The New Zealand Police are committed to firearms safety.

Changes to airgun/air rifle ownership forms.
Important notice for owners of pre-charged pneumatic air rifles 

Visitors Firearms Licence and Permit to Import can now be completed online using our secure forms.

Complete Visitors Firearms Licence and Permit to Import Application Online

How to obtain or renew a firearms licence

If you are 16 years or over, you can apply for or renew a licence at your local police station. Download the Application for a New Zealand Firearms Licence form [PDF 352KB] You must apply in person to an Arms Officer.

Bring with you:

• Your old licence (if you have one)
• Two recent passport style photos (Department of Internal Affairs Website)
• Three documents that prove your identity (passport, birth certificate, drivers licence, Photo ID, credit card/bank card)
• Contact details of two referees. One referee must be your spouse or next of kin, the other must be someone who is over 20 years and not related to you. You will need to provide their full name, address, date of birth and phone number.
• Post Shop receipt for fees.

Application fees (incl. GST) are payable at any Post Shop:

• Standard licence: $126.50 - For a new firearms licence or renewal of a licence before expiry.
• Visitor's licence: $25.00 - For any person visiting New Zealand for less than 12 months. Includes any application for an endorsement to the licence to possess a pistol and/or Millitary-style semi-automatic rifle or shotgun for competition purposes.
• Dealer's licence: $204.00 - For a new dealer's licence or renewal of a dealer's licence.
• Standard licence expired: $241.50 - For any person whose previous firearms licence either expired, or was a "life time licence" which was deemed revoked.
• Standard licence replacement: $25.00 - For a replacement firearms licence (eg, current licence lost/stolen/damaged, change of name).
• Standard licence endorsement(s): $204.00 - For one or more endorsements to a standard firearms licence, for the posession of; Target pistols ("B" endorsement), Millitary-style semi-automatic rifles or shotguns [MSSA] ("E" endorsement), a collection of pistols or restricted weapons ("C" Collectors or Museum endorsement), Pistols or restricted weapons for performing a play/film/re-enactment ("C" Theatrical endorsement), Pistols or restricted weapons for hire or sale ("F" endorsement - dealers or their employees).
• Dealer's gun show consent: $50.00 - Application by a dealer for consent for a gun show.

Read more about renewing a licence whilst living overseas.

Types of firearms licences

If you are 16 years or over and have or use a firearm (except under immediate supervision of a licence holder) you need a firearms licence.

A standard firearms licence allows you to have and use sporting type shotguns and rifles. You also need this licence if you are aged 16 and 17 years and wish to buy or use an airgun. Standard licences are valid for 10 years. A licence holder will require an endorsement to:

• Own pistols (B endorsement)
• Collect firearms, or stage theatrical performances in