Get Licensed – 3 Easy Steps… – COMBINED SHOOTERS CLUB

3 Easy Steps

The journey to getting your gun license can sometimes be confusing so to help you get started with obtaining a gun club membership and becoming a fully licensed shooter we have added a simple guide below. 3 steps that make the process streamlined and clear up any confusion.

Should you need help or advice with anything though we are available to help you through the process. Simply call us or send an message to our email or through the contact form here.

Step One

Join an Approved Shooting Club

All persons wishing to obtain a firearms licence in NSW must have a genuine reason for obtaining the licence and must meet the NSW Firearms Registrys Participation Requirements relating to that genuine reason.

To satisfy the NSW Firearms Registry genuine reason policy all firearm owners are required to be members of an Approved Club.

Combined Shooters Club is a gun club that can meet the requirements for genuine reasons. You can download an application form for membership from the information & links page here.

Step Two

Attend a Firearms Safety Course

After signing up to Combined Shooters Club you will need to complete a firearms safety course. Speak with any of our club officers who will be happy to organise this with you.

Step Three

Apply via Service NSW Account

Log in to or create a Service NSW account :
a. Once Logged in to Service NSW you will need to Link NSW Police to your Dashboard.
b. Select Apply for a New Firearms Licence (individual)
c. Complete the online forms and upload your proof of Membership and completed Safety Awareness Certificate.

If you are applying for multiple license categories then you are able to apply in the one application.

FIREARMS CATEGORIES

Category A

* Air rifles.
* Rimfire rifles (other than self-loading).
* Shotguns (other than pump action, lever action or self-loading).
* Shotgun/rimfire combinations.

Category B

* Muzzle-loading firearms (other than pistols).
* Centre-fire rifles (other than self-loading).
* Shotgun/centre-fire rifle combinations.
* Lever action shotguns with a magazine capacity of no more than 5 rounds.

Category H

* Pistols (including blank fire pistols and air pistols).

GENUINE REASONS

* * * Click headings to see detailed descriptions of each genuine reason as well as links to the NSW Police fact sheets. * * *

Sport / Target Shooting
[License A, B, H]
This genuine reason applies to a person who wishes to participate in Sport/Target Shooting activities as a current member of an approved Target Shooting Club.
Note: The Club must be authorised for target shooting and approved for conducting competitions or activities for the type of firearm authorised by the category of licence for which you are making application. For example, if your club is approved for AB target shooting activities only, then membership of this club would support an application for a category A & B firearms licence application only.
For further information refer to:
- FACT Sheet – Target Shooting Genuine Reason (PDF)
- FACT Sheet – Probationary Pistol Licence (PDF)
- FACT Sheet – Participation requirements for club members (PDF)
- Large Calibre Pistol Permit

Recreational Hunting / Vermin Control
[License: A, B]
This genuine reason applies to a person who wishes to participate in recreational hunting/vermin control (RHVC) activities as:
1. A current member of an approved club, or
2. The owner/occupier of rural land, or
3. A person who has permission to shoot from an owner/occupier of rural land, or
4. A person who has permission to shoot from a prescribed government agency, including the Department of Primary Industries.
For further information refer to:
- FACT Sheet – Recreational Hunting/Vermin Control Genuine Reason (PDF)
- FACT Sheet – Participation requirements for club members (PDF)
- FORM – Letter of Authority for RHVC – Permission to Shoot by landholder or occupier of land (PDF)

Firearms Collection
[License A, B, H]
This genuine reason applies to a person who collects firearms as a current member of a collectors’ society or collectors’ club approved by the Commissioner of Police. The collection must have a proven genuine commemorative, historical, thematic or financial value.
A Firearm Collector licence allows for the possession of firearms only, not their use.
In addition, there are specific requirements for the storage of firearms forming part of the collection. Section 20(e) of the Firearms Act 1996 and clause 36 of the Firearms Regulation 2017 provide further information on the requirements which must be met for safe storage of firearms kept as a firearms collection. There is also a FACT Sheet ‘Safe Storage Level 9 – Firearms Collector’ available on the Safe Storage page.
NOTE: This licence does not authorise the collection of ammunition. For information on collection of ammunition see Ammunition Collection Permit.
For further information refer to:
- FACT Sheet – Firearms Collection Genuine Reason (PDF)
- FACT Sheet – Participation Requirements for Club members (PDF)

Animal Welfare
[License: A, B]
This genuine reason is for those people who work with or handle animals and need a firearm for the humane destruction of stock. There are four different types of Animal Welfare genuine reason:
1. An officer of the RSPCA or the Animal Welfare League who is a special constable, or
2. A veterinary practitioner, or
3. An employee of the Department of Primary Industries or the Local Land Services AND who has responsibility for animal welfare, or
4. The owner, transporter, drover or other handler of animals who may need to humanely destroy animals.
For further information refer to:
- FACT Sheet – Animal Welfare Genuine Reason (PDF)

Business or Employment
[License: A, B, H]
Business or Employment – Security Industry – Business or Security Guard
For information in relation to a firearms licence for the genuine reason of Business or Employment for a Security Business or for a Security guard, please refer to our Security Industry Firearms page:
- Security Industry Firearms
Business or Employment – Commercial Fishing
This genuine reason applies to a person who owns and operates a commercial fishing business or to a person employed in the fishing industry. Proof of employment as a commercial fisherman will need to accompany this application.
For further information refer to:
- FACT Sheet – Business/Employment Genuine Reason – Commercial Fishing (PDF)
Business / Employment – Other
This genuine reason form applies to a person who is in Business or Employment other than the Security Industry or Commercial Fishing. An example of this type of licence is a licence issued to a Council for the purpose of eradication of wild dogs etc.
For further information refer to:
- FACT Sheet – Business/Employment – Other Genuine Reason (PDF)

Vertebrate Pest Animal Control (VPAC)
[License: A, B]
This genuine reason applies to a person who wishes to use firearms for the control or suppression of vertebrate pest animals as:
- A professional contract shooter engaged or employed to control vertebrate pest animals on rural land, or
- An authorised officer or employee of a prescribed Government Agency, or
- A Primary Producer taking part in an Authorised Eradication Campaign run by or on behalf of a government agency or public authority to eradicate large feral animals or animals that are affected by brucellosis or tuberculosis.
For further information refer to:
- - FACT Sheet – Vertebrate Pest/Animal Control (VPAC) Genuine Reason (PDF)

Rural Occupation
[License: A, B]
This genuine reason form applies to a person who is employed or engaged in a Rural Occupation.
This genuine reason could apply to an employee of a primary producer or a family member of the primary producer to whom the genuine reason of Primary Production does not apply.
For further information refer to:
- FACT Sheet – Rural Occupation Genuine Reason (PDF, 265KB)

Primary Production
[License: A, B]
This genuine reason authorises a primary producer to possess and use a firearm in connection with farming & grazing activities.
The authority of the licence is ONLY for land that the applicant owns, manages or leases for the business of primary production, except in the case of a category C licence issued to a primary producer. In this case the primary producer may possess and use a firearm to which a category C licence applies on land which is used for primary production that immediately adjoins their own land provided they have the prior written permission of the owner or occupier of that adjoining land.
An Employee Authority authorising possession and use of a Category C type firearm registered to a primary producer is available for a person employed by a primary producer. To apply, see the link below.
For further information refer to:
- FACT Sheet – Primary Production Genuine Reason (PDF)
- FORM P565 – Application for an Employee Authority for a Primary Producer (PDF)

LICENSE COSTS

A personal firearms licence is issued for 2 or 5 years.

2 year licence = $100
5 year licence = $200
Probationary Pistol Licence = $100 for one year
Provisional Pistol (Business/Employment) Licence = $250 for one year

Payment is made by credit card at the time of completing your online application.