• is a person of good conduct and character
• possesses and uses firearms responsibly
• stores firearms and ammunition securely
• abides by the laws of New Zealand.

• your overall character and conduct
• information provided by you and your referees
• information we hold or receive from any source.

The Arms Act 1983 gives some circumstances in which Te Tari Pūreke may find you are not a fit and proper person to use and possess firearms. If any of these circumstances apply to you, we do not automatically refuse your application.

We will probably have more questions if you have:

• been charged with or convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment been charged with or convicted of an offence under the Arms Act 1983, against section 231A of the Crimes Act 1961, or against the Game Animal Council Act 2013, the Wildlife Act 1953, or the Wild Animal Control Act 1977
• had a protection order made against you under section 79 of the Family Violence Act 2018, or section 14 of the Domestic Violence Act 1995
• given grounds for a protection order under the Family Violence Act 2018
• had a restraining order made against you under the Harassment Act 1997
• not complied with the requirements of the Arms Act, regulations made under the Arms Act, or the conditions of a permit, licence, or endorsement issued to you under the Arms Act
• been a member or affiliated with a gang or organised criminal group
• exhibited, encouraged, or promoted violence, hatred, or extremism
• been assessed as a risk to national security
• a mental or physical illness or injury that affects your ability to safely possess firearms
• abused alcohol or been dependent on alcohol
• used drugs that affect your judgement or behaviour.

If Te Tari Pūreke deems you not fit and proper, we will advise you of our reasons and give you the opportunity to refute or comment on it.

The photograph must meet the minimum requirements as set out in Regulation 30 of the Arms Regulations 1992. Passport photos from commercial outlets will typically meet these requirements. 

This means the photograph must: 

• have been taken within the last 12 months 
• be a full front view of your face – chin to forehead and both sides of your face
• show head and shoulders, with the head filling most of the photograph
• be of you without a hat or head covering (except where your religion requires you to wear a hat or head covering)
• have a plain, light-coloured background
• be in colour and in focus
• be in portrait format (with a 4:3 aspect ratio)
• be in JPG or JPEG format
• be between 25KB and 10MB
• be between 900 and 4500 pixels wide and 1200 and 6000 pixels high.

We will not accept photographs that do not meet these standards

Proof of your good character is a police certificate or criminal history check from your home country. 

Use the tool on the Immigration New Zealand website to find out how to get the right documentation from your home country. 

How to get a police certificate – Immigration New Zealand website

Some countries and jurisdictions, like some states of the United States, do not issue firearms licences. 

If you are from a country or state that does not issue firearms licences, you must have a document that shows you: 

• can legally own a firearm in your home country 
• are trained in the safe use of firearms. 

Example documents: 

• hunting permit 
• concealed carry permit 
• hunter education certificate.