You need a permit to import if you plan to get the item overseas and bring it into New Zealand.

It is the importer’s responsibility to confirm whether a permit is required. You must have a permit issued by the Firearms Safety Authority to import firearms, pistol carbine and air pistol carbine conversion kits, and ammunition. 

You may also need a permit for certain kinds of magazines, firearms parts, and airguns. A permit must be obtained before the goods are imported into New Zealand; otherwise, they will be seized. 

If you are unsure whether a permit is required, you should contact the Firearms Safety Authority before attempting to import these items at permitfirearms@police.govt.nz  

Find out what firearms and other arms items require a permit to import, and which items you can import without a permit:

Arms items that require a permit to import

You need a permit to possess if you plan to get certain arms items in New Zealand.

Find out which arms items require a permit to possess, who can apply and what you need to provide in your application.

Arms items that require a permit to possess

A permit to import or possess is granted for a specific item. You must apply for the permit before importing or taking ownership of it.

You must apply for a permit any time you want to import or possess another item – even if you have had a permit for a similar item in the past.

If you are buying or receiving pistols, restricted weapons or prohibited arms items, you must have the right endorsement on your firearms licence before you can apply for a permit.

An endorsement identifies whether a licence holder can lawfully possess that type of item.

When you apply for an endorsement, you must say why you want to be able to have that type of item.

When you apply for a permit to possess or import, you must also say why you want to possess or import that specific item.

Your reasons for wanting the specific item must align with the reasons you provided in your endorsement application. For example, if you have an arms item in your capacity as a bona fide collector, you cannot use that arms item for another purpose, such as shooting in a pistol target shooting club.

Having an endorsement does not automatically mean you can possess or import any pistol, restricted weapon, prohibited firearm or prohibited magazine – you must apply for a permit, and be approved, for each item.

Endorsements

Issuing permits is part of how we impose controls on firearms to promote their safe possession and use.

• Arms Act 1983, section 1A – Purposes of the Act | New Zealand Legislation website
• Arms Act 1983, section 4A – Persons who may apply to import, manufacture, sell, supply, possess, or use prohibited items | New Zealand Legislation website