The importation of ammunition (including components), magazines, firearm parts and firearm accessories is controlled under the Regulations. Importers must obtain permission before bringing ammunition and magazines into Australia.
When ammunition is being imported with the firearms, the ammunition can generally be listed on the same import document as the firearms.
Ammunition and components of Ammunition
To import ammunition and components of ammunition into Australia, importers must obtain prior to importation, one of the following:
- written certification from the police firearms or weapons registry in their state or territory
- written permission to import from the Attorney-General's Department (small and large calibre).
Ammunition for use with firearms, also known as rounds, bullets, and cartridges, is controlled under the Regulations. This includes ammunition for paintball markers, soft air (BB) pellets as well as ball or shot projectiles for muzzle-loading firearms.
Components of ammunition include projectiles, cartridge casings, whether new or spent, and primers designed or adapted for use in ammunition are also controlled under the Regulations.
Police Certification
General purpose ammunition can be imported into Australia under Police Certification. This will be a B709A - Importation of Firearms – Police Confirmation and Certification form. Handgun Ammunition can also be imported on a B709D - Category H – Police Confirmation and Certification form.
Firearm dealers can also use a B709DA - Ongoing Importation by Firearms Dealer – Police Confirmation form.
Forms can be obtained from your state or territory police firearms and weapons registry.
The original signed form you receive from the police registry must be presented to the ABF at the time of importation (or a copy of the B709DA).
Attorney-General's Department Permit
Police Certification does not apply to specialised ammunition (and components) such as the following:
- tracer
- frangible
- explosive
- incendiary
- armour piercing
- penetrator
- Saboted Light Armour Piercing (SLAP)
- flechette
- handgun ammunition that is designed, advertised or capable of defeating soft body armour or opaque, glazed or bullet resistant material
- electro-shock cartridge
- large calibre armament.
Importers must apply via the Attorney-General's Department online portal for permission to import these types of ammunition. Importers must present the import permit to the ABF at the time or importation.
Importers must apply for permission through the application to import firearms or firearms related articles portal.
Magazines and components of magazines
To import firearm magazines (complete or unfinished) into Australia, importers must obtain permission prior to importation. A firearm magazine body is considered a magazine.
Police Certification
Police Certification is sufficient to import most firearm magazines into Australia. This certification will generally be a B709A - Importation of Firearms – Police Confirmation and Certification form.
Handgun ammunition can also be imported on a B709D - Category H – Police Confirmation and Certification form.
Firearms dealers can also use a B709DA - Ongoing Importation by Firearms Dealer – Police Confirmation form and provide details of the goods at the time of importation.
Forms can be obtained from your state or territory police firearms and weapons registry.
The original signed form you receive from the police registry must be presented to the ABF at the time of importation (or a copy of the B709DA).
Attorney-General's Department Permit
Permission to import the following goods must be obtained by the Attorney-General's Department:
- detachable firearm magazines with a capacity of more than five rounds for a semi-automatic shotgun, pump-action shotguns or a fully automatic shotguns
- detachable firearm magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds for a semi-automatic rimfire rifle, semi-automatic centre fire rifle, pump-action centre fire rifle, lever-action centre fire rifle, or a fully automatic firearm
- detachable firearm magazines with a capacity of more than 15 rounds for a repeating action centre fire rifle
- magazine extension devices that increase the capacity of integral, tubular or detachable box magazines.
Importers must apply via the Attorney-General's Department online portal for permission to import these goods. Importers must present the import permit to the ABF at the time of importation.
Importers must apply for permission through the application to import firearms or firearms related articles portal.
Firearm Parts
To import firearm parts into Australia, importers must first obtain written certification from the police firearms or weapons registry in their state or territory or written permission to import from the Attorney-General's Department prior to importation.
Firearms parts, whether or not complete, damaged, temporarily or permanently inoperable or unfinished, include:
- a gas piston, friction ring, action bar, breech bolt or breech block
- a firearm barrel
- a trigger mechanism
- a frame or receiver
- a slide
- an upper receiver
- a lower receiver
- a revolving cylinder
- a bolt carrier
- a folding stock
- a detachable stock
- an adjustable stock (which adjusts by more than 120 millimetres)
- something other than a complete firearm, that includes one or more of the above items.
Police certification
You require Police Certification to import parts for category A and B firearms. Certification will be in the form of a B709A - Importation of Firearms – Police Confirmation and Certification form.
The Police Certification for the importation of handgun parts is the B709D - Category H – Police Confirmation and Certification form. There are restrictions on handgun barrels or magazines imported by sports shooters.
Firearms dealers can also use a B709DA form and provide details of the goods at the time of importation.
Only primary producers can import category C firearm parts using a B709A form. Other importers, including firearm dealers, will require written permission from the Attorney-General's Department.
You must present the original signed form you receive from the police registry to the ABF at the time of importation (or a copy of the B709DA).
Attorney-General's Department Permit
Police certification does not apply to firearm parts with the following characteristics:
- category C firearm parts (other than those imported by primary producers)
- category D firearm parts
- automatic and other prohibited firearm parts
- a firearm part for any firearm that is capable of converting, either on its own or in conjunction with other parts, a single-shot or repeating action firearm to a semi-automatic or fully automatic firearm.
Importers must apply via the Attorney-General's Department online portal for permission to import these goods. Importers must present the import permit to the ABF at the time of importation.
Importers must apply for permission through the application to import firearms or firearms related articles portal.
Sports shooters
Restricted category C
The Attorney-General's Department can grant permission to import 'restricted' Category C firearm parts for use by sports shooters and international sports shooters.
Certified sports shooters and international sports shooters are limited to importing restricted Category C firearms only.
A certified sports shooter must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident and be registered shooter with the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA).
An international sports shooter must be travelling to Australia to compete in Olympic, Paralympic, or Commonwealth Games and associated events, or an event organised by the ACTA. These goods must be exported by the international sports shooter.
Handguns
In addition to obtaining a B709D form for handgun parts, the following restrictions apply to handgun barrels or magazines imported by sports shooters:
- barrels for semi-automatic pistols must have a minimum barrel length of 120 millimetres
- barrels for revolvers and single shot handguns must be a minimum of 100 millimetres in length
- barrels for all handguns must be of .38” calibre or less however, where barrels are being imported for use in a specially accredited sporting event they may be up to .45" calibre.
Barrel length requirements do not apply to handguns designed or adapted for competition target shooting.
These restrictions do not apply to black powder and muzzle-loading pistols and cap-and-ball percussion-fired revolver parts.
Firearm accessories
To import firearm accessories into Australia, importers must first obtain written permission from the Attorney-General's Department.
Permission to import might only be granted where the firearm accessories are for specific purposes.
Firearm accessories, whether or not complete, damaged, temporarily or permanently inoperable or unfinished, include:
- a silencer, sound moderator, sound suppressor or any other device designed to, or capable of, reducing the noise of discharge of a firearm
- a device designed to modify, or capable of converting, a firearm to give it burst fire, semi-automatic operation or fully automatic operation
- a firearm part to which a firearm accessory is attached or is integral.
Importers must apply via the Attorney-General's Department online portal for permission to import these goods. Importers must present the import permit to the ABF at the time of importation.
Importers must apply for permission through the application to import firearms or firearms related articles portal.
