COVID-relief information for firearms licence holders

Due to the ongoing health situation in NSW, the NSW Firearms Registry advises the following:

With the latest COVID-19 health advice to stay home, Service NSW strongly advises you to use their website or call 13 77 88, rather than visit a service centre. Visit their COVID-19 page for information and advice on the assistance available for NSW residents and businesses.

Please consider this advice when considering attending a Service NSW centre to have your photo taken for your licence.

Armed security guards

Any armed security guard needing to undertake their annual accreditation do not have to do so while firearms safety training courses for armed guards cannot be run due to the health situation in NSW. To support this:

  • The Firearms Registry recognises that there may be situations where there are no approved courses available and does not propose to revoke a licence on the basis that a security guard cannot undertake their annual accreditation during this health situation
  • If you need to renew your licence, please upload a statutory declaration into Gun Safe advising that you will complete the accreditation as soon as reasonably practical with a proposed timeframe. The Firearms Registry will accept a renewal of a licence without your annual accreditation evidence at this time

Club Participation

The Firearms Registry is aware that due to the ongoing pandemic and evolving circumstances, some licence holders may find it difficult to comply with their participation requirements given stay-at-home orders, self-isolation, quarantine or even due to a reluctance to congregate.

Any club member - whether a sports target (pistol or longarm), hunting or collecting – needing to undertake participation activities do not have to do so while clubs and ranges are closed due to the health situation in NSW. To support this:

  • The Firearms Registry does not propose to revoke a licence on the basis that a licence holder cannot fulfil their participation requirements due to self-isolation, lockdown, quarantine, concerns about congregating due to COVID or club/range closure due to the health situation in NSW.
  • Licence holders in this situation do not need to notify the Firearms Registry on this matter.

Expiry of photographic advice letters

Under the current health orders, it is a reasonable excuse for a NSW resident to leave the house in order to fulfil a legal obligation. The taking of a photo for a licence card is fulfilling a legal obligation and Service NSW centres remain open and accessible for you to do this. However, if you cannot complete this before your photographic advice letter expires, please contact the Firearms Registry to seek an extension. Please ensure you do this before the expiration of the letter.

Expiry of permits to acquire

Under the current health orders, it is a reasonable excuse for a NSW resident to leave the house to obtain goods. Most firearms dealers across NSW remain open. However, if you cannot attend a firearms dealer before your permit to acquire expires please contact the Firearms Registry to seek an extension.

Firearms Registry - business as usual

The Firearms Registry continues to operate as business as usual and is providing our whole suite of services to the NSW firearms and weapons community. To help us continue to do this, please be considerate of our need to support all our customers and limit your email and telephone queries to urgent matters only.

National Firearms Amnesty (NSW)

Members of the firearm industry have asked if the handing in of a firearm for surrender under the National Firearms Amnesty is a reasonable excuse for leaving the house under the current stay-at-home public health orders (Public Health (COVID-19 Temporary Movement and Gathering Restrictions) Order 2021.)

Surrendering a firearm may be considered to be fulfilling a legal obligation, which is a reasonable excuse to leave the house, particularly if it is deemed a risk to the public not to surrender the firearm immediately. In surrendering a firearm in a location that is subject to stay-at-home and other health orders, members of the public are reminded to:

  • Comply with all other COVID health order obligations, including physical distancing and wearing a mask
  • Make an appointment with a licensed participating dealer or police station
  • Carry evidence of your appointment while transporting the firearm to be surrendered. This will mean that if you are asked to evidence your reasonable excuse for leaving the house, you can do so easily
  • Consider surrendering your firearm at a time of day that is less busy so as to reduce exposure possibilities and ensure your travel arrangements are efficient to reduce time out of the house

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