Arms Act 1983

Firearms licences, endorsements, and permits to possess - Firearms licences

25A: Application for new firearms licence made by holder of current licence

You could also call this:

"Applying for a new firearms licence when you already have one"

You can apply for a new firearms licence before your current one expires. If you apply for a new licence but it is not approved before your current one expires, your current licence stays valid until you are told about the decision on your new application. A new licence you are given takes effect from the date your current licence expires, or the date the new licence is issued, depending on which happens first.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=LMS791302.

This page was last updated on 27 January 2026 — View changes

Topics:

Crime and justice > Police and safety

25: Duration of firearms licence, or

"How long your firearms licence lasts"

26: Production of firearms licence, or

"Show your firearms licence when a Police officer asks"

Part 5Firearms licences, endorsements, and permits to possess
Firearms licences

25AApplication for new firearms licence made by holder of current licence

The holder of a current firearms licence (licence A) may, before the expiry of licence A, apply for a new firearms licence.
If an application for a new firearms licence is made but not determined before the expiry of licence A, licence A continues in force, unless it is sooner surrendered or revoked, until the date on which the licence holder is notified of the determination of the application.
A new licence issued on an application made under this section takes effect from—
the date on which licence A expires, if the new licence is issued before licence A expires; or
the date on which the new licence is issued, if the new licence is issued after licence A expires.

Notes

Section 25A: inserted, on 29 November 2022, by section 5 of the Arms (Licence Holders' Applications for New Licences) Amendment Act 2022 (2022 No 69).