)–(5); Firearms Regulations 2017 (SA) reg 14(3)(e)(v); Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 18(1); Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) Sch 3; Firearms Act 1997 (NT) s 58(1), Sch 6

Age

As for any firearm, the adult licence is from 18 (see The rules in short). Younger shooters shoot under supervision without a licence (table below), or on a junior licence or permit outside Western Australia (see Under 18).NFA para 33(a); Firearms Act 2024 (WA) s 158(1)–(2)

Carrying and transport

An air rifle is carried and transported under your state’s rules for firearms, like any other firearm of its category; the table below gives the main ones.Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 4(1); Firearms Regulation 2017 (NSW) cl 149; Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 126(1); Weapons Act 1990 (Qld) s 57; Weapons Regulation 2016 (Qld) s 96; Firearms Act 2024 (WA) s 307–308; Firearms Regulations 2017 (SA) Sch 1 cl 26–27; Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA) s 21A, 21C(1); Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 104(1), 111; Firearms Regulations 2016 (Tas) reg 18, from 19 October 2026 Firearms Regulations 2026 (Tas) reg 14; Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) s 180, 221; Firearms Regulation 2008 (ACT) reg 52A; Firearms Act 1997 (NT) s 78; Firearms Regulations 1997 (NT) reg 32

Where you may shoot

An air rifle has no place rules of its own: wherever you shoot it, your state’s rules for firearms apply. The table below gives each state’s rules on using a firearm outside the licence’s purpose, in public places and on other people’s land, and Tasmania’s near a dwelling.Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 7A(2); Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 93F(1), 93G(1)(b), (3), 93H(2); Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 130–131; Weapons Act 1990 (Qld) s 56–57; Firearms Act 2024 (WA) s 33, 110, 299–300; Firearms Act 2015 (SA) s 9(2); Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA) s 21A, 21C(7); Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 26, 112–113; Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) s 221–222; Firearms Act 1997 (NT) s 58(2), 79, 82

Storage

An air rifle is stored as a firearm of its category, usually Category A; an air pistol as a handgun (see Storage). For Category A the agreement asks for a locked receptacle, fixed to the floor or wall if it weighs under 150 kg, with the ammunition locked away apart from it; in NSW, airgun pellets are ammunition. Materials: hard wood or steel in NSW and the ACT; solid timber or steel in Queensland; steel or other metal in the other states and the Northern Territory, with concrete also allowed in Tasmania and a secure room in Western Australia. Each state sets the other details.NFA para 48(c)(i), (iii); Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 4(1), 40(1); Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) s 181(1); Weapons Categories Regulation 1997 (Qld) s 7(1); Weapons Regulation 2016 (Qld) s 94(5); Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) Sch 4 item 1; Firearms Regulations 2024 (WA) r 261, Sch 3–6; Firearms Regulations 2017 (SA) Sch 1 cl 11(3); Firearms Regulations 2016 (Tas) reg 9A, from 19 October 2026 Firearms Regulations 2026 (Tas) reg 10; Firearms Regulations 1997 (NT) reg 21, Sch 2

Imitations

Something that only looks like a firearm is regulated too, by state: the NSW and ACT firearms Acts apply to an imitation firearm as to a firearm, with a permit instead of a licence; in Tasmania an imitation that could reasonably be mistaken for a firearm is a firearm, unless it is a toy; Queensland makes possessing a replica without a reasonable excuse an offence; South Australia counts an imitation as a firearm if, with moderate effort and skill, it could be made to fire and would hold up to firing; and Victoria deals with imitations in its Control of Weapons Act 1990.Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 4D; Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) s 23A; Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 3; Weapons Act 1990 (Qld) s 67; Weapons Categories Regulation 1997 (Qld) s 9(f); Firearms Regulations 2017 (SA) reg 4

Penalties

Possessing or using an air rifle without the licence it needs is an offence everywhere. The maximum prison term is 2 years in Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Victoria (10 for a second offence with an unregistered one); 4 in South Australia (7 if it is loaded, near its ammunition or concealed; 10 for a prescribed short one, 15 if aggravated); 5 in NSW and the ACT; in Western Australia 5 for possessing and 7 for using; and 7 in Queensland.Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 7A; Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 6, 6A; Weapons Act 1990 (Qld) s 50(1); Firearms Act 2024 (WA) s 213, 219–220; Firearms Act 2015 (SA) s 9(4)–(5), (7); Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 9(1); Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) s 43(1); Firearms Act 1997 (NT) s 58(1)

An air rifle is a firearm, so it counts toward the limit of 10 firearms for a NSW sport shooter and on a Western Australian Competition Licence (see How many guns; Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 4(1), Sch 3 cl 38; Firearms Act 2024 (WA) s 30).

The ACT’s Firearms (Public Safety) Amendment Bill 2026, not passed, would move semi-automatic airguns, those with a magazine or cylinder that fire again with each pull of the trigger and no manual cycling, from Category A to Category B, for adults’ and minors’ licences alike (Firearms (Public Safety) Amendment Bill 2026 (ACT) cl 15–16, 19–21).

More on air rifles on the Shooter blog →

The agreement asks that a licence holder be 18 or over (NFA para 33(a)); every state and territory lets juniors shoot at a club under supervision, usually with a parent’s consent, and several issue a junior licence:

• New South Wales: from 12, with a parent’s written consent and a safety course, a minor’s firearms training permit for a firearm other than a pistol, an air rifle included, supervised by a category A, B or C licence holder, or a minor’s target pistol permit, supervised by a category H target shooter; either for instruction or approved competitions (Firearms Act 1996 s 32; Firearms Regulation 2017 cl 53).
• Victoria: a junior licence from 12; a handgun only under the immediate supervision of a handgun licence holder, on an approved range (Firearms Act 1996 s 18, Sch 2 item 4).
• Queensland: a minor’s licence from 11, for category A, B or H at an approved range under a range officer’s supervision (Weapons Act 1990 s 10(2)(a)(ii); Weapons Regulation 2016 s 36).
• Western Australia: no junior licence; from 12, a club firearm under the immediate supervision of an authorised person, or the firearm of someone licensed for at least five years under that licensee’s immediate supervision; for club firearms, under 16 a parent consents and stays at the range, and at 16–17 a parent consents (Firearms Act 2024 s 31, 74, 158(4); Firearms Regulations 2024 r 140).
• South Australia: from 10, on club grounds under the continuous supervision of a recognised coach; a licence from 12 only to compete interstate or overseas (Firearms Act 2015 s 8(2)(g); Firearms Regulations 2017 reg 14(7)).
• Tasmania: a minor’s permit from 12, for instruction or target shooting on an approved range, supervised (Firearms Act 1996 s 68, 70).
• Australian Capital Territory: a minors licence from 12 for a member of an approved club, in category A (airguns included) or B for firearms training under the supervision of a category A, B or C licence holder (for category B, a B or C holder) or an authorised instructor, or in category H for target pistol training under a category H holder’s supervision; a child may not own a firearm (Firearms Act 1996 s 84–85, 89, 91, Sch 3; Firearms Regulation 2008 reg 28).
• Northern Territory: a firearms club junior licence under the personal supervision of a licence holder; the Act sets no minimum age (Firearms Act 1997 s 28).
• Air rifles shot without a licence, under supervision: see Air rifles above.

The agreement asks that a handgun be kept in a locked steel safe bolted to the structure of the building, and the ammunition in a separate locked container (NFA para 48(c)(ii)–(iii)). The states set the details:

• Victoria: steel at least 1.6 mm thick, bolted down if it weighs under 150 kg, and an intruder alarm with more than 15 firearms on the premises (Firearms Act 1996 Sch 4 item 2).
• Western Australia: with a handgun, at least a container with a 6 mm face and a 10 mm door or a Grade V safe; at an occupied home, an alarm from 6 firearms and video from 16 (Firearms Regulations 2024 r 262, Sch 6).
• South Australia: a level 2 safe of steel at least 3 mm thick, bolted down if under 150 kg (Firearms Regulations 2017 Sch 1 cl 2, 11).
• Tasmania: metal at least 3 mm thick, and an alarm or video recording wherever a category H firearm is kept (Firearms Services).
• Northern Territory: solid steel 6 mm thick, or 3 mm sides with a 6 mm door if the police approve, bolted to a wall or floor (Firearms Regulations 1997 reg 22, Sch 3).
• NSW, Queensland and the ACT: a locked steel safe bolted to the building (Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 41; Weapons Regulation 2016 s 94; Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) s 182). In NSW the registry accepts a permit application only after a police storage inspection (NSW Police).

The agreement asks that missing the yearly participation make you liable to lose the licence (NFA para 40(e)(ii)), and that a club not let a member whose licence is revoked or suspended use a handgun at the club (para 40(e)(iv)). In every state and territory, breaking a licence condition, which the participation rate is, is also an offence (Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 7(2)(b); Firearms Act 1996 (Vic) s 36(2); Weapons Act 1990 (Qld) s 34(1), 133; Firearms Act 2024 (WA) s 188; Firearms Act 2015 (SA) s 19; Firearms Act 1996 (Tas) s 48; Firearms Act 1996 (ACT) s 45(2) with Firearms Regulation 2008 reg 20; Firearms Act 1997 (NT) s 85, 15C(d)). What each state does with the licence:

• New South Wales: the licence can be revoked for a broken condition, and you surrender your firearms immediately. Since 24 December 2025 you can ask only for internal review; NCAT no longer hears licence decisions (Firearms Act 1996 s 24(2)(b), 25(1), 75A).
• Victoria: the Chief Commissioner must cancel the licence. You surrender the firearms immediately, or within 7 days if the notice came by post, and must dispose of them through a licensed dealer within 28 days. You cannot apply for a handgun licence again for 12 months, unless the Chief Commissioner sets a shorter period, which the Firearms Appeals Committee can review. The Act gives no Committee review of the cancellation itself, which covers only cancellations under s 49(1), so ask for a variation under s 16AA, as early as you can, if illness or something else outside your control kept you away (Firearms Act 1996 s 16AA, 49(2), 49A–49B, 50, 53).
• Queensland: after a show-cause notice, you can be ordered to dispose of the handguns of that class within three months, or the licence can be revoked. You can answer the show-cause notice within at least 28 days; a revocation, but not a notice to dispose, can be reviewed by QCAT (Weapons Act 1990 s 29(1)(c), 135–137, 142).
• Western Australia: the licence can be cancelled or not renewed for a broken condition. Review by the State Administrative Tribunal (Firearms Act 2024 s 193(1)(c), 334–335).
• South Australia: the licence can be cancelled; you surrender the firearms immediately, or within 7 days if the notice came by registered post, and cannot apply again for three years. Review by SACAT within 28 days (Firearms Act 2015 s 14(4), 20(6), 21(1), 47).
• Tasmania: the licence can be cancelled for a broken condition, and you surrender the firearms immediately. Review by the Magistrates Court, Administrative Appeals Division (Firearms Act 1996 s 51(2)(e), 54(4), 141).
• Australian Capital Territory: the registrar must cancel the licence when you stop being an active club member, which the participation rates define; the yearly club statement of active membership is itself a licence condition. Review by ACAT (Firearms Act 1996 s 82, 260A, Dictionary “active”; Firearms Regulation 2008 reg 20).
• Northern Territory: the licence can be revoked for a broken condition, unless you satisfy the Commissioner why you could not shoot the required events; you hand in the firearms immediately, unless the notice allows time to sell them. Review by NTCAT (Firearms Act 1997 s 15C(d), 40, 44, 50).

The Shooter app has no Australian defaults; it counts against figures you set. For the yearly minimum, set the club requirement to your state’s figure, such as 6 occasions over 12 months: the app counts the days in the last twelve months up to today on which you marked a session as a club session. That is a rolling year, not your state’s calendar, financial, club or licence year, and the app counts days, so two matches on one day count once.

For a rule per kind of handgun, such as four shoots with each, set “Shots for an approved session” (1 if any shooting with the gun counts), the sessions per gun to 4 and the activity window to 12 months; these are one setting for all your guns. Then give each gun the day your club’s or registry’s year ends as its next activity deadline: the app counts, for each gun, the days in the twelve months before that date on which you fired at least the set number of shots with it. It counts guns, not kinds of handgun, and whether a session was a club match is for your club to confirm. It exports a PDF of your logged shooting to show your club or registry.

Shooter is not affiliated with any state or territory police force or with any shooting association. Your club records your participation, and the licence is your state’s decision.

Can I own a handgun for self-defence in Australia?

No. Personal protection is not a genuine reason for any firearm under the National Firearms Agreement (para 10). A target shooter’s handgun licence is for sport or target shooting as a member of an approved club.

How long before I can buy my first pistol?

About six months. In NSW, South Australia and Tasmania you hold the licence for six months before you may own a handgun, and in the ACT you may keep a pistol only at the club for those six months; in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia you are a club member for six months before you apply. In the Northern Territory you shoot on a supervised permit for three months, then hold the licence six months before a permit to acquire. Then only a few handguns of set kinds are allowed: for the licence’s first year in most states, its first six months in Victoria, and in Western Australia until six months after the grant and 12 months in a handgun club. Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory skip the time before the licence if you already hold a target-shooting handgun licence from another state (in Queensland, held for at least a year).

How many club matches a year do I need to keep a pistol licence?

The national agreement asks for six, plus four shoots for each type of handgun you own. The states set their own figures: six competitive matches with one kind of pistol in NSW, at least 10 days in Victoria, six competitions in Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT, and 12 events with at least three a quarter in the Northern Territory. The table by state gives them all.

Does practice count, or only competitions?

It depends on the state. NSW counts club practice and training, but at least six activities must be competitive matches. Queensland counts practice shoots the club organises for its per-class figure, while Western Australia counts only registered competitions and NT Police count only competitive events.

What calibre handguns can a target shooter own?

The national agreement asks for at most .38 calibre and 10 rounds, a barrel of at least 120 mm (semi-automatic) or 100 mm (revolver or single shot) unless the pistol is built for target shooting, and .38 to .45 only for Metallic Silhouette and Single (Western) Action. Each state writes its own version: Victoria allows larger calibres by authorisation, Tasmania up to .46, and the ACT’s Firearms Act and Regulation set no magazine limit. See Which handguns you may own.

Is there a limit on how many guns I can own?

Not in the national agreement. Since 24 December 2025 NSW issues no permit that would take a sport shooter past 10 firearms, and a Western Australian Competition Licence holds at most 10, more only for elite firearms. The ACT has a cap of 10 in a bill. Elsewhere there is no number, but each new handgun needs a genuine need, usually a discipline your club names.

Do I need to be an Australian citizen for a gun licence?

The 2026 agreement asks every state to make citizenship a condition, with exceptions it sets, but few have it in force. Queensland has required it since 3 August 2026 but exempts sport and target shooting; Western Australia accepts citizens, permanent residents and some visa holders, and South Australia citizens and permanent residents. NSW and Victoria have passed a citizenship rule that has not started, and Tasmania has one in a bill.

Can I shoot in another state with my licence?

The agreement asks every state to recognise a visiting shooter’s category H licence for sport; NSW, for one, recognises it only for competitions the Commissioner has approved. If you move for good, the agreement asks states to recognise your old category H licence for at most seven days; in NSW the seven days run from when you notify the Commissioner, and you must apply within them; in the Northern Territory it is two days from notifying the Commissioner, and if you apply within them you commit no offence by keeping your firearms while the application is decided; a visitor’s licence is recognised only for competitions (NFA para 42; Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) s 26–27; Firearms Act 1997 (NT) s 92–93).

Do I need a licence for an air rifle in Australia?

Yes. Every state and territory counts an air rifle as a firearm, however low its power, so owning or using one needs a firearms licence, usually Category A, except where your state lets you shoot without one, mostly under supervision at an approved range or club. Younger shooters shoot under supervision, or on a junior licence or permit outside Western Australia. An air pistol is a handgun (Category H; in Victoria a general category handgun) and needs the same licence, permit and club as a cartridge pistol.

What happens if I miss my participation?

You can lose the licence. Victoria and the ACT must cancel it, Queensland can order you to dispose of the handguns of that class within three months or revoke the licence, and the other states can cancel or revoke it for a broken condition. In every state and territory a broken licence condition is also an offence. Several states let the registry lower the figure if illness or something else outside your control kept you away; in Western Australia it must be decided before the year ends, so ask early.