Step 1: Log in

Visit the Visitor Firearms Licence Application and log in with RealMe. You’ll need your mobile phone to carry out the security check.

If you don’t have a RealMe login you will be prompted to create one before you start your application.

Visitor’s firearms licence application form

Step 2: Create your user registration

For first time service users only.

If you have not used the visitor licence service before you will need to create a user profile. Follow the prompts and complete the form.

You will be asked to provide your full name, country of birth, date of birth, telephone numbers and your residential address.  

Complete the confirmation of registration sent via email to activate your user registration.

A user registration is unique to each person. Do not allow your user ID to be used by another person to submit a Visitor Licence Application.

To update details, select 'Modify personal/contact details' from 'Apply'. 

Step 3: Complete the Visitor Firearms Licence form

In the ‘Manage my Firearms’ page select ‘Visitor Firearms Licence' under the heading ‘Apply’. A new form will be displayed for you to fill in.

If you are returning to continue a draft application, select it from the ‘My Applications’ tab.

You must provide the following documents with your application:

• Passport Document (the details and photo page).
• A passport type photo image of you (not a photo of your passport).
• Home country firearms licence or permit or equivalent document.

Depending on the purpose of your visit the following may be required:

• Confirmation of your target shooting competition entry
• Guided hunting outfitter confirmation of reservation
• Department of Conservation hunting permit
• Hunting ballot confirmation
• New Zealand Fish and Game gamebird licence.

Have photo images or PDF files of the documents ready before you start filling in the form. You must upload requested documents or images for a page before you can move to the next page of the form.

You must provide full details for each firearm, part or magazine and the number of rounds of ammunition you wish to import.

You can save your incomplete application at any step and return later to complete it.

Your licence application is completed in the following order:

1. Licence Eligibility: confirm you are eligible to apply for a Visitor Licence.
    
2. Theory Test: You must successfully complete the Visitor Theory test as part of the application before continuing with your application. The test is based on the New Zealand Firearms Safety Code.
    
3. Identification: Provide details of your passport, upload a copy of the identity page of your passport AND a passport style photograph (head and upper shoulders only).
    
4. Travel details: Provide full details of your travel arrangements.  
    
5. Visit: Describe why you are travelling to New Zealand, details of hotels you will use, and your planned hunting or shooting competition(s). Indicate if you wish to bring your own firearm(s) with you.
    
6. Firearms licence: Provide details of your firearms licence or equivalent permit to possess and use firearms in your home country and upload a copy of the licence or permit.
    
7. Firearms: Provide details of each firearm you wish to bring with you. If you wish to bring detachable magazines, parts or complete live ammunition provide details of each item.
    
8. Security: Provide details of the New Zealand licence holder who will provide secure storage for your arms items when they are not in use. If you will provide your own security, you must provide full details of the security measures you will take.
    
9. Declaration: Tick the check boxes to acknowledge you have read the declarations.

Step 4: Pay the fee

You can pay online with Visa or Mastercard.

Step 5: Submit your application

Once the fee has been paid, your application is automatically submitted. You will receive an email to confirm that we’ve received your application. The email will contain the application reference number (format VLA-nnnnnnn). To enquire about your application please include the reference number in your email.

Next steps

Your application will be reviewed and prioritised for processed based on your arrival date in New Zealand.  

The visitor licence team will get in contact if we have any questions about your application. 

Otherwise, you can expect to hear from us closer to your arrival date.

The Visitor licensing team will add any firearms or major firearms parts to the Firearms Registry when they are approved for import, as required under Arms Act 1983 s94 and s95; and Arms Regulations 1992 r40 and subsequent regulations. 

If you wish to contact us about your application email us at firearms@police.govt.nz 

Due to high numbers of applications being received, we are unable to guarantee processing of applications submitted less than four weeks before the arrival date.