Applying for a Permit to Acquire - Fact Sheet

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Applying for a Permit to Acquire

The Weapons Licensing Group (WLG) regulates the acquisition, possession, use and disposal of registered firearms and weapons in Queensland through a weapons licensing scheme.

You must hold a valid weapons licence in Queensland and lodge an application for a permit to acquire (PTA) if you wish to acquire and own a weapon which includes firearms, crossbows, powerheads, or paintball markers.

Obligations and responsibilities

Queensland weapons licence holders must follow rules set out in the Weapons Act 1990, Weapons Regulation 2016 and Weapons Categories Regulation 1997.

Your need for possession of a weapon

You must demonstrate that you have a need to possess and use the weapon you intend to acquire. Below are common needs:

• Sports or target shooting – shooting club activities on an approved shooting range.
• Recreational shooting – recreational shooting on rural lands with permission to shoot from an owner/occupier of the land.
• Occupational – e.g. primary production/rural employee on rural land, animal controller.

You may be required to provide supporting documentation and evidence of your need to satisfy the Authorised Officer that your need cannot be met by another means.

Different categories of weapons may require supporting documentation specific to the need you have nominated.

If the PTA application is for a category B, C, D or H weapon, you must state your need and why this need cannot be satisfied in another way. Read more about Additional requirements for permits to acquire.  

Safe and secure storage

You must demonstrate that you have access to safe storage for the weapons you intend to possess. Please read the requirements for storing firearms and weapons page for more information.

How many weapons can I acquire?

Under the Weapons Act 1990, there is no specific limit on the number of weapons a licence holder can acquire. Each acquisition must be approved through a PTA, and you must demonstrate a need for possessing each weapon.

How to apply

Online – complete and submit your application via the online application form.

Online applications are the preferred lodgement method. Online applications reduce the risk of not providing sufficient supporting information.

A separate PTA application must be submitted for each weapon you are intending to acquire.

Can I apply another way?

In Person – A hard copy Form 28 – Permit to Acquire (PDF) can be downloaded from the Queensland Police Service website and lodged at your local Queensland police station. A PTA application cannot be lodged at an Australia Post outlet.

You will need to provide details of your current weapons licence and show photographic identification for lodgement at the station.

It is important that all supporting documentation is provided with your lodgement to avoid unnecessary delays with your application being processed.

Application cost

Our fees typically increase on 1 July each year. Weapons licensing fees are payable on lodgement of your application, and you are required to pay a fee for every application.

Application assessment timeframes

There is a legislated 28 day waiting period from the date of lodgement for your first application for a PTA.

You may experience a delay in the assessment of your application where you have not provided all the required information on lodgement and an Authorised Officer requests further information. It is important that you read
the request for further information carefully and reply before the due date.

If you do not provide the information in time, assessment will continue with the information available which may result in the decision to withdraw or reject your application.

For current processing times please see the Weapons Licensing Group page.

How will I know if my permit is approved?

We will notify you if your permit is approved via the email address you provide in your application. After you receive this email, your PTA will either be sent to your postal address or emailed to the nominated firearms dealer - depending on which method of delivery you selected at the time of lodgement.

If you have not provided an email address, WLG will not be able to notify you of your application outcome before you receive your permit.

Please allow approximately 15 working days from the date of issue to receive your PTA.

If you are acquiring the weapon from a licensed individual, please refer to the brokerage instructions on the back page of your PTA for further information.

For more information of what steps to take next once the PTA has been issued: Process for acquiring a weapon.

How long is a permit valid for?

A PTA is valid for six months from the date of issue; the expiry date is also written on the issued PTA for your reference. A PTA cannot be renewed, extended, or used to acquire a weapon once it has expired.

An unused PTA must be returned to the WLG for cancellation, and an application for a new permit must be made.

A PTA is no longer valid if the licence number it is issued to is suspended, cancelled, revoked, surrendered, expires, or the holder of the permit is deceased.

Acquiring from a deceased estate

If you hold an appropriate weapons licence and the firearm/s are bequeathed to you via a legal will, or you are entitled to a portion of the estate under the rules of succession if the deceased died interstate (without a will), the firearm/s may be transferred to you without a permit to acquire.

However, if you are not named in the will as the beneficiary you will need to apply for a PTA.

For a list of supporting documents or to lodge an enquiry for an acquisition from a deceased estate, visit: Weapons Licensing Deceased Estate Questions (Enquiry) Form