Firearms subject to sanctions
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) administers Australian sanctions.
Firearms fall under the definition of 'arms or related matériel' under Australian autonomous and Charter of the United Nations sanctions frameworks. A number of these sanctions frameworks impose import or export measures on arms or related matériel.
Australian export sanctions apply to firearms that are directly or indirectly supplied to a sanctioned country.
Australian import sanctions apply to firearms that:
- are exported from a sanctioned country or
- were manufactured or originated in a sanctioned country, and were exported from a non-sanctioned country (e.g. if a firearm was made in a sanctioned country, but was being imported into Australia from the United States of America or the United Kingdom).
To view a list of sanctioned countries and the sanctions measures that apply to them, see the DFAT website's
Sanctions regimes page.
You require a sanctions permit to import or export firearms between Australia and a sanctioned country. Sanctions permits are a separate requirement to other permits issued by government agencies regarding imports and exports. You should obtain a sanctions permit prior to importing or exporting firearms into, or from, Australia. Importing or exporting sanctioned goods without a permit is an offence under Australian sanctions law.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs may grant a sanctions permit provided the import or export meets:
You can find information on permits, including how to apply on the DFAT website’s
Sanctions Permits page.
