A permit to acquire is a permit you must obtain prior to acquiring a firearm.
They are issued by the Licensing and Regulation Division and are valid for 28 days from the day they are issued – not the day your payment for the permit is made.
Submitting a permit to acquire
You are able to lodge an application for your first permit to acquire at the same time as you lodge your application to become licensed.
When submitting a permit to acquire, you may be required to provide additional information to substantiate a genuine need.
If it is your first firearm, you may need to serve the legislated waiting period before the permit can be issued. Because of this, it is strongly suggested that you submit an application to the Licensing and Regulation Division at least four weeks before you require it.
- If you wish to acquire a longarm, complete the online Permit to Acquire a Longarm Application.
- If you wish to acquire a handgun, download and fill out the Permit to Acquire a Handgun Application, then send the completed form to the Licensing and Regulation Division.
When the application has been received and approved, your permit will be sent to you directly via post.
Note: Applications for a permit to acquire that are lodged through a Licensed Firearms Dealer using the Online Dealers System will be approved within 28 days. If approved, the permit will be sent to the dealer electronically. If the application is refused, we will inform you of the reasons it was denied and any appeal options you have.
Purchasing a handgun for sport or target shooting
If you are licensed to participate in sport or target shooting and want to purchase a handgun for sport purposes, you must attach the endorsement of an approved handgun target shooting club to your permit to acquire application.
Advertising firearms for sale
Placing advertisements
Firearms can be advertised for sale anywhere, including online, provided that the advertisement details, the serial number of the firearm for sale and the dealer's/owners details and licence number are advertised.
Advertisements listed on third-party trading websites such as Gumtree or eBay need to comply with the service provider's terms and conditions of use.
Buying and selling firearms
You can only purchase firearms, ammunition, parts and accessories if you have a current Victorian firearms licence. That licence must allow you to carry and use those items.
To purchase a firearm you must also have a Permit to Acquire issued by Victoria Police.
Transferring a firearm
To transfer ownership of a firearm between two Victorian firearm licence holders, the person receiving the firearm must have:
- a current Victorian firearm licence that permits them to possess, carry or use that category and type of firearm
- a genuine reason for possessing that firearm
- a Permit to Acquire issued by Victoria Police
Both licence holders must then visit a Licensed Firearms Dealer who will act as an agent to broker the transfer of the firearm. Before the Licensed Firearms Dealer can broker the transfer they will require you to provide:
- a Permit to Acquire that is valid and current
- proof that you have paid for your permit
- the firearm that is being transferred
Transferring firearms interstate
Victorians transferring firearms to licence holders interstate need to engage a Victorian Licensed Firearms Dealer who is able to arrange to send the firearms to a Licensed Firearms Dealer in the recipient's state or territory.
For example, a Victorian sending a firearm to a Queensland licence holder would have to arrange for a Victorian Licensed Firearms Dealer to send the firearm to a Licensed Firearms Dealer in Queensland from whom the recipient can collect the firearm.
Receiving a firearm from interstate
You will need:
- a Victorian firearms licence that permits you to possess, carry or use that category and type of firearm.
- a permit to acquire which demonstrates your genuine reason for possessing that firearm.
- a Victorian Licensed Firearms Dealer who can receive the firearm from interstate and act as the agent in transferring the firearm to you in Victoria.
Note: If you live on the border of South Australia and Victoria, or NSW and Victoria, you may submit a permit to acquire issued in one state to a licensed firearm dealer located in the other state. Victoria has an agreement in place with South Australia and NSW to recognise the other state's permits to acquire.
Borrowing, hiring or loaning a firearm
For information about borrowing and hiring/loaning of firearms, see: Borrowing, loaning and inheriting firearms
Contact us
Get in touch about firearms licensing through our online enquiry form.
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