Borrowing, loaning and inheriting firearms

Where a firearm is being borrowed or loaned and is owned by a Victorian licence holder, the owner must inform the Licensing and Regulation Division of the change in storage address, if the firearm will be ordinarily stored at an alternate address. Failure to do so may be considered an offence.

Borrowing a firearm

If you hold a Victorian firearm licence, you can borrow a firearm registered in Victoria or in another state or territory provided:

you have permission from the owner of the firearm
your Victorian licence allows you to carry and use that category of firearm

If borrowing the firearm from a firearm licence holder in another state or territory, you must notify the Licensing and Regulation Division within 7 days of bringing the firearm into Victoria. You should also check with the relevant state or territory’s firearm registry to ensure you comply with the law in that state or territory.

You must also apply to the Department of Home Affairs for a Restricted Goods Permit to be able to take the firearm overseas. Information regarding travelling with firearms to and from Australia can be found at the Department of Home Affairs.

This information does not apply to handguns used for armed guard security activities. Holders of a handgun licence for the purposes of operating a private security business must ensure that each handgun is registered to the holder's name.

Hire and loan of a firearm

While the hire and loan of firearms is not encouraged by Victoria Police, there may be circumstances in which a firearm dealer may choose to do so. If a licensed firearm dealer chooses to undertake a hire or loan agreement with a licence holder (including a licence holder who is also an employee of the licensed firearm dealer) they must ensure that:

The person holds the appropriate licence for the category of firearm they wish to hire or loan.
28 days or more have passed since the issue of their licence.
They already have a firearm registered to their licence.

For further details regarding hire and loan, including terms and administrative requirements, see: Licensed Firearm Dealers

Inheriting a firearm

You may acquire a firearm that someone left to you in a Will provided you:

hold the appropriate licence for that firearm
can demonstrate a genuine need for it
obtain a Permit to Acquire
have the transaction witnessed by a licensed firearms dealer

If you do not have the appropriate firearm licence and would like to keep and use the firearm, you must apply for a firearm licence.

Alternatively, if you want to keep the firearm for inheritance purposes only, you may apply for an Heirloom Licence. This licence will only allow you to possess a single firearm or a matched pair of firearms. It is also a condition of this licence that any firearm attached to this licence is made permanently inoperable and stored in accordance with Schedule 4 of the Firearms Act 1996.

The Power of Attorney or Executor of the Will should provide some evidence or an extract from the will or letter from the Executor to whom the firearm has been bequeathed as supporting evidence at the point of transfer at a Licensed Firearm Dealer.

Application for an Heirloom Licence

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