What is a Firearm Registration Certificate?

A Firearm Registration Certificate is proof that a firearm is registered. The full description of the firearm, including its serial number and registration number, are on the certificate as well as the name and licence number of the registered owner. If you have misplaced a Firearm Registration Certificate for a registered firearm, you can request a duplicate Firearm Registration Certificate by completing the following form:

Registration Certificates will be issued digitally to customers with a Gun Safe account. The Firearms Registry will send customers an email notifying that their Registration Certificate has been issued and is available via the Gun Safe Customer Portal under the 'My Documents' tile.

If you do not have a Gun Safe account, you will receive your Registration Certificate through the mail.

What if I have the registration certificate, but the firearm details are incorrect?

If the details of your firearm are not correct on the registration certificate, you must take your firearm and the registration certificate to a firearms dealer or police who will re-identify the firearm. The dealer/police will amend the firearm details directly on the front of the registration certificate, complete their details and sign the reverse side. The amended registration certificate must then be sent to the Firearms Registry to allow for your firearm record to be updated. Once updated, your new registration certificate will be automatically issued to you either digitally or via post.

What are the requirements for the disposal, loss or theft of a firearm?

If a firearm is lost or stolen the registered owner of the firearm must notify Police immediately and notify the Firearms Registry in writing within 7 days and provide particulars of the loss or theft as per the requirements of clause 119(2) of the Firearms Regulation 2017.

If a firearm is disposed the registered owner of the firearm must notify the Firearms Registry in writing within 7 days and provide particulars of the supply as per the requirements of clause 119(1) of the Firearms Regulation 2017.

How do I lawfully dispose of a firearm?

You may only dispose of a firearm via a licensed firearms dealer or by unconditional surrender to police.

Disposal of a firearm to another firearms licence holder including family members and friends:

The disposal of a firearm must be witnessed by a licensed firearms dealer. The firearms dealer must confirm that the buyer is authorised to possess and use the firearm by a current firearms licence or permit and the buyer must produce a valid Permit to Acquire for the category of firearm and proof of identity before the dealer can complete the transaction. The firearms dealer will notify the Firearms Registry of the acquisition.

If the firearms dealer is not submitting their transactions through Gun Safe, the dealer will need to be provided a printed version of the buyers Permit to Acquire and your Registration Certificate to enable the firearms dealer to complete the relevant acquisition and disposal sections. These documents are sent to the Firearms Registry within seven (7) days of disposing the firearm.

Note, in prescribed circumstances Police may transact the supply of a firearm – refer clause 146(2) of the Firearms Regulation 2017.

Disposal of a firearm to a licensed firearms dealer:

A firearm may be disposed to a licensed firearms dealer. After agreeing on terms the firearms dealer will acquire the firearm into their stock. If the Firearms Dealer is not submitting their transactions through Gun Safe, the dealer will need to be provided a printed version of your Registration Certificate and complete the 'Notice of Disposal' on the reverse of your certificate. This is sent to the Firearms Registry within seven (7) days of disposing of the firearm.

If you no longer wish to keep a firearm:

You may lawfully dispose of the firearm by unconditional surrender to police. You must still complete the disposal details on the reverse of your Firearm Registration Certificate and return this to the Firearms Registry within seven (7) days of disposing of the firearm to police. Include details of the event number provided by police.

If you come into possession of an unregistered firearm:

You must immediately surrender the firearm to police. It is an offence for a person to supply, acquire, possess or use a firearm that is not registered.

Can I alter or repair a firearm?

No, only a licensed firearms dealer is authorised to manufacture, repair and convert firearms or firearm parts.

How do I arrange for my firearm safe storage to be inspected?

Police carry out regular inspections of firearm safe storage and will contact you to arrange an appointment when they are planning to conduct safe storage inspections in your area.

Alternatively, you can contact your local Licensing Police and make arrangements for your firearm safe storage to be inspected - use the police station search to locate your local Police Station.

Licensing Police will determine whether storage arrangement are acceptable under Part 4 of the Firearms Act 1996, Part 4A of the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 or comply with conditions imposed on a firearms licence or permit.

Can I lend or borrow a firearm?

Firearms licence holders can possess and use a registered firearm of the category and for the genuine reason authorised by their firearms licence – please refer to the Legislative Requirements for Firearms Licence Holders available on the Legislation page.

Therefore you can possess and use the category of firearm you are authorised for on your licence, whether the firearm is registered to you or registered to another firearms licence holder.

Confirm the firearm is registered and the firearms licence holder holds a valid licence by sighting the Registration Certificate for the firearm and using the Check your Licence, Permit or PTA (Public Register) link on the Firearms Registry website to check the validity of the person's firearms licence.

Each licensee has a legal obligation to ensure that the safe storage address details provided to the Commissioner are accurate and up to date.  Should there be a change in the address where firearms are stored, the licensee must, within 14 days after the change occurs, notify the Firearms Registry in writing of the new safe storage location and other particulars. Licensees can update their phone number, residential, postal and firearm safe storage address at any time during the term of their licence via the NSW Police Force Community Portal.

What requirements must be met to acquire ammunition?

Sections 65 & 45A of the Firearms Act 1996 prescribe that ammunition for a firearm may only be supplied to a person who produces at the time of the supply:

  1. Identification showing the name of the person acquiring the ammunition, and
  2. A current firearms licence or permit for a firearm that takes the type of ammunition being acquired, or
  3. A permit authorising the person to acquire the ammunition.

If the ammunition being acquired is for a pistol, in addition to the above the person acquiring the ammunition must produce the following at the time of supply:

  1. The registration certificate for the firearm taking that type of ammunition, or
  2. An issued permit to acquire for a firearm which takes that ammunition.

For further information refer to:

Can I possess or use a Gel Blaster in NSW?

Gel Blasters are illegal in NSW. There is no genuine reason to possess or use a Gel Blaster in NSW. As such, you cannot apply for a Permit to Acquire (PTA) a Gel Blaster and they are unable to be registered in NSW.

It is an offence to supply, acquire, possess or use a firearm that is not registered (section 36 of the Firearms Act 1996).

In NSW, A Gel Blaster has been classified as an air gun, which is defined as a firearm. The gel ball has been similarly classified as ammunition. In addition, Gel Blasters that substantially duplicate in appearance a military firearm, are classified as a prohibited firearm. Regardless of these classifications, no genuine reason exists to possess or use a Gel Blaster in NSW.