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Airgun law · World
Are Airguns Legal in Australia?
Mostly no, or only under severe restrictions.
Treated at or near firearm level, with an effective ban or major criminal-law exposure for ordinary ownership.
Tier 1: Severely Restricted
Effective civilian ban or extreme criminal penalties for unlicensed possession.
AU
The picture at a glance
Each measure below scores how restrictive Australia is on that part of owning or transferring an airgun, from permissive (green) to firearm-level (red).
ClassificationTreated as firearm
Age rule18+
PossessionVariable
Transfer / saleLicensed dealer process
TransportFirearm transport rules
AuthorityUnclear
Before you buy or sell
- ALL airguns are firearms regardless of power.
- Gun-law reforms are rolling out state by state and airguns are caught by them: WA's Firearms Act 2024 caps firearms per licence (e.g. 5 on an individual hunting licence) as licences transition; after the Dec 2025 Bondi attack NSW limited new and renewed licences to 2 years (from 1 Jul 2026) and legislated 4- or 10-firearm caps (buyback for owners over the cap from 2 Nov 2026) and Category B status for semi-automatic air guns (on proclamation); Queensland has limited licences to Australian citizens since 3 Aug 2026, with sport/target and occupational exceptions. Check your state registry before buying.
The rules in detail
Classification
Treated as firearm
ALL air guns classified as firearms regardless of power. National Firearms Agreement framework; states/territories implement.
Age rule
18+
Varies by state/territory; typically 18+ for licence.
Possession
Variable
Possession/licensing largely state/territory-based; air rifles in Category A/B; air handguns in Category H. Airguns count toward new per-licence firearm caps: WA Firearms Act 2024 s. 30 (in force 31 Mar 2025): 5 on a Hunting Licence, 10 on a Competition or Primary Producer Licence; NSW Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025: 4 for recreational hunting/vermin control, 10 for sport/target, pest control and primary production, and semi-automatic air guns move to Category B (these NSW provisions start on proclamation; buyback from 2 Nov 2026).
Transfer / sale
Licensed dealer process
Through licensed dealers; state-territory registry.
Transport
Firearm transport rules
Cased; full firearm transport rules.
Authority
Unclear
National import controls; state-territory licensing.
Hunting with an airgun
Varies by state/territory; airguns used for pest control where licensed.
Deer
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed
Turkey
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed
Small game
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed
Predators
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed
Other big game
Unresolved / not addressed
Not listed
Import & travel
Local & import notes
Visitor procedure
Import requires a single-use B709 police certification from state police BEFORE import; since 22 Jan 2026 ongoing certifications (B709DA/B709X) are void, handguns need a Department of Home Affairs import permit via the Firearms Portal, and the Minister can refuse an import permission on public-safety grounds (Australian Customs Notice 2026/02). The process is long and involves many agencies; most competition shooters and visiting hunters rent locally. Airsoft is banned in most states.
Keep exploring
This is a plain-language summary compiled from primary statutes and official guidance. It isn't legal advice. Laws change and local rules vary, so verify the current rules with the relevant authority before buying, selling, or hunting.