Renew your licence

A renewal application package will be posted to you 12 weeks before the expiry of your licence. Included with your package is a renewal application form and a list of firearms registered in Victoria to your licence/s.

To lodge your renewal application, you must:

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

If posting your application, please consider using registered or express post. If emailing your application, we ask that you submit a single clear, high-quality PDF attachment to the email. This will ensure we are able to process your application as quickly as possible and reduces the risk of your application becoming lost or separated.

If your application is approved, a payment notice will be posted to you along with 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 at an authorised photo point.

You must provide evidence of genuine reason with your renewal application. For specific instructions according to your licence category, see Firearm Forms and Reference Information. 

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 application is not received by LRD by the licence expiry date, you will become unlicensed and 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.

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.

• If you fail to submit your renewal application prior to the expiry of your licence, you will become unlicensed and be required to dispose of your firearms to a Licensed Firearm Dealer. You will then need to lodge a new licence application to retake possession of your firearms.

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

For a schedule of firearm licence fees, see Service Fees and Penalties.

Your renewal application will be sent to your postal address and depending on postal timeframes, should be received 10-11 weeks prior to expiry of your licence/registration.

If your licence expires in less than 4 weeks and you have not received a renewal application, contact the 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. As such, we ask that your email contains confirmation of not only your licence number and full name, but also your current residential and postal addresses.

If you have changed your address and your licence/registration expires in more than 4 weeks please, simply 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, for example, you temporarily reside interstate or overseas, you must complete the ‘Unable to attend a photo point in Victoria' form and post to the Licensing and Regulation Division. To download and complete this form, see: Firearm forms and reference information.

It is important to note that whilst your renewal application can be submitted via email, the ‘Unable to attend a photo point in Victoria’ form must be physically posted into the Licensing and Regulation Division per the instructions.