1. Join an Approved Handgun Club
You must become a financial member of an approved Victorian handgun shooting club, such as the VPPC. This establishes your legal “genuine reason” for holding a licence.
2. Complete the Handgun Safety Course
Before applying, you must complete the approved Category H firearm safety course. VPPC runs regular Firearm Safety Courses, available to approved members only, with dates sent to all club members via email.
3. Wait 6 Months as a Club Member
You must be a member of your approved handgun club for at least 6 months and participate in 5 shoots before applying for a full General Category Handgun Licence.
During this period, you can shoot under supervision using a Notification of Receiving Instruction (NORI). There is a lifetime limit of 13 NORIs.
If you expect to exceed this, speak to someone about a provisional Handgun Licence.
4. Apply for a Full General Category Handgun Licence
After 6 months of membership:
- Obtain club endorsement
- Complete fingerprinting
- Apply online via Victoria Police eServices
- Submit certified ID documents
- Pay the licence fee once approved
A minimum 28-day waiting period applies.
Apply here: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/apply-for-a-new-firearm-licence
5. Install Compliant Storage
Before purchasing a handgun, you must have compliant storage in place, including an approved safe and separate ammunition storage:
- firearms must be stored in a purpose-built steel storage receptacle
- the steel must be of a thickness of at least 1.6mm (which complies with Australian/New Zealand Standard 1594:2002)
- if the receptacle weighs less than 150 kilograms when it is empty, it must be bolted to the structure of the premises
- when firearms are stored in the receptacle, it must be locked with a lock of sturdy construction.
Storage requirements: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/firearm-storage
6. Apply for a Permit to Acquire (PTA)
You must apply for a Permit to Acquire for each handgun. Your first firearm has a mandatory 28-day waiting period.
PTA information: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/acquiring-transferring-and-selling-firearms
7. Purchase Through a Licensed Dealer
Once your PTA is approved, you purchase the handgun through a licensed firearms dealer. The dealer completes the transfer and registration, and you start competing with your own handgun!
8. Ongoing Participation Requirements
Once you hold a full General Category Handgun Licence and own a handgun for target shooting, you must meet Victoria Police annual participation requirements to maintain your licence.
If you own one handgun (one class), you must complete a minimum of 10 approved participation events (on separate days) per year, with at least 6 of those being matches as a competitor.
If you own additional handgun classes, the minimum number of required events increases. For example, owning three classes requires 12 events per year, and four classes requires 16 events per year, with at least four events undertaken for each class owned. Failure to meet participation requirements may result in licence cancellation and surrender of handguns.
Any questions? Contact the VPPC or check out the Victoria Police Licensing page: