Visiting Queensland with weapons

Under the Weapons Act 1990, it is an offence to possess a weapon in Queensland without authorisation. International visitors to Queensland must hold a visitor’s licence if they plan to use a weapon while here.

Visitors from other states or territories in Australia may not need a visitor’s licence, as long as they hold an interstate licence recognised in Queensland.

Interstate licences and permits

If you are visiting Queensland from another state, your interstate licence is mutually recognised provided: 

• You are licensed for the same purpose on your interstate licence, and
• You are participating in a shooting competition including training for a competition and receiving training in the use of category M crossbows; or
• You are shooting recreationally (hunting) on rural land only with the express consent of the owner; or
• You have an occupational requirement to shoot on rural land for a rural purpose.

All other purposes will require a visitor’s licence.

Applying for a visitor’s licence

A visitor’s licence in Queensland will only be issued to people taking part in sports shooting competitions, hunting tours or other occupational activities in Queensland.

The licence is valid for a specific purpose and period of time (up to three months). If you want to extend your stay, you will have to apply for a new visitor’s licence.

You should apply for the licence at least 42 days before the proposed visit. This will allow enough time for all enquiries and statutory checks to be completed.

If you need a licence more urgently, please contact Weapons Licensing directly.

Handgun information for visitors

​Queensland legislation restricts the use of handguns with calibres of more than .38 inch but not more than .45 inch for sports or target shooting. For such weapons, magazine capacity is restricted to 10 rounds or less and they may only be used for the following “accredited events”:

• A metallic silhouette competition
• A single action competition

For the purposes of obtaining a visitor's licence, the Authorised Officer of Weapons Licensing requires all concealable licence (sports or target shooting) holders to establish the barrel length of each category H weapon that the licence holder wishes to use. 

You are not permitted to use concealable firearms for recreational shooting.

Transporting weapons and ammunition on aircraft

Specific regulations apply to travelling by air with weapons and ammunition. Learn more

International visitors

International visitors wanting to use weapons in Queensland must apply for a visitor's licence. To apply for a visitor’s licence, you must be entitled by law to possess and use a weapon in the state or country where you normally reside.

If you plan to visit other Australian states and territories, your Queensland visitor’s licence may not be recognised there. Make sure you contact the relevant state firearm registry to check.

If you want to bring your firearms into Australia, you need to apply for:

• A Queensland Weapons Act visitor’s licence (to allow you to possess, carry and use weapons/firearms during your stay); and
• An import permit B709 to allow you to bring firearms into the country.

Visiting other Australian states and territories as well as Queensland 

If you are applying for a visitor's licence from Queensland and plan to move between different Australian states and territories during your stay, your licence may have mutual recognition. However, this is not always automatically the case. 

To ensure your Queensland licence is recognised by other jurisdictions, please contact the appropriate state firearm registry to establish their licensing requirements. ​

Interstate firearms dealers

To attend approved arms fairs and trade shows in Queensland, interstate firearms dealers need to hold a valid visitor’s licence and been granted an exemption from specific provisions of the Weapons Act 1990.

To apply you must complete the application for a visitors licence and provide the following information, in writing, in support of your application:

• Details of your reason for coming to Queensland
• Details of all business activities you seek to undertake
• Details of your dealership business name, address and a copy of your dealer’s licence
• The specific details of all firearms you will bring into Queensland, nominating make, model, calibre, action and serial number
• Details of how the weapons will be transported while in Queensland, outlining the security measures in place, both while under transportation and at the nominated arms fair
• The expected date of arrival and departure from Queensland, and
• An outline of the measures that have been put in place to ensure unauthorised persons do not gain access to the weapons in your possession.

Weapons details

It is recognised that, from time to time, dealers may be attending other arms fairs before arrival in Queensland. Consequently the specific details of weapons being brought into Queensland may change. 

In this instance, you must forward an updated list or copy of your weapons register as soon as possible after the finalisation of business at the arms fair, either by fax or post to Weapons Licensing.