Firearms licences and weapons

To apply for a firearms licence, you must meet basic requirements. Read the Firearms Act 1997.

Find out more about the basic licence requirements for individuals and businesses.

All recreational shooter licence applicants must pass a questionnaire based on the National Firearms Safety Code booklet. To get a copy go to the Northern Territory Police website.

You may also have to attend a Firearm Safety Training Course for some categories of firearms under a corporate employee licence.

For more information and to apply go to the Northern Territory Police website.

Genuine reason or need to hold a licence

You must have a genuine reason or need to hold a firearms licence.

Genuine reasons include any of the following:

• sports shooting
• recreational shooting and hunting
• primary production
• vertebrate pest animal control
• business or employment
• occupational requirements
• animal welfare
• firearm collection
• museum display
• inheritance.

Your genuine reason or need will set out:

• the type of licence you may be issued
• the category of firearm you can use.

To read more about reasons to hold a licence and what type of licence you can get go to the Northern Territory Police website.

Storage requirements

To be issued a licence you must meet the safe storage requirements.

A wide range of commercial gun cabinets and safes in the Northern Territory have been approved by police and can be bought through most gun shops or locksmiths.

Police can also approve custom-built safes as long as they meet the safe storage requirements.

To read more about firearms storage requirements go to the Northern Territory Police website.

Read the Weapons Control Act 2001.