At some point in time, you’ve probably watched an American hunting show and daydreamed about what it would be like to own a pump-action shotgun or a semi-automatic rifle. This thought is likely to have led you down the rabbit hole that is the firearms registry website. Some people find their language too difficult to understand, so we’ve broken it down into more easily digestible chunks. What are the requirements for a category C/D licence in Victoria? Read on to find out more.
Overview
In order to obtain the above-mentioned firearm types, you are required to obtain a Category C or D licence. The access requirements for these categories are far more restrictive than a standard A/B licence application. For many of us, this makes ownership unrealistic or just plain unobtainable. However, for those of us who are able, the rewards are well worth the effort.
Before we get into the gritty details, we’ll look at the differences between each licence type.
Category C/D, what’s the difference?
The main difference between these two licence types is the magazine capacity limit of the firearms and the evidence requirements to obtain the licence, with Category C being the lesser of the two.
Category C
This licence will allow you to possess, carry, or use:
- semi-automatic rimfire rifles with a magazine capacity of no more than 10 rounds
- semi-automatic and pump-action shotguns with a magazine capacity of no more than 5 rounds; and
- tranquilliser guns.
Category D
This licence will allow you to possess, carry, or use:
- semi-automatic rimfire rifles with a magazine capacity of more than 10 rounds
- semi-automatic, pump-action, and lever action shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than 5 rounds; and
- semi-automatic centrefire rifles.
Why do you need it? – Your “genuine reason”
In order to obtain a firearms licence, you’ll need to list a “genuine reason” on your application. This is your justification for the purchase and use of a firearm in your selected category. Each genuine reason has differing evidence requirements and obligations that you will be required to maintain.
General evidence requirements
All evidence provided as part of the application process i.e. rates notices, tax assessments, club membership, or medical reports must be less than 12 months old.
As part of the evidence requirements for Primary Production or Professional Hunting, you must prove that you are “substantially engaged” in the chosen occupation. No legal definition is provided by the Victorian firearms registry, however, if we adopt its usage from Occupational Health and Safety legislation, it means a person who:
(a) is ordinarily engaged in this work as part of their usual business activities; or
(b) is ordinarily ready to perform, for reward, work in this occupation.
You are also required to provide a sufficient explanation as to why your firearm needs cannot be satisfied by a standard Category A, B firearm, or by other means.
Category C – Genuine reasons and evidence requirements
Primary Production – Property requirements.
All Primary Production applications require proof of connection to a property that is used for Primary Production purposes. This property must be located in a ‘rural’ setting and of sufficient size to ensure any projectile discharged from a firearm remains within the boundaries of the property. No minimum land size is listed.
Primary Production – Landowner.
You must provide evidence that you are substantially engaged in the business of Primary Production as a land owner, this includes:
- Evidence of continual land ownership, e.g. a recent rates notice that is issued in your name; and
- The most recent income tax assessment showing the business of Primary
Production; or a letter from a tax agent or accountant declaring that you are a Primary Producer or Hobby Farmer in accordance with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) assessment criteria.
Primary Production – Lessee
Evidence that you are substantially engaged in the business of Primary
Production as a lessee, as follows:
- Evidence of your lease on the land used for Primary Production purposes, i.e. Lease Agreement; and
- The most recent income tax assessment showing the business of Primary
Production, or a letter from a tax agent or accountant declaring that you are a Primary Producer or Hobby Farmer in accordance with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) assessment criteria.
Primary Production – Share Farmer
Evidence that you are substantially engaged in the business of Primary
Production as a share farmer is as follows:
- Evidence of the share farming arrangement, i.e. contract or letter from the
landowner, showing your connection to the land used for Primary
Production purposes; and - The most recent income tax assessment showing the business of Primary
Production, or a letter from a tax agent or accountant declaring that you are a Primary Producer or Hobby Farmer in accordance with the Australian Tax Office (ATO) assessment criteria.
Primary Production – Manager
Evidence that you are substantially engaged in the business of Primary
Production as a manager, as follows:
- A signed and dated document from the Primary Production owner or lessee
who employs you. In their letter, the employer must include their full name,
contact details, their Australian Business Number (ABN), the land location and
size. This document must also contain: your full name, the type of Primary
Production activities undertaken by you as a Manager and the total hours
spent on Primary Production activities.
Primary Production – Employee
Evidence that you are employed full-time in the business of Primary Production as an employee (whether paid or unpaid):
- A signed and dated document from the Primary Production owner or lessee
who employs you. In their letter, the employer must include their full name,
contact details, their Australian Business Number (ABN), the land location and
size. The document must also contain: your full name; the type of Primary
Production activities undertaken by you as an employee and the total hours
spent on Primary Production activities.
Tranquiliser
If the application is for the use of a tranquiliser gun, the following additional
evidence must be submitted:
- A letter from the veterinary surgeon that will be dispensing and
providing the tranquiliser drugs. The letter must verify that they have
informed you of the appropriate dosages, including detail of the quantities
that will be dispensed at a time and confirm your competency to safely
handle and administer tranquilliser darts to an animal; and - Standard Operating Procedures detailing the manner in which the animal
will be tranquilised; captured or rescued; and - An accredited training certificate in chemical capture or sedation of
animals; and - A current permit or letter of authorisation from a government
department authorising the use of tranquiliser gun for the
capture/relocation of wildlife; and - Proof of public liability insurance.
If you intend to use a tranquiliser gun in areas that constitute a public place,
you must also submit a Public Place Permit application with this licence application. To download this form, go to www.police.vic.gov.au/firearms and access the ‘Firearm forms and reference information’ page.
Professional Hunter
- A letter from your tax agent, verifying that you are substantially dependent on hunting as a source of income; OR other written evidence that you are substantially dependent on hunting as a source of income, e.g. tax assessment and recent contracts; and
- Copies of current contracts or formal agreements to hunt professionally; and,
- Provide a sufficient explanation as to why your needs cannot be satisfied
by a Category A, B firearm, or by other means.
Clay target (Non-medical)
This option is only valid for those who have held a Category C licence and clay target membership since November 1996. Unfortunately, this genuine reason excludes new applicants.
Clay Target (Medical)
- Evidence that you are a current member of an Approved Clay Target
Shooting Club or Organisation in Victoria, for example, a copy of your
current membership card or club endorsement letter; and - A current medical report from your treating doctor, as evidence of
physical disability. This report must specify the nature and duration of the
physical disability, indicate suitability in continuance of Clay Target
Shooting, include an explanation as to how the use of a semi-automatic
shotgun will overcome the disability and why the use of recoil dampeners
or pads, low recoil target loads, barrel porting, etc. would not overcome
the disability.
Clay Target – Possession on behalf of a Junior licence holder
- A copy of your current membership card or club endorsement from an
Approved Clay Target Shooting Club or Organisation in Victoria; and - Evidence that the junior is a current financial member of an Approved
Clay Target Shooting Club or Organisation (i.e. a copy of their
membership card or club endorsement) and holds a current junior
licence.
Official, commercial, or prescribed purpose or for a purpose authorised by an Act or Regulations
Provide sufficient information and documentation to support the genuine reason of official, commercial, or prescribed purpose, or for a purpose authorised by an Act or Regulations relating to your application. For specific evidence requirements, contact Licensing & Regulation Division (LRD) on 1300 651 645.
Category D – Genuine reasons and evidence requirements
Professional Hunter
- A letter from your tax agent, verifying that you are substantially dependent on hunting as a source of income; OR other written evidence that you are substantially dependent on hunting as a source of income, e.g. tax assessment and recent contracts;
- Copies of contracts or formal agreements to hunt professionally; and
- A letter that describes the animals you intend to hunt, stating why the
specific category of licence is required, and why a lesser category of
firearm could not meet these needs.
Official, commercial, or prescribed purpose or for a purpose authorised by an Act or Regulations
Provide sufficient information and documentation to support the genuine reasons of official, commercial, or prescribed purpose, or for a purpose authorised by an Act or Regulations relating to your application. For specific evidence requirements, contact Licensing & Regulation Division (LRD) on 1300 651 645.
Evidence to renew your Cat C/D licence
The evidence to renew your licence is the same as that of a new application.
How to apply:
You can complete an application through the Victoria Police eServices Standard identification requirements and background checks apply as per a category A/B licence.
