Renew your firearm licence

Individual firearm licence holders (excluding firearm dealer licences, corporate firearm licences and junior firearm licences) can now renew their firearm licence via Service Victoria online. They can then add their firearm licence to their digital wallet.

You may be able to use Service Victoria to:

• renew your firearm licence (for some licence holders) and pay for it online once approved
• access a digital version of your firearm licence.

When you can renew your firearms licence online

You can renew your licence online via Service Victoria if:

• you have received the licence renewal pack sent by Victoria Police
• you do not need to make any changes to your licence*, and
• you can verify your identity digitally (you can provide two ID documents, and upload photos of these documents from your phone).

*In the future, you may be able to use Service Victoria to update your genuine reason, storage address and firearm details.

When you cannot renew your licence online

You cannot renew your licence online if:

• you need to update your:
  • name
  • genuine reason*
  • firearm storage address*
  • firearm details*.
• you cannot provide two ID documents, and upload photos of these documents from your phone.

If you aren’t eligible to apply through Service Victoria, you can use the paper renewal forms Victoria Police sent you.

*In the future, you may be able to use Service Victoria to update your genuine reason, storage address and firearm details.

Accessing your digital firearm licence

If you renew your firearms licence online with Service Victoria, you will automatically receive a digital firearms licence in their Service Victoria digital wallet.

The digital licence will show:

• your latest licence details, and
• the conditions of your licence.

For further information about the digital licence, visit Digital firearms licence page.

Renew your firearms licence via Service Victoria

We will post a renewal application package to you 12 weeks before your licence expires.

The package includes:

• a renewal application form, and
• a list of firearms registered in Victoria to your licence(s).

To lodge your renewal application, you need to:

1. Complete your renewal application form. This includes:

• verifying the details contained in your firearm registration certificate, and
• providing supporting documentary evidence for your genuine reason(s).

2. Send your completed renewal application to Licensing and Regulation Division by:

• post to GPO Box 2807, Melbourne VIC 3001, or
• email.

Sending your firearm licence application

You can send your application by post or email.

If posting your application, please consider using registered or express post.

If emailing your application, please attach a single clear, high-quality PDF attachment with the email. This will help us process your application as quickly as possible.

Changes to the photo requirements

We can now use your photos for up to 10 years for both Firearms and Private Security licences. You do not need to take a photo every time you renew your licence.

Firearms and private security licence holders only need a new photo if:

• they are a new applicant to LRD
• their current licence photo is older than 10 years (regardless of whether the photo was taken for firearms or private security purposes)
• they are transitioning from a junior to a full licence

Based on this change, payment notices will be issued requesting:

• payment and photo
• payment only, and
• photo only (this is called a ‘photo capture notice’)

If you do not need to pay and do not need a photo, your licence will be issued automatically once approved (i.e., primary producers).

For further information contact LRD through our online enquiry form.

If your firearms licence application is approved

If your application is approved, a payment notice will be posted to you.

You may also receive instructions to have your licence photo taken.

You must then:

• pay the renewal fee via BPAY or at any Westpac Bank branch, and
• have your photo taken (if applicable) at an authorised photo point(opens in a new window).

You must provide genuine reason evidence with your renewal application.

For specific instructions according to your licence category, see Genuine reason requirements to hold a firearm licence.

If your renewal is received by LRD before the licence expiry date

If your renewal application is received by LRD before the licence expiry date:

• your licence will continue in force, and
• you can maintain possession of your firearms.

Under section 41A of the Firearms Act 1996, if a licence holder has applied to renew their licence and that application has not been determined before the licence expiry date, the licence is deemed to continue in force, on and from that date, until the determination of the application.

If your renewal is not received by LRD by the licence expiry date

If your renewal application is not received by LRD by the licence expiry date:

• You will become unlicensed.
• You will be required to dispose of your firearms to a licensed firearm dealer or your local police station immediately. You must provide evidence of disposal to LRD within 14 days of licence expiry.

You will then need to lodge a new licence application to retake possession of your firearms.

If you do not wish to renew your licence

If you do not wish to renew your licence, please email LRD to advise.

If you are in possession of firearms, you must dispose of your firearms before your licence expires. Failure to dispose of the firearm before the expiry of your licence will cause you to be in possession of unregistered firearms. Penalties will apply.

A payment notice will be sent to your postal address once your application has been approved.

For a schedule of firearm licence fees, visit Service fees and penalties.

Your renewal application will be sent to your postal address.

Depending on post times, you should receive your application 10-11 weeks before your licence or registration expires.

If you haven't received your renewal application

What to do if you haven't received your renewal application.

If your licence expires in less than 4 weeks

If your licence expires in less than 4 weeks and you have not received a renewal application, contact LRD by email LRD@police.vic.gov.au to request your renewal application be re-sent.

The most common reason for not receiving your renewal application is change of address.

In your email, please include your:

• full name
• licence number
• current residential address
• current postal address.

If your licence expires in more than 4 weeks

If you have changed your address and your licence/registration expires in more than 4 weeks please, complete the online change of details form.

If your licence/registration is due for renewal, a renewal application will be posted to your new address.

Authorised photo points are located throughout Victoria.

If you are unable to attend an Authorised Photo Point due to exceptional circumstances, you must complete the ‘Unable to attend a photo point in Victoria':