Western Australia

How to apply for a WA individual firearms licence

Western Australia’s individual licence is run through the WA Police Firearms Portal under the Firearms Act 2024 framework. A new applicant must complete a firearm authority health examination, mandatory theory (via TAFE) and practical training, a Firearms Identification and Serviceability Certificate, written authority that matches the licence purpose (hunting, competition or paintball), and evidence of storage. Licensing Services (Firearms) is still transitioning older authorities; new portal logins may be queued behind pre-registered accounts.

WA.gov.au — Individual licence (original) →

Process

  1. 01

    Create or access a Firearms Portal account

    WA Police offers myID or email login. Email login requires 100-point ID verification at Licensing Services or a police station, then the endorsed Identification Certificate (LSF129) plus a support token emailed to Licensing Services. Official copy notes that pre-registered accounts are being prioritised and new applications are processed once those registrations are completed — check the portal information page for the live queue.

  2. 02

    Firearm authority health examination

    Download the health assessment from the portal, complete the self-assessment, and attend a registered health practitioner. Official practitioner guidance says the practitioner submits the outcome to WA Police through a dedicated facility. Confirm current form steps on wa.gov.au rather than a blog.

  3. 03

    Theory (TAFE) and practical training

    Mandatory firearms safety training has two parts: theory training via TAFE and practical training via an approved practical trainer.

  4. 04

    Written authority for the licence purpose

    Hunting: a portal-issued hunting permission from the owner/manager of a registered property (without an active permission you are not eligible for an Individual Hunting Licence). Competition: a club support form from a licensed firearms club describing the discipline. Paintball: a letter of support from a Paintball Business Licence confirming at least three games in the last six months under that business.

  5. 05

    Storage evidence, identification certificate, then complete the portal process

    Meet the storage matrix for the number and type of firearms on your licence plus any others at the same storage location. New applicants use the Storage Statement. Follow published photo guidelines or the application will not progress. Additional barrels approved on the licence do not count toward numerical limits. Hunting licences are limited to Category A and B and a numerical limit of five firearms; competition licences have a limit of ten; paintball licences apply to markers only and have no numerical limit.

Eligibility

  • Complete the health examination, mandatory training, identification/serviceability certificate, purpose-specific written authority, and storage requirements published for an original individual licence.
  • Hunting, competition and paintball each have a hard gate: without the matching written authority you are not eligible for that individual licence type.
  • Photo standards on the application must be met.

Genuine reason

WA’s individual pathways are purpose-based rather than NSW-style “eight reasons”. Hunting is tied to registered-property permission and acreage rules in the linked information sheet. Competition is tied to licensed-club support for a stated discipline. Paintball is tied to recent participation under a Paintball Business Licence. Confirm extra purposes (if any) on Licensing Services pages — do not assume interstate genuine-reason labels apply.

Training

Mandatory theory via TAFE and practical via an approved practical trainer, before the licence can be issued. Contact details for providers are on the official information sheets linked from the individual-licence page.

Where to apply

Western Australia Police Force Firearms Portal, with supporting forms on wa.gov.au. Licensing Enforcement Division, 303 Sevenoaks Street, Cannington; transition/portal phone 1300 894 474. General licensing 1300 171 011.

Waiting, fees and acquiring a firearm

The individual-licence page does not publish a single dollar fee or a guaranteed calendar wait. Portal information notes new applications wait on pre-registered account processing. Check the portal and Licensing Services for current fees, queues and any separate authority to acquire a firearm. Do not rely on unofficial “how long it takes” posts.

Official sources

Last checked 22 August 2026.

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