What is the Firearms Amnesty?

New South Wales will be participating in an ongoing National Firearms Amnesty (amnesty) which commenced on 1July 2021.

The amnesty allows for:

  • Firearms or firearm related articles to be registered, supplied or surrendered to a participating firearm dealer without fear of prosecution.
  • Firearms or firearm related articles to be surrendered to a police station without fear of prosecution.
  • Prohibited weapons to be surrendered to a participating firearms dealer or police station without fear of prosecution.

What is the purpose of the amnesty?

The purpose of the amnesty is to reduce the number of unregistered firearms in Australia.

What is the term of the amnesty?

The amnesty is ongoing and commenced on 1 July 2021.

Can I hand firearms in during COVID restrictions?

Members of the public must comply with the NSW health orders, which affect locations throughout NSW differently. Please check with NSW Health website to stay to up to date with the evolving situation.

What items are covered by the amnesty?

Any firearm, firearm part, magazine, firearm accessories, ammunition and prohibited weapons.

What protection does the amnesty provide?

The amnesty provides an exemption from the possession restrictions for an unregistered firearm or firearm related article while at (or proceeding to) a participating firearms dealer for the purposes of registration, surrender or supply or while at (or proceeding to) a police station for the purposes of surrender. It also provides an exemption for possessing a prohibited weapon while at (or proceeding to) a participating firearms dealer or police station for the purposes of surrender.

Accordingly, persons are not authorised to use an unregistered firearm, firearm related article or prohibited weapon during the amnesty if not appropriately licensed.

Who is not covered under the amnesty?

The amnesty provisions do not apply to a person who is subject to a firearms or weapons prohibition order or to a person who is subject to an apprehended violence order or an interim apprehended violence order.

What will happen if I am found in possession of an unregistered firearm or firearm related article?

In NSW, all firearms must be registered (with the exception of some antique and imitation firearms which may be exempt from the registration requirements). A person must not supply, acquire, possess or use a firearm that is not registered.

If you are found in possession of any of these items for any reason other than for the purpose of surrendering it under the amnesty, you may be charged.

How do I locate a participating firearms dealer?

A list of participating firearm dealers is available on the CrimeStoppers website.

How do I locate my nearest Police Station?

There is a link to the NSW Police Force Police Station Search on the Firearms Registry Amnesty webpage.

Do I have to provide my details during the amnesty?

If you are surrendering a firearm, firearm related article or prohibited weapon to a participating firearms dealer or police station during the amnesty you do not have to provide your personal details.

If you are supplying a firearm or firearm related article to a participating firearms dealer, you do not have to provide your personal details.

If you are applying to register the firearm or firearm related article, you will be required to provide your personal details.

Do I have to inform the participating firearms dealer or police details of where I obtained the firearm, firearm related article or prohibited weapon?

No, you do not have to provide the details of where you obtained the firearm, firearm related article or prohibited weapon.

Should I make an appointment with the participating firearms dealer or police station prior to attending?

Yes. Contact the participating firearms dealer or your local police station to make an appointment prior to attending the location with a firearm, firearm related article or prohibited weapon.

How do I transport firearms or firearm related articles?

Ensure the firearm is unloaded and where possible, remove the bolt or other method to render the firearm safe. Place the firearm in a gun bag or wrap it in a blanket before taking it to a participating firearms dealer or to a police station.

Ammunition can be taken at the same time as a firearm; however, it must be stored in a separate bag, box or container.

The following fact sheet provides information on the transportation of firearms: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/131184/Transportation_Fact_Sheet.pdf

Will I be charged a fee to register a firearm or firearm related article?

If you do not hold a licence or your licence does not authorise the firearm, you will need to apply for a licence or licence variation. Once you are appropriately licensed, you will need to apply for a Permit to Acquire (PTA) a firearm. Unless you are entitled to a fee exemption, there is an application fee for a firearms licence and a PTA.

If you already hold a licence which authorise the firearm, there is no fee charged by the NSW Police Force Firearms Registry in relation to the registration of a firearm or firearm related article.

The participating firearms dealer may charge an inspection, administrative and/or safekeeping fee for services provided. These fees are your responsibility and will arise as a result of an arrangement between you and the participating firearms dealer.

Will I be charged a fee to surrender a firearm, firearm related article or prohibited weapon?

There is no fee charged in relation to the surrender of a firearm, firearm related article or prohibited weapon.

What if I have a firearm for surrender but I am unable to attend a participating firearms dealer or police station?

You can arrange for another person to surrender the firearm on your behalf or contact police for advice.

If I am appropriately licensed for the firearm or firearm related article, how do I apply to register an unregistered firearm or firearm related article?

  1. Contact a participating firearms dealer to schedule an appointment.
  2. Ensure you transport the firearm in a safe manner (see transport question above).
  3. Take the firearm or firearm related article with your firearms licence/permit to the participating firearms dealer.
  4. The participating firearms dealer will identify the firearm or firearm related article and complete a transaction to register the firearm in Gun Safe, the Firearms Registry’s online firearm transaction platform. This transaction will be submitted to the NSW Police Force Firearms Registry. You will be sent an email with the details of the transaction.
  5. In most cases, you will be able to retain possession of the firearm or firearm related article. However, if you do not have appropriate safe storage facilities, you must arrange with the participating firearms dealer to store the firearm until the appropriate safe storage can be met.

The participating firearms dealer may charge a fee for any of the above-mentioned services provided.

Note: You are not authorised to use the firearm until you receive your Firearms Registration Certificate.

If I am NOT licensed for the firearm or firearm related article, how do I apply for a firearms licence / permit to retain the firearm or firearm related article?

  1. Contact a participating firearms dealer to schedule an appointment.
  2. Ensure you transport the firearm in a safe manner (see transport question above).
  3. Take the firearm or firearm related article to the participating firearms dealer.
  4. The participating firearms dealer will identify the firearm or firearm related article and complete a transaction to register the firearm in Gun Safe. The participating firearms dealer will take possession of the firearm or firearm related article whilst you make arrangement to become appropriately licensed.
  5. Submit your online application for a firearms licence/permit to the NSW Police Firearms Registry. Information on applying for a firearms licence can be located at: http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/licences
  6. Once you have been issued a firearms licence/permit that authorises the possession of the firearm, you can apply for a PTA the firearm or firearm related article. Information on applying for a PTA can be located at: https://firearms.police.nsw.gov.au/cssp/s/about-pta
  7. Once your firearms licence/permit and PTA have been issued, take the issued PTA and your firearms licence/permit to the participating firearms dealer who will complete the transaction to transfer the firearm or firearm related article into your name.
  8. At this time, you can retain possession of the firearm or firearm related article. However, if you do not have appropriate safe storage facilities, you must make alternative arrangements to store the firearm or firearm related article within a compliant safe storage facility.

The participating firearms dealer may charge a fee for any of the above-mentioned services provided.

If I have applied to register a firearm under the amnesty, will I receive a Firearm Registration Certificate?

Yes, once the transaction is finalised, you will be sent a Firearm Registration Certificate.

Can I supply a firearm or firearm related article to a participating firearms dealer?

Yes, you can enter into a private commercial arrangement with a participating firearms dealer to sell a firearm or firearm related article to the participating firearms dealer. The agreement is facilitated between you and the participating firearms dealer and the terms of the agreement are subject to negotiation between you and the participating firearms dealer.

Can I keep or register a prohibited weapon to a participating firearms dealer?

No, the amnesty does not allow for a person to keep a prohibited weapon. Prohibited weapons can only be surrendered.

Will I be compensated if I surrender a firearm, firearm related article or prohibited weapon to police?

No, this amnesty is not a buyback. If you surrender a firearm, firearm related article or prohibited weapon to a police station you will not receive any compensation.

If you wish to supply a firearm or firearm related article you can do so through a participating firearms dealer. Any monetary amount provided by the participating firearms dealer is subject to negotiation between you and the participating firearms dealer.