Resources
Firearm Licence: Closing a Firearms Licence
Show moreAll firearms must be removed from a licence before it can be closed.
- A firearm may be transferred to an existing Co-user. Please provide the following information for us to process via email.
- Firearm details including serial, make, etc
- Co-user details including licence number and name.
- Firearms may be sold to a licensed dealer in WA. The dealer will provide Licensing Services with a ‘return’ and the firearm is removed off your licence.
- You may privately sell a firearm. The applicant makes an application for the firearm and once approved, the firearm will be removed from your licence.
- Please note: you must retain possession of the firearm until the applicant is licensed to it. The applicant will also require a Private Purchase Permission form to be completed by the owner to support their application which can be found in the Resources' section on the Firearm Licence page.
- You may surrender the firearm for destruction to a police station and complete a P94 form – Authority to Dispose. Once the firearm has been destroyed by WA Police, the firearm will be removed from your licence.
Please complete a Cancel Firearm Licence form (PDF 356KB) as authority to close the licence.
Firearm Licence: Deceased Firearms
Show moreWhere a deceased firearm licence holder is the sole or primary holder of licensed firearm(s), the firearms will need to be handed into police pending outcome of the Estate. It is important that the Executor or Administrator of the Estate contact/liaise with police to ensure the safe storage of firearms at a local police station as firearms cannot remain in the possession of an unlicensed person.
The Executor or Administrator of the Estate (Executor) should advise WA Police Force Licensing Services in writing. Post to Licensing Services Locked Bag 9 East Perth 6892 or via email Licensing Services:
- The full name and contact details for the Executor or Administrator of the Estate.
- The full name and date of birth of the deceased licence holder.
- The deceased’s Firearm Licence Number and Firearm(s) (if known) and
- The name of any licensed co-user (if known) and details of any firearm(s) in possession of that person(s) (if known).
The Executor must advise what is to happen with the firearm(s), be it disposal to a firearm dealer or other licensed person, forfeiture of the firearm for destruction, or held pending outcome of the estate.
Please note: The Executor of an estate must not retain possession of the firearm(s).
Firearm Licence Application: Is the firearm I am applying for suitable for my size property?
Show moreWA Police Force Licensing Services must always consider community safety when considering where an applicant intends to shoot their firearm. There is no fixed property size requirement for a particular type of firearm as many factors need to be considered.
These can include (but are not limited to):
- Proximity to roads or other houses.
- Topography and terrain.
- Access by other members of the public.
- Livestock on the property.
- Calibre of firearm.
- Intended purpose of firearm.
Firearm Licence Application: Firearm Categories
Show moreCategory A
Category Description
A1 an air rifle
A2.1 a single shot rim fire rifle
A2.2 a repeating rim fire rifle
A3.1 a single shot shotgun
A3.2 a double barrel shotgun
A3.3 a repeating shotgun (bolt action)
A4.1 a combination firearm made up of a shotgun and a rifle each of which would individually be of category A
A4.2 a rifle combination made up of rifles each of which would individually be of category A
Category B
Category Description
B1 a muzzle loading firearm (except a handgun)
B2.1 a single shot centre fire rifle
B2.2 a double barrel centre fire rifle
B2.3 a repeating centre fire rifle
B2.4 a repeating shotgun (lever action) with a magazine capacity of no more than 5 rounds
B3.1 a combination firearm, not of category C or D, made up of a shotgun and a rifle at least one of which would individually be of category B
B3.2 a rifle combination, not of category C or D, made up of rifles at least one of which would individually be of category B
Category C
Category Description
C1 a self loading rim fire rifle with a magazine capacity no more than 10 rounds
C2 a self loading shotgun with a magazine capacity no more than 5 rounds
C3 a pump action shotgun with a magazine capacity no more than 5 rounds
C4.1 a combination firearm, not of category D, made up of a shotgun and a rifle at least one of which would individually be of category C
C4.2 a rifle combination, not of category D, made up of rifles at least one of which would individually be of category C
Category E
Category Description
E1 a cannon
E3 a line thrower
E4 a tranquilliser
Category H
Category Description
H1 a handgun (including an air pistol)
H2 an underwater explosive device
Firearm Licence Application: Firearm Types
Show morePneumatic Firearms
Pneumatic firearms are commonly referred to as air guns. Some firearms have rifled barrels and some do not. They come in various calibres, however they are mainly .177 or .22 with both pneumatic pistols and rifles available in these calibres.
Break Open Firearms
Break open firearms are usually single or double barrel shotguns in various gauges but can include some rifles and handguns. In most cases there is a lever on the rear of the action, generally moving this lever to the right allows the action to be opened.
Usually firearms of this type will have the safety catch located at the rear of the lever that opens the action making it readily accessible to the shooter's thumb. Some models have no external safety catch.
Bolt Action Firearms
Bolt action firearms are usually a repeating rifle or single shot in almost every conceivable calibre and can include some shotguns. They may have a fixed or removable box magazine, hinged floor or tubular magazine under the barrel or in the butt of the firearm. These firearms can be easily identified by a turned bolt, with the bolt handle usually on the right-hand side of the action. The bolt is raised and drawn to the rear to open the action. Safety catches are normally found at the rear of the action behind the bolt handle or near the trigger guard.
Lever Action Firearms
Lever action firearms are usually manually operated repeating rifles and can be identified by the cocking lever under the action of the firearm. They usually have a tubular magazine under the barrel or movable box magazine. They are available in a variety of calibres.
Downwards movement on the lever opens the action. Most of the western style rifles will not be fitted with a safety catch however the newer models have generally been fitted with a push button safety just in front of the hammer.
Pump Action Firearms
Pump action firearms are common in shotguns of various gauges but can also include rifles in both rim fire and centre fire calibres.
They can be identified by a sliding fore end that is drawn to the rear to open the action. They can be fitted with a tubular magazine under the barrel or a box magazine. Most have a safety catch located near the trigger guard.
Self-loading Firearms
Self-loading firearms are available in a large variety of rifle calibres and in shotgun gauges. They are usually identifiable by a small cocking handle which usually protrudes to the right-hand side of the breech bolt. They may be fitted with box or tubular magazines and can vary greatly in ammunition capacity.
Self-loading firearms are also referred to as semi-automatic firearms as each press of the trigger cycles the action automatically. These firearms will operate in one of the following manners: blowback, gas operated or recoil operated.
Fully Automatic Firearms (Prohibited)
Most fully automatic weapons have a large capacity box or drum magazine. Most have a select fire switch to allow either semi-automatic or full automatic fire.
Single Shot Rifles
Single shot rifles do not have a magazine. Bolt or lever action single shot rifles are manually loaded through the ejection port and into the chamber.
