There are strict laws regulating firearms in Singapore.
The manufacture, use, sale, storage, transport, importation, exportation and possession of firearms are strictly prohibited without a valid licence or approval.
Licence applications for self-protection will not be approved, and all other reasons are strictly assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The punishment for any person found in unlawful possession of firearms or ammunition ranges in imprisonment of 5 – 20 years, including caning. Those trafficking in firearms may face the death penalty.
ARMS & EXPLOSIVES LICENCE
Under the Arms and Explosives Act 1913, you have to apply for a licence if you:
- Have in your possession or under your control any guns, arms, explosives, explosive precursors, poisonous or noxious gas or noxious substance;
- Import any guns, arms, explosives, explosive precursors, poisonous or noxious gas or noxious substance;
- Export any guns, arms, explosives, explosive precursors, naval or military stores, poisonous or noxious gas or noxious substance; or
- Manufacture or deal in guns, arms, explosives, explosive precursors, poisonous or noxious gas or noxious substance.
You will also be required to apply for a strategic goods permit, on top of a licence, if you are transhipping or transiting items listed in the Fourth and Fifth Schedule of the Strategic Goods (Control) Regulations respectively. More information can be obtained from Singapore Customs' Website.
For more information on Licence Matters under the Arms and Explosives Regulatory Regime, please visit the following:
- Information on Gun Licence Matters
- Information on Explosive Licence Matters
- Information on Explosive Precursor Licence Matters
- Information on Weapon and Noxious Substance Licence Matters
For request to import toy gun, please use the Controlled Items Request Form which can be downloaded from Useful Links and Downloads to submit your application.
In the submission, please include the following details:
a. Make, Model and colour of Toy Gun
b. Photos of the toy gun
c. Operating Mechanism (battery, spring, air etc)
d. Type of Projectile (if any)
e. Speed of the projectile in Feet per second (FPS)
Please take note that we do not allow the import of toy gun which:
a. Closely resemble a real gun in make and appearance (e.g replica of real firearms);
b. Can easily be modified to look realistic (e.g realistic look models of real firearms in bright colours or are transparent);
c. can shoot hard projectiles (e.g plastic pellets); or
d. are Cap Guns (toy gun which creates loud sound and smoke by hitting on caps which contain minute amount of explosive powder)
Click here for Sample of approved toy guns
Please click here for the list of controlled and prohibited items and common non-regulated weapons.
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NON-REGULATED WEAPONS |
CONTROLLED ITEM |
PROHIBITED ITEM |
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Import |
Allowed |
Subjected to assessment |
Not allowed |
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Export |
Allowed |
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Possess |
Allowed |
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Manufacture |
Not applicable |
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Requirements |
Do not require licence or approval |
Licence, approval or authorisation is required |
Not applicable |
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Offence |
Unlawful possession of such non-regulated weapons in any public place without any lawful purpose may constitute to an offence of Possession of Offensive Weapon or Scheduled Weapon under the Corrosive and Explosives Substances and Offensive Weapons Act. |
Anyone who import, export or is found in possession of such controlled items without any licence, approval or authorisation may be liable for offences under the respective legislations which the items are regulated under. |
Anyone who import, export or is found in possession of such prohibited items may be liable for offences under the respective legislations which the items are regulated under. |
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Example of Offence |
A person is found in a public place with a knife and is unable to provide a lawful purpose for the possession. He may be liable for an offence under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act. |
A person was detected at the checkpoint trying to import an airsoft gun. He does not have a licence to import the airsoft gun which is a controlled item. He may be liable for an offence under the Arms and Explosives Act. |
A person was found with firecrackers which are prohibited under the Dangerous Fireworks Act. He may be liable for an offence under the Dangerous Fireworks Act. |
Criteria for Grant of Licence
To be eligible for a licence, you must meet the following criteria:
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For applicant |
•Be a Singaporean or Permanent Resident of Singapore •Be at least 21 years old at the time of application •One of the following business stakeholders as registered with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority: i.A Director - For Companies ii. A Partner - For Partnerships, Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Partnerships iii. The Sole Proprietor - For Sole Proprietorships
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For licence applicant, directors/ partners and staff |
•Be a fit and proper person. The criteria and requirements for a person to be considered fit and proper to hold a licence are (but not limited to) whether the relevant person has honesty, integrity, a good reputation, competence and capability. For more details on the Fit and Proper Criteria for Arms and Explosives Act,Click Here. •Possess relevant experience and knowledge in handling of explosives.
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For company |
•Registered with the Registry of Companies and Businesses |
Cessation of Individually-Owned Guns
Options
Licensees who wish to cease their individual guns ownership have 3 options:-
- Destroy the gun;
- Permanently export the gun, or
- Transfer the gun ownership to a gun club.
Destroy
- To apply to destroy the licensed guns, the Licensee shall email to Police Licensing & Regulatory Department (PLRD) at SPF_PLRD_AED@spf.gov.sg with the following information:
- State Title/Subject: Application to Destroy Licensed Guns
- State gun Licence Number, e.g. <L/GEW/2023/12345>
- State reason for the application; and
- Attach documents by the armoury operator to confirm the licensed guns’ storage location.
- PLRD will issue an approval letter to the Licensee to engage at least 2 armed Auxiliary Police Officer from Certis CISCO Auxiliary Police Force (Certis) to send the licensed guns to NatSteel Recycling Pte Ltd (NatSteel) at 22 Tanjong Kling Road to destroy.
- The Licensee will pay for the conveyance, destruction and related fees imposed by Certis.
- After the gun is destroyed, NatSteel Recycling Pte Ltd will issue a receipt.
- The Licensee shall email this receipt to PLRD at SPF_PLRD_AED@spf.gov.sg within 7 working days of the destruction using the same email thread.
- The Licensee shall terminate his licence through GoBusiness (www.gobusiness.gov.sg) using SingPass within 7 working days of the destruction.
- GoBusiness will inform the Licensee when the termination is completed.
Permanently Export
- To apply for permanent export of the licensed guns, the Licensee shall submit an application for a Licence to Export Arms (Gun) through GoBusiness (www.gobusiness.gov.sg) with the following supporting documents:
- Reason for the application;
- Attach documents by the armoury operator to confirm the licensed guns’ storage location
- Attach the ‘Licence to Import Firearms’ issued by the country where the licensed gun is to be exported to.
- GoBusiness will inform the Licensee when the application is approved.
- The Licensee shall pay for the export licence fee online through GoBusiness and also download a copy of the export licence which has a validity of 30 days.
- The Licensee will pay for the conveyance and related fees.
- The Licensee shall engage at least 2 armed Auxiliary Police Officers from any Auxiliary Police Force to convey the licensed guns from the place of storage to the point of export within the validity period. [Please note that if both licensed guns and ammunitions are to be exported, the Licensee shall separate the guns and ammunition into 2 separate trips.]
- Once the licensed gun is exported, the Licensee shall terminate his Licence through GoBusiness
- GoBusiness will inform the Licensee when the termination is completed.
Transfer Ownership to Gun Club
- Before applying to transfer ownership of gun, the Licensee shall obtain a written consent (email or letter) from the Gun Club to take over the gun.
- The Licensee shall provide a letter of confirmation to the Gun Club on the details of the licensed guns to be transferred and their Licence Numbers.
- After receiving the Licensee’s letter of confirmation, the Gun Club shall apply through GoBusiness to ‘Possess-Own the Gun’ for the transfer of ownership. Under the “Method of Gun Possession” field, the Gun Club shall select “Transfer From” and indicate the ‘Existing Licence Number of the Licensed Gun’ of the licensed gun owner that the Gun Club is taking over.
- The Gun Club shall provide the ‘Application Number for the Licence to Possess-Own Gun’ to the Licensee for him to submit termination application of his existing licence.
- The Licensee shall apply through GoBusiness to terminate his licence to Possess Arms (Gun). Under the ‘Remarks’ fields for the Termination Application, the Licensee should indicate “The Gun is to be transferred to the Gun Club” and the “Gun Club’s Application Number”. The Licensee shall upload gun club’s letter of consent as a supporting document.
- GoBusiness will inform the Gun Club when the application is approved.
- The Gun Club may proceed to pay for the licence fee online through GoBusiness and download of licence.
- The Gun Club shall update the armoury record for the transfer of gun ownership.
- After issuance of the licence to the Gun Club, PLRD will process the termination of licence by the Licensee.
- GoBusiness will inform the Licensee when the termination is completed.
<Updated on 8 March 2024>
Cessation of Individually Owned Ammunition
Options
From 1 January 2025 onwards, Licensees shall not be allowed to individually own ammunition for sport shooting. Licensees who currently own ammunition may either:
- Expend;
- Destroy;
- Transfer ownership to a gun club; or
- Permanently export their ammunition.
From 1 January 2025 onwards, Licensees are allowed to use club-owned ammunition only.
Expend
- Licensees may plan their sport shooting sessions such that they utilise the remaining ammunition in their possession.
- Licensees shall not be in possession of any ammunition from 1 January 2025 onwards. Otherwise, they may be investigated for unlawful possession of ammunition and/or a breach of licence conditions.
Destroy
- To apply to destroy ammunition, the Licensee shall email to Police Licensing & Regulatory Department (PLRD) at SPF_PLRD_AED@spf.gov.sg with the following information:
- State Title/Subject: Application to Destroy Ammunition
- State Gun Licence Number eg <L/GEW/2023/12345>
- State reasons for the application;
- Attach documents from the armoury operator to confirm the ammunition’s storage location; and
- Attach documents from the Licensed Explosives Disposal Company stating that it is agreeable to provide the services to destroy the ammunition.
- PLRD will issue an approval letter for the Licensee to engage at least 2 Armed Axillary Police Officer to send the ammunition to the Licensed Explosives Disposal Company to destroy.
- The Licensee will pay for the conveyance, destruction and any related fees.
- After the ammunition is destroyed, the Licensed Explosives Disposal Company will issue a receipt.
- The Licensee shall email this receipt to PLRD at SPF_PLRD_AED@spf.gov.sg within 7 working days of the destruction using the same email thread.
- Below are the licensed Explosives Disposal Companies which Licensees may engage to destroy the ammunition. The companies are licensed (as on 1 March 2024) and closer to the date of destruction, licensees should do a due diligence check to ensure the company is still licensed.
Company Name (dated 1 March 2024)
BLASTWORK SOLUTIONS PTE. LTD.
CIMELIA RESOURCE RECOVERY PTE. LTD.
ESUN INTERNATIONAL PTE. LTD.
EXPLOMO CORPORATION PTE. LTD.
KNIGHTS SYNERGY (S) PTE. LTD.
L J MAX PTE. LTD.
ST ENGINEERING ADVANCED MATERIAL ENGINEERING PTE. LTD.
- After the ammunition is destroyed, the Licensee shall ask the gun club for an acknowledgement document by the armoury operator to confirm that the ammunition is no longer stored in the gun club premises.
- For Licensee’s information only: the gun club armoury operator shall update the inventory record.
Transfer of Ownership to a Gun Club
- Before applying to transfer ownership of ammunition, the Licensee shall seek and obtain written consent (email or hard copy) from their gun club to take over the ammunition.
- After receiving the gun club’s letter of consent, the Licensee shall email PLRD at SPF_PLRD_AED@spf.gov.sg with the following information:
- State Title/Subject: Application for Transfer of Personal Ammunition to Gun Club;
- State reason for the application; and
- Attach document from the gun club indicating agreement to take over the ammunition from Licensee.
- After receiving PLRD’s approval, the Licensee shall forward it to the Gun Club and ask that the ownership of ammunition to be transferred.
- The Licensee shall ask the Gun Club to confirm that it has completed the transfer of ownership.
- The Licensee shall forward the Gun Club’s confirmation to PLRD.
Permanently Export
- To apply for approval to permanently export the ammunition, the Licensee shall submit an application for a Licence to Export Explosives through GoBusiness (www.gobusiness.gov.sg) and upload the following supporting documents:
- Reason for the application;
- Confirmation of acknowledgement document by the armoury operator where the ammunition is stored; and
- Attach ‘Licence to Import Explosives’ issued by the country where the ammunition is to be exported to.
- GoBusiness will notify the Licensee when the application is approved.
- The Licensee may proceed to pay for the export licence fee online through GoBusiness and also download a copy of the export licence which has a validity for 30 days.
- The Licensee shall pay for the conveyance and related fees.
- The Licensee shall engage at least 2 armed Auxiliary Police Officers from any Auxiliary Police Force to convey the ammunition from place of storage to point of export within the validity period. [Please note that if both licensed guns and ammunitions are to be exported, the Licensee shall separate the guns and ammunition into 2 separate trips.]
6. After the ammunition is exported, the Licensee shall ask the Gun Club for a written an acknowledgement (email or hard copy) by the armoury operator to confirm that the ammunition is no longer stored in the gun club’s premises.
7. For Licensee’s information only: the Gun Club shall update the inventory record after the export is completed.
<Updated on 8 March 2024>
Dear Customers
1. With effect from 1 August 2021, members of the public who wish to utilise counter services at the Police Licensing & Regulatory Department, Police Cantonment Complex (391 New Bridge Road) would be required to make an appointment in advance.
2. To register for an appointment, please use the following link at www.picktime.com/
3. Upon successful registration, members of the public will receive a notification with details of the scheduled appointments.
4. For enquiries, please use our online services at www.police.gov.sg/licence or you can reach us using FormSG at http://www.go.gov.sg/PLRD.
The information on this page shows additional information related to Arms & Explosives licence.
To Apply for a Licence, please proceed to GoBusiness Website. An individual SingPass or a Company SingPass is required for login.
Guide on how to Conduct Active Staff Check on GoBusiness:
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Advisories:
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Information on Controlled and Prohibited Items
Please click here for the list of controlled and prohibited items and common non-regulated weapons.
|
NON-REGULATED WEAPONS |
CONTROLLED ITEM |
PROHIBITED ITEM |
|
|
Import |
Allowed |
Subjected to assessment |
Not allowed |
|
Export |
Allowed |
||
|
Possess |
Allowed |
||
|
Manufacture |
Not applicable |
||
|
Requirements |
Do not require licence or approval |
Licence, approval or authorisation is required |
Not applicable |
|
Offence |
Unlawful possession of such non-regulated weapons in any public place without any lawful purpose may constitute to an offence of Possession of Offensive Weapon or Scheduled Weapon under the Corrosive and Explosives Substances and Offensive Weapons Act. |
Anyone who import, export or is found in possession of such controlled items without any licence, approval or authorisation may be liable for offences under the respective legislations which the items are regulated under. |
Anyone who import, export or is found in possession of such prohibited items may be liable for offences under the respective legislations which the items are regulated under. |
|
Example of Offence |
A person is found in a public place with a knife and is unable to provide a lawful purpose for the possession. He may be liable for an offence under the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act. |
A person was detected at the checkpoint trying to import an airsoft gun. He does not have a licence to import the airsoft gun which is a controlled item. He may be liable for an offence under the Arms and Explosives Act. |
A person was found with firecrackers which are prohibited under the Dangerous Fireworks Act. He may be liable for an offence under the Dangerous Fireworks Act. |