Licensing and Permits

Firearm Licenses

The process for obtaining a shooters license varies from state to state. Below is an outline of the categories available.

Please follow the links for further information relevant to your state.

Before applicants can apply for a shooters license, they must complete a prerequisite safety training course and have a ‘genuine reason’ for holding a license such as being a member of an approved organisation. Information on firearm safety courses is available from your state firearm registry. Once an application has been received by the relevant licensing service branch, the licensing branch undertake a validation process on the suitability of the applicant.

Relevant Firearms Licenses:

Category A and B Longarm License - VP304A
This license is held:

• for sport or target shooting
• for hunting
• for primary production
• to work in the security or prison industry
• to be a Firearms Safety Instructor
• another official, commercial or prescribed purpose.

Category C, D, E Longarms or Heirlooms License - VP321A
Category C license is held for:

• clay target shooting
• clay target shooting possession on behalf of a Junior License holder
• primary production
• professional hunting
• another official, commercial or prescribed purpose.

Category D license is held for professional hunting.

Both Category D and E licenses are held for other official, commercial or prescribed purposes.

An Heirloom license is held for owning an inherited single firearm or matched pair or firearms only.

Category 1 Firearm Collector's License and a Category 2 Firearm Collector's License and an Ammunition Collector's License - VP321B:
Category 1 Firearm Collectors License is held for collecting handguns made before 1 January 1947, and longarms.
Category 2 Firearm Collectors License is held for collecting only handguns made after 1 January 1947.

Junior License - VP325A:
This license is held by persons between the age of 12 and 18 who wish to hold a Category A, B or C Longarms or Handgun License.

R-License

The Restricted NSW Game Hunting License (R-License) and written permission are required by law for hunting game and feral animals on declared State forests and Crown Land areas in NSW (this does not include National Parks).

R-License Categories: 
Section 1: Training Responsible Game Hunters:
Subjects Covered: Code of Practice & Law, Animal Welfare, Safe Hunting Practices and Ethics and Conservation. (All subjects are mandatory)

Section 2: R-License Categories: 
Categories: Bows, Shotgun, Rifle, Dogs, Black Powder. (You must complete at least 1 Category)

R-License Fees / Types per year:
Standard - $60, Commercial - $250, Hunting Guide - $150 and Overseas Visitors - $100.

Requirements:
Requirements that must be met before applicants can apply for the R-License from Game Council NSW are:

• Must be a member of a Game Council Approved Hunting Organisation (AHO),
  Click here to view a list of AHOs
• Become accredited for one or more of the R-License categories (Bows, Firearms, Dogs or Blackpowder).

Accreditation: 
There are three ways of becoming accredited for your R-License category/s: 

• Sit a closed book “recognition of prior learning” test, or
• Complete an accredited training course, or
• Sit an open book test based on Game Council’s “NSW Hunter Education Handbook”. Click here to download a copy of the handbook.

It is highly recommended that you read the ‘NSW Hunter Education Handbook’ before sitting your R-License test to ensure that you have a full understanding of the category you are applying for.

Accreditation for your R-License category can be carried out by an approved assessor who must be registered with an AHO or by an organisation that offers the accredited training course. Field & Game Australia is an AHO and have a well experienced team of assessors who are authorized to conduct R-License testing.

R-License Test: 
Items to bring when sitting your test:

• Your current membership card to an approved hunting organisation
• Your current shooters license

Please note:
You will not be able to sit your test without these two items.

Booking your test:
To make bookings and for further Information contact the NSW Game Council by phone on 02 6360 5100 or visit www.gamecouncil.nsw.gov.au/.
Or
To make a booking through Field & Game Australia contact the National Office by phone 03 5799 0960 or by e-mail at fga@fga.net.au.

Payment:
Once you have successfully completed your test, your assessor will provide you with the original copies of your R-License Accreditation Form and your R-License Application Form. You must submit these forms along with your payment to the NSW Game Council.

Click here for tips on how to hunt NSW State Forests

Details for Field & Game Australia Inc.
Address: 65 Anzac Ave, Seymour VIC
Postal:    PO Box 464, Seymour VIC 3660
Phone:    03 5799 0960
Fax:        03 5799 0961
E-mail:    fga@fga.net.au