- be 16 years of age or over
- hold a current firearms licence in your home country
- be from a country that has similar firearms safety and licensing practices to New Zealand
- complete an online application at least four months before your visit to New Zealand
- demonstrate you are a fit and proper person to possess and use firearms while in New Zealand.
Note
Being a fit and proper person means you meet a certain standard of conduct and character. It is up to you to satisfy New Zealand Police that you are fit and proper.
- criminal convictions, including driving-related offences
- pending criminal charges
- unsatisfied judgements in court
- adverse findings against you by a court in civil proceedings.
If your home country/state does not issue firearms licences:
- Some countries or states do not issue firearms licences. If you are from a country or state that does not issue firearms licences, you will need to provide proof that you can legally own a firearm in your own country/state, and that you have been trained in the safe use of firearms.
- You can do so by uploading a copy of one of the following:
- Hunting permit.
- Concealed carry permit.
- Hunter education certificate.
- Other relevant document.
- You will also need to provide proof of your good character, such as a certified criminal history. See Immigration New Zealand’s advice on how to obtain a police certificate (also known as a criminal history check) from other countries.
You cannot get a visitor firearms licence and must instead apply for a New Zealand firearms licence if:
- you intend to stay in New Zealand for longer than 12 months
- you intend to immigrate to New Zealand.
The application process
See Apply for visitor firearms licence & import permits page for step-by-step instructions to apply for a visitor firearms licence.
Once your application for a visitor firearms licence has been approved, you can only make minor changes to your arrival date. If you change either of these dates you will have to re-apply for your visitor firearms licence, including paying another application fee.
If your application is approved, you will receive an email advising you of your approved application and the conditions that apply.
If your application is refused, we will write to tell you why it has been refused.