How do I apply for a firearms licence?
Following is a guide to obtaining a Firearms Licence (excluding handguns or Cat C firearms)
1. Establish your Genuine Reason.
Generally speaking there are only two commonly used genuine reasons for having firearms in WA.
- Hunting / Destroying livestock / Vermin control
- Club use or Recreational/ Sport Shooting
Each genuine reason requires its own paperwork for the licensing process.
If you want a firearm for livestock or vermin control you will need to be a property owner or have a ‘letter of support’ from a property owner. The size of the property and game will determine the maximum calibre you will be able to license. For more information on what you can license on your property contact WAPOL Firearms Branch.
This is what is known an “Open License” as it does not strictly require you to shoot regularly during the year.
If you are a recreational club sporting shooter you will need a ‘letter of support’ from a shooting club. Each shooting club is different and all will require you to be a financial member for a period of time before writing you a support letter.
This licence type is known as a “Club Support” licence and will require you to remain a financial and active member of a shooting club in order to keep your firearm licence. Your club will help you with the steps required to obtain your licence as well as advise you on what type of firearm that will be suitable for you to purchase.
Once you have determined what type of firearm you are able to licence your next step is to purchase a firearm.
2. Purchase a firearm (Deposit only)
When you purchase a firearm from a dealer you will be supplied with a Serviceability Certificate. This certificate contains the details of the firearm you have purchased and will be used in the licensing process. Please note; you will not be able to take the gun out of the store until you return with the firearm stated on your licence.
Second hand firearms- If you are purchasing a second hand firearm you will need to have the firearm sent to a dealer so that they may write you a serviceability certificate and store the firearm until you have your licence.
WAPOL Firearms Licenses and Categories
3. Complete the Firearms Awareness Test
The firearms awareness test is a multiple choice test and will be carried out by your shooting club or by a registered firearms dealer. Please ensure that you have read through the WA Police Firearms Safety Booklet before sitting the test. You will be issued a Safety Awareness Certificate after successfully completing this test; you will need this to send in with your application.
4. Obtain a support letter from your club or property owner
Once you have a serviceability certificate you take this back to your club, they will then issue you with your “Letter of Support/ Form 1". There is a Property Letter form on the WAPOL website for the property owner to complete as support for an open licence.
Once you have submitted your application at the post office you can use this time to organise a gun safe. The licensing department will contact you a few weeks after submitting your application requesting a Statutory Declaration 22 Form with detailed photos of your storage safe. You can either email or post these photos back to licensing. Check the WAPOL website for up to date storage requirements and regulations. Your ammunition is required to be stored in a separate approved locked container. Police also have the authority to inspect your storage facility at any time.
5. Application for Firearms Licence
Now that you have:
- genuine reason paperwork (either as letter of support from your club or a letter from a property owner)
- firearms safety awareness certificate
- serviceability certificate
You are ready to fill out your Application for a Western Australian Firearms Licence. Once completed and validated you will then print the document to take to the post office to pay the fee and submit the application to licensing. Don’t forget to take 100 points of ID to the Post Office.
6. Storage
Once you have submitted your application at the post office you can use this time to organise a gun safe. The licensing department will contact you a few weeks after submitting your application requesting a Statutory Declaration 22 Form with detailed photos of your storage safe. You can either email or post these photos back to licensing. Check the WAPOL website for up to date storage requirements and regulations. Your ammunition is required to be stored in a separate approved locked container. Police also have the authority to inspect your storage facility at any time.
7. Picking up your firearm
Once you have your license you can go back to the dealer to pick up your firearm. Please note it is a requirement by law you must carry your paper licence and firearm extract card on you at all times when you are conveying your firearm or intending to purchase ammunition.
WAPOL Firearms Storage Guidelines
Become a member
When you join SSAA you become part of Australia’s largest shooting organisation and join thousands of other people around the country in ensuring the future of the shooting sports.
As a member you’ll have access to shooting clubs, a national magazine and a great insurance package for your firearms at home and in the field along with lots of other great benefits.
Your membership gives us strength to lobby the State and Federal Governments on matters that affect our sport. The greater our membership, the more effective we are.
