Because different parts of the Act commence at different times, firearms owners should be careful to distinguish between measures already in operation, provisions that commenced on 3 August, and changes that will not apply until 2027.
New citizenship requirements commenced on 3 August
The most recent change affects eligibility to hold a Queensland weapons licence.
From 3 August 2026, an applicant must generally be an Australian citizen and reside only in Queensland to be eligible for a Queensland weapons licence.
There are limited exceptions for non-Australian citizens who can demonstrate one of the following genuine reasons:
- sport or target shooting through an approved shooting club and range; or
- an occupational requirement, including certain primary production, rural employment or animal-welfare purposes.
Permanent residents who have not obtained Australian citizenship are treated as non-citizens for the purposes of these provisions.
The change has particular significance for non-citizens who previously relied on recreational shooting on rural land as their genuine reason. Queensland Police has advised that this is not an eligible exception under the new citizenship requirement.
Existing non-citizen licence holders do not appear to lose their licence automatically on 3 August. However, Queensland Police has advised that their genuine reason and licence conditions will be reviewed when they apply to renew. Applications for a new licence or renewal that had been lodged but not decided before commencement are also subject to the new requirements.
Non-citizens must provide evidence of their citizenship or residency status when applying for or renewing a licence. This may include a foreign or New Zealand passport, visa information, a current Visa Entitlement Verification Online document or an ImmiCard. For temporary visa holders, the expiry of a weapons licence will generally be aligned with the expiry of the visa.
A non-citizen granted a licence under an exception will be authorised only for the approved genuine reason. Queensland Police has stated that complementary conditions allowing firearms to be possessed or used for additional purposes cannot be added to those licences.
For most Australian citizen licence holders, the new citizenship test will not change their existing genuine reason, licence category or ordinary hunting activities.
Other firearms provisions already in force
A number of other firearms-related provisions commenced when the Act received Royal Assent on 11 March 2026.
These include:
- higher maximum penalties for serious offences involving unlawful possession, supply, trafficking, shortening or modification of firearms, and alteration of identification marks;
- a specific offence of recklessly discharging a weapon towards a building or vehicle;
- offences relating to the possession or distribution of digital blueprint material intended for the manufacture of firearms using a 3D printer or electronic milling machine;
- an increase in the maximum penalty for stealing a firearm or ammunition; and
- broader information that may be considered when determining whether a person is fit and proper to hold a weapons licence.
The expanded fit-and-proper assessment provisions allow authorised officers to consider relevant violent or weapons-related charges and convictions in a wider range of circumstances, including some spent or non-recorded convictions and charges that were withdrawn, discharged or struck out. The existence of this information does not necessarily determine the outcome of an application; it forms part of the assessment undertaken by Weapons Licensing.
The Act also contains reforms to Queensland’s Firearm Prohibition Order regime. However, the principal provisions replacing and expanding that regime had not yet been proclaimed to commence at the time of publication. Licence holders should therefore watch for a separate commencement announcement and supporting guidance from Queensland Police.
Steel storage requirement begins in March 2027
A further practical change will commence on 12 March 2027.
From that date, Category A, B, C, E and M weapons will have to be stored in a solid steel safe or container meeting the requirements of the Weapons Regulation 2016. Solid timber storage containers will no longer satisfy the prescribed storage standard for these categories.
Licence holders currently using an otherwise compliant timber container will need to replace it with compliant solid-steel storage before the commencement date. The change applies to all Queensland licence holders storing weapons in the affected categories, not only to new applicants.
The existing obligation to take reasonable precautions against unauthorised access continues to apply. Keys and combinations should be kept secure and inaccessible to anyone who is not legally authorised to access the firearms.
What Queensland hunters should do
Queensland hunters should review their circumstances well before their next licence application or renewal.
Non-citizens should confirm whether their genuine reason remains eligible and assemble the necessary citizenship, visa, club-membership or occupational documents. Anyone currently using timber firearm storage should begin planning an upgrade before 12 March 2027.
All licence holders should also ensure that Weapons Licensing is notified within 14 days of relevant changes to personal details or circumstances, including changes to visa status, address, genuine reason, business operations or physical and mental fitness.
The Australian Deer Association encourages members to obtain current guidance directly from the Queensland Police Service Weapons Licensing Group where the application of the reforms to an individual licence is uncertain.
Further information is available from the Queensland Police Weapons News page, the QPS licensing requirements for non-Australian citizens fact sheet, and the Queensland legislation website.
This article provides general information and is not legal advice. Firearms owners remain responsible for ensuring that their individual licensing, use and storage arrangements comply with Queensland law.
