Check what the endorsement allows you to do, who can apply, and what you need to provide in your application.
Find out how to apply or reapply for an endorsement, how much it costs, and what to expect after you submit your application.
Before you begin
If you’re reapplying for (‘renewing’) your endorsement
Your employee endorsement continues in force for one year and is linked to your own firearms licence and your employer’s dealer licence. This means, your endorsement will expire after one year or if one of the following occurs first:
- Your firearms licence expires
- Your endorsement is surrendered or revoked
- You cease to be employed by the licensed dealer
- The licensed dealer’s licence expires
- The licensed dealer’s licence is surrendered or revoked
- The licensed dealer’s endorsement is revoked.- Your employer should tell you when they renew their dealer licence. Your endorsement is connected to the dealer’s licence, and you may need to provide us with updated information.
- If we receive your application before your current endorsement expires, you can continue to handle endorsed items as part of your work for a licensed dealer until the new one is issued.
- Note: Reapplying for an endorsement is often referred to as a ‘renewal’, but you are not actually renewing your old endorsement. Each time you apply for an endorsement, your application is considered in full against the requirements of the Arms Act 1983.
If you’re applying for a licence as well as an endorsement
- If you are applying for or renewing a licence and endorsements, you must complete an application form for the licence and another application form for the endorsements.
- There is a fee for each.
How much it costs
Application fees:
It costs $204 to apply for an endorsement.
If you apply for other endorsements at the same time, you only pay $204 in total.
This endorsement fee is in addition to a firearms licence application fee.
Endorsement application fee reminder (two options - pay once)
There are two options to pay your endorsement application fee, but you should only pay once:
• online through MyFirearms, OR
• at a NZ Post shop.
The easiest way to pay is through MyFirearms as part of an online endorsement application (Please note a 1.9% surcharge applies to card payments).
If you are not applying through MyFirearms, pay your application fee at a NZ Post shop.
Fees include GST, cover the cost of processing your application, and are not refundable, regardless of the outcome of your application.
How to apply
Firearms dealer employees whose Firearms F endorsements are due to expire in the coming months are being encouraged to contact the Firearms Compliance Dealer Team to discuss their circumstances to ensure continuity of business operations.
Contact the Dealer Team by email at firearmscompliance@police.govt.nz
What to expect after you submit your application
Once your application has been received, we will carry out further checks.
This includes:
- Arranging an in-person interview with you to discuss your application
- Interviewing your referee and asking them to complete a questionnaire.
Approving or refusing your application
If we approve your application, you’ll receive a letter.
If we do not approve your application, you’ll receive a letter saying we intend to refuse it. You’ll be given the opportunity to respond to the consideration of refusal. If you do not make a submission or your submission is insufficient, you’ll receive a final refusal letter.
If it is refused, you may appeal to the District Court.
You must appeal within 20 working days of the refusal decision (unless the court gives special leave to extend that time).
Arms Act 1983, section 62B – Right of appeal to District Court | Legislation website
Last updated
25 May 2026
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