Apply for an individual liquor permit

To buy and drink takeaway alcohol in any general restricted area in the Northern Territory (NT), you must hold a liquor permit.

Depending on the community, you may still drink alcohol in a licensed bar, restaurant or club.

Over the coming months, more regions across the Northern Territory (NT) will become general restricted areas.

You should check with your local licensing sergeant at the police station, or your local Territory Business Centre to find out if you are going to require a permit.

Find out if you live in a general restricted area.

Who can apply

To apply for a permit, you must be at least 18 years old and be a permanent resident, visitor (except Wadeye) or contractor.

You can't apply if you're on the Banned Drinkers Register (BDR) or if you have:

  • caused substantial annoyance or disrupted community order and peace
  • assaulted anyone or caused alcohol-related family violence or traffic/vehicle accidents
  • illegally brought liquor into or had liquor in a restricted area
  • supplied dangerous drugs to another person, or brought them into or possessed them in a restricted area
  • supplied liquor to someone who is not a permit holder or invited guest of permit holder
  • been banned from any of the licensed premises in the restricted area
  • breached any of the conditions of the permit
  • an order made by any court or tribunal prohibiting you from possessing, consuming or purchasing liquor.

Before you apply

Whether you're a permanent resident, visitor or contactor, you must provide the following supporting documents with your application.

When you apply, you also agree to have a police check to help determine your application outcome.

To apply, you must provide one of the following types of photo ID:

  • NT driver licence
  • 18+ proof of age card
  • Australian passport or Australian Defence Force photo ID card.

You must also provide one of the following:

  • phone, electricity or other bill in your name
  • letter from your local government community council or community association confirming your address
  • Medicare card
  • Centrelink Healthcare card.

To apply, you must provide:

  • an itinerary, invoice or other document confirming your travel plans
  • photo ID, such as a driver licence or passport.

Read more about travellers and tourists to the NT.

Exclusions

Permits are currently not being issued to tourists or visitors in the Wadeye (Port Keats) area.

A contractor is someone who is working in community for a period of time but is not a permanent resident.

To apply, you must provide a letter of employment from your employer (on letter head) confirming:

  • you're working in the community and
  • for what period of time you are working there.

Your permit will only be valid for the period of time you're working in community or a maximum of 12 months.

If you remain there, your permit must be renewed.

How to apply

Find out how to apply for a permit in your region below.

Get the map to find out if you live within the general restricted area of Wadeye (Port Keats) PDF (880.3 KB).

Tourist and visitor permits are not currently being issued in the Wadeye area.

Permit rules can also be heard in Murrin Path MP3 (2.3 MB).

To apply for a permit, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in application.

Liquor permit for Wade (Port Keats) general restricted area PDF (1.0 MB)
Liquor permit for Wade (Port Keats) general restricted area DOCX (72.4 KB)

Step 2. Attend Wadeye Police Station to have your application and ID certified.

Step 3. Attach supporting documents.

Step 4. Submit application with supporting documents at the station or to Licensing NT by:

To apply for a permit for Maningrida, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in application.

Liquor permit for Maningrida general restricted area PDF (209.6 KB)
Liquor permit for Maningrida general restricted area DOCX (69.4 KB)

Step 2. Attach supporting documents.

Step 3. Submit application with supporting documents to Licensing NT by:

To apply for a permit for Groote Eylandt, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in application.

Liquor permit for Groote Eylandt general restricted area PDF (633.8 KB)
Liquor permit for Groote Eylandt general restricted area DOCX (71.2 KB)

Step 2. Attach supporting documents.

Step 3. Submit application with supporting documents at the Groote Eylandt Police Station or to Licensing NT by:

Find out how to apply for a liquor permit on the Gove Peninsula.

Other areas include Barunga, Lajamanu, Beswick, Nauiyu, Gunbalanya, Tiwi Islands, Kalkaringi and Yuendumu.

If you're applying for Tiwi Islands, you must:

  • only take liquor into restricted areas via the Tiwi barge
  • buy liquor from a retailer outside of the Tiwi Islands
  • have only one of the following per week:
    • one carton of light beer (24 x 375ml cans, less than 3%)
    • one carton of mid-strength beer (24 x 375ml cans, 3% - 4%)
    • 2 six packs of full strength beer (12 x 375ml cans, over 4%)
    • 2 six packs of premix drinks (12 x 375ml)
    • 3 bottles of wine (750ml, not fortified).

With a Yuendumu permit, you are only not allowed to consume liquor during the sports weekend.

To apply for a permit, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in application.

Liquor permit for all other areas PDF (242.2 KB)
Liquor permit for all other areas DOCX (73.5 KB)

Step 2. Attach supporting documents.

Step 3. Submit application to Licensing NT by fax to 08 8999 7498 or email to liquorpermits.ditt@nt.gov.au.

If your application is approved

If your application is approved, you will be issued a liquor permit.

You may take unopened alcohol through a restricted area but you cannot drink it, give it away or sell it where there is alcohol restrictions.

You must also follow other permit rules.

If your application is rejected

If your application is rejected by the permit committee, you get their decision reviewed by the director-general of licensing.

To apply for a review, follow these steps:

Step 1. Fill in application.

Application for a review of a decision PDF (558.9 KB)
Application for a review of a decision DOCX (694.2 KB)

Step 2. Submit application by email to ditt.lrascompliancedwn@nt.dwn@nt.gov.au or faxed to 08 8999 7498.

If your application is rejected by the director, you can choose to have your matter heard by the NT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT).

Contact

Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade
PO Box 1421
Nhulunbuy NT 0881
ditt.eastarnhem@nt.gov.au

Liquor Permits – Licensing NT
GPO Box 1154
Darwin NT 0801

Phone: 08 8999 1800

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