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Importing Firearms

Importing firearms

Applications to import firearms or firearm-related articles are controlled under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 (the Regulations). 

Firearm-related articles include:

  • accessories
  • parts
  • magazines
  • ammunition
  • components of ammunition
  • imitation firearms.

Articles can only be imported if they are listed in Part 2 of Schedule 6 of the Regulations. They must be imported according to the requirements for that item.

There are 3 requirements for importation:

  • import tests
  • serial numbers
  • safety testing.

Import tests are a set of legislative requirements. A person seeking to import an article must be able to satisfy all of the criteria of the applicable import test. Applications need to meet all relevant import tests before a delegate of the Minister can decide on an outcome.

All firearms, frames and receivers manufactured on or after 1 January 1900 must have a serial number. 

Firearms must also comply with safety requirements outlined on the Can you bring it in page on the Australian Border Force website.

Obtaining firearms already imported

When a licensed firearm dealer has legally imported articles under the dealer test and is holding them on their licensed premises as dealer stock, they can only release those articles to an end user who is certified.

The Attorney-General's Department can certify the end user as one of the following: 

  • a certified buyer for government purposes
  • a certified buyer for vertebrate pest control
  • a certified sports shooter for restricted category C articles.

To apply for certification, use the Application to import firearms or firearm-related articles. The application process and requirements are the same as for importation. 

If we approve your application, we will issue you with a Certified Buyer Certificate. The dealer will then be allowed to release the articles to you as the certified buyer nominated on the certificate.

The Attorney-General's Department can also certify an international sports shooter for restricted category C articles to participate in specific clay target competitions. Details are outlined in the Regulations.

Before you apply

Before you submit an Application to import firearms or firearm-related articles, you should contact your state or territory firearms registry. They will ensure that you:

  • understand local requirements
  • are licensed or authorised to possess the article for your intended use.

Permit to acquire

State and territory firearm registries are responsible for issuing permits to acquire (PTA). A PTA is a statement by the relevant firearms registry that when your firearm is imported, you will be authorised to possess that article for its intended purpose. It is important to note that a PTA does not give you permission to import.

Your state or territory firearm registry will tell you if you need a PTA. If you do, we cannot grant import permission or certification without it.

How to apply

The following import tests need permission from the Attorney-General's Department:

  • dealer test
  • specified person and certified buyer tests
  • sports shooter test
  • international sports shooter test
  • returned goods test
  • official purposes test
  • specified purposes test.

To import firearms or related articles under any of these tests, complete the Application to import firearms or firearm-related articles.

To find out which import tests are relevant for the firearm or firearm related article you wish to import, use the Provisional classification indicator.

Your name as it appears on your firearms licence, exemption or authorisation should be the name you use on:

  • your import application
  • export documents, if needed.

We generally process applications within 6-8 weeks from the date we receive all the information we need from you. 

There is no fee to apply for import permission or certification to the Attorney-General's Department. 

Permission under the public interest or national interest test can only be granted by the appropriate Minister.

Firearms import tests

Select the import test that applies to your application to find out more about that test.

Dealer test

The dealer test is for appropriately licensed firearms dealers who wish to import category C and D firearms and parts, accessories and magazines relating to these firearms.

Any import permission granted will be subject to the relevant conditions contained in Part 3 of Schedule 6 of the Regulations, as well as any other condition that the Attorney-General's Department thinks appropriate.

The importing dealer must present their import permit to the Australian Border Force.

Importing magazines under the dealer test

A dealer can import magazines for category C and D firearms as well as parts for those firearms under the dealer test. These magazines can only be released to appropriately certified end users (certified buyers or certified sports shooters) and government.

Specified person and certified buyer tests

If you want to acquire category C or D firearms or parts to control vertebrate pests, you need to be licensed and your application will need to meet the:

  • specified person test if you plan to import the firearms yourself
  • certified buyer test if you plan to purchase the firearms from a licensed firearms dealer within Australia.

Sports shooter test

The sports shooter test is for licensed individuals who either:

  • need a semi-automatic shotgun to compete in Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA) events due to a lack of strength or dexterity
  • owned a semi-automatic or pump-action repeating shotgun on 15 November 1996 and were also a member of the ACTA on that date.

The ACTA must approve the firearm you wish to import for use at their facilities and during their events before you apply to us.  

International sports shooter test

The international sports shooter test is for licensed individuals travelling to Australia for an approved clay target event. Refer to the International Sports Shooter Test fact sheet for details about what is required to meet this test and after importing.

Returned goods test

The returned goods test is for individuals who either:

  • have exported a firearm from Australia and want to import the same, unmodified firearm
  • want to export a firearm from Australia and import the same, unmodified firearm.

Official purposes test

The official purposes test is for appropriately licensed individuals who are importing articles on behalf of government agencies. Applicants can be subcontractors to primary contractors or tenderers to government. 

Specified purposes test

The specified purposes test covers the importation of firearms and related articles for:

  • film production
  • development of mountings for a laser target designator
  • ammunition, or a component of ammunition, supplied under contract to a person outside Australia
  • repairs, modification or testing, or for use in training, manufacture, assembly, research or development under a contract with an Australian or foreign government
  • sanctioned activity (foreign law enforcement or foreign military)
  • research and development where the importer's principal or sole occupation is the business of developing firearms technology or other defence and law enforcement-related products
  • testing of ammunition manufactured in a state or territory.

Tests and certifications administered by states and territories

State and territory police firearms registries administer other import tests and certifications. These include the police certification test for:

  • category A and B firearms
  • paintball markers
  • imitation firearms
  • underwater powerheads. 

They also administer certification under the category H article test as:

  • a certified sports shooter or certified international sports shooter for category H articles
  • a certified primary producer for category C firearms and parts
  • a person certified for business or occupational purposes for category H articles
  • a certified collector for category H articles.

Contact your state or territory firearms registry for details on how to apply.

Imitation and deactivated firearms

A blank-fire firearm or a deactivated firearm is treated in the same way as a working firearm.

Imitation firearms can be imported under the police certification test. Imitation firearms are defined as a copy or reproduction of a firearm, or an article that has the appearance of a firearm that could reasonably be taken to be a firearm. 

Suppressors

Suppressors cannot be imported for use by civilians.

Where a civilian has been issued with a suppressor permit by the firearms registry in their jurisdiction, these permits only allow for locally manufactured suppressors to be purchased.

Skirmish markers, gel ball blasters, paintball and airsoft 

The laws that regulate the sport of airsoft are a matter for the government of each state and territory. The Attorney-General's Department does not administer an import test for airsoft related articles. 

Under the regulations, skirmish marker firearms can generally be imported under the police certification test. This test is administered by the states and territories. It allows police forces in each jurisdiction to grant import permission to suitable applicants for certain firearms and related articles. 

Your local firearms registry can give you information about how to apply to import under the police certification test.

Firearms subject to sanctions

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) administers Australian sanctions. 

Firearms fall under the definition of 'arms or related matériel' under sanctions frameworks as part of:

  • Australian autonomous sanctions
  • Charter of the United Nations sanctions. 

A number of these sanctions frameworks impose import or export measures on arms or related matériel. 

Australian export sanctions apply to firearms that are directly or indirectly supplied to a sanctioned country.

Australian import sanctions apply to firearms that either:

  • are exported from a sanctioned country
  • were manufactured or originated in a sanctioned country, and are exported from a non-sanctioned country. For example, if a firearm was made in a sanctioned country, but was being imported into Australia from the United States of America or the United Kingdom.

The DFAT website contains a list of sanctioned countries and the sanctions measures that apply to them.

You need a sanctions permit to import or export firearms between Australia and a sanctioned country. Sanctions permits are a separate requirement to other permits issued by government agencies regarding imports and exports.

You must obtain a sanctions permit before importing firearms into or exporting firearms from Australia. Importing or exporting sanctioned goods without a permit is an offence under Australian sanctions law.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs may grant a sanctions permit provided the import or export meets either:

You can find information on permits and how to apply at Sanctions Permits on the DFAT website.

Carrying firearms or related articles when stopping over in Australia

If you are travelling from one country to another and only passing through Australia, any firearms or related articles can be transhipped.

Transhipment requires you to have an Australian export permit in place and also requires the articles to remain under the effective control of Australian Border Force while in Australia. You should contact the Defence Export Control Office or the Australian Border Force about obtaining the relevant export permission.

The type of article being carried will determine the appropriate export permission.

When articles arrive in Australia without import permission

If articles arrive in Australia without import permission, they may be detained or seized by the Australian Border Force.

If articles are detained, in exceptional circumstances you may be able to access the Post Import Permission Scheme. If the articles are seized, you risk having them forfeited, destroyed or exported.

For more information about importing goods into Australia, visit the Australian Border Force webpage on firearms.

Resources

Visit Firearms publications for more information and resources.