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.
Under the Arms and Explosives Act 1913, “arms” means —
(a) firearms, air-guns, air-pistols, stun guns, electronic dart guns, automatic guns, automatic pistols, guns or any other kind of gun from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged or noxious fumes or noxious substance can be emitted, and any component part of any such arms;
(b) bayonets, swords, daggers, spears and spearheads; and
(c) such weapon, accessory, or other article or thing, as the Minister may, by notification in the Gazette, specify to be arms for the purposes of this Act or any part thereof;
When the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (GEWCA) is operationalised (targeted February 2025), "Arms' will be split into "Guns" and "Weapons" respectively.
Meaning of “gun” and associated terms under GEWCA
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, “gun” means an object or a thing that, if used in the way for which it is or was designed or adapted, is or was capable of being aimed at a target and causing hurt or injury by —
(a) propelling a bullet, shot or other projectile (which may or may not contain any noxious substance); or
(b) discharging any corrosive substance or poison, by means of a burning propellant, compressed air or other compressed gas, or an explosive force (however caused), and includes any of the following:
(c) an object or a thing mentioned in subsection (2)(a);
(d) a collection of major parts of a gun mentioned in subsection (2)(b).
Examples
An electronic dart gun.
A ballistic knife.
A handgun or revolver.
An automatic gun or pistol.
A spear gun.
A stun gun or taser.
A firearm designed to fire projectiles containing tear gas or poison.
A firearm designed to tranquillise, immobilise or administer vaccines or other medicines to animals.
A howitzer, mortar, bazooka and similar military firearms designed to fire explosive projectiles.
A machine gun or sub-machine gun.
A self-loading rifle or shotgun.
A paint-pellet gun or paintball marker.
An airgun.
A starting pistol the purpose of which is for use in the starting of racing events in sporting competitions.
Note: More details on the operationalisation of the GEWCA will be publish on the website when available.
For more information on the other Licence Matters under the Arms and Explosives Regulatory Regime, please visit the following:
- Overview of Gun, Explosive and Weapon Licence Matters
- Information on Explosive Licence Matters
- Information on Explosive Precursor Licence Matters
- Information on Weapon and Noxious Substance Licence Matters
Types of Arms (Gun) Licence
|
Nature |
Licence Name |
Licensing Conditions |
Criteria and Documents Required |
|
Base Licence |
Possession of Arms (Guns) |
Click here |
Click here |
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Dealing in (Supply) Arms or Weapons (including swords, spearheads, bayonet & daggers) |
Click here |
Click here
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Manufacturing of Arms (Guns) or Weapons |
Click here |
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Repair of Arms (Guns) or Weapons (including swords, spearheads, bayonet & daggers) |
Click here |
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Ad-hoc Licence |
Import or Export Arms (Guns) or Weapons |
Click here |
Click here
|
|
Purchase of Arms (Guns) or Weapons |
Not applicable |
Fees
|
Nature |
Licence Name |
Fees |
|
Base Licence |
Possession of Arms or Possession and Purchase of Arms by an Individual/ Schools/ Government Clubs |
Firearm $440 for a period of not more than 2 years
|
|
Blank-firing Firearm or Deactivated firearm $205 for a period of not more than 2 years
|
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Air gun or pistol or any arms that can propel, or is designed to propel, a projectile by means other than an explosive $220 for a period of not more than 2 years
|
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Any arm in respect of which a licence under rule 26(1)(a) or (b) is in force (Possess Arms Class Licence) $80 for a period of not more than 1 year
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Dealing in Guns or Weapons (including swords, spearheads, bayonet & daggers) or Explosives. |
Dealing in Guns $550 for a period of not more than 2 years |
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Dealing in Swords, Spears, Spearheads, Bayonets and Daggers $405 for a period of not more than 2 years |
||
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Manufacturing of Guns or Weapons |
$550 for a period of not more than 2 years |
|
|
Repair of Guns or Weapons (including swords, spearheads, bayonet & daggers) |
$405 for a period of not more than 2 years |
|
|
Ad-hoc Licence
|
Import or Export Guns or Weapons |
$22 for a period of not more than 30 days / per consignment |
|
Purchase of Guns or Weapons |
$22 for a period of not more than 30 days / per purchase |
|
|
To Deal in Guns or Weapons |
$115 for 60 days validity |
|
|
To Possess Guns |
$40 for 60 days validity |
Processing Time
About 3 weeks from the receipt of the application, processing fee and the necessary documents, if required. Any incomplete or incorrect submission will be rejected.
You will be notified of the outcome via email. Alternatively, you can login to GoBusiness to view your application status.
Apply
To apply for the Licence, you will need to visit GoBusiness webpage, which will require you to sign in using your Individual SingPass or Company SingPass.
The process may take about 15-20 minutes to complete.
Introduction
You can make the following amendments to your existing Arms licence:
-
Add or Dispose of Arms*
-
Submit details of Arms*
-
Add Particulars of New Employees Handling Arms
-
Delete or Replace Employees Handling Arms
-
Change of Contact Person
-
Change of Director
-
Change Name or Address of Company/Business
-
Change Contact Details of Company/Licensee
*For schools only
Documents Required
You are required to obtain the following documents before amending your existing Arms licence.
|
Information to be amended |
Documents Required |
|
1) Add or Dispose of Arms 2) Submit details of Arms |
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3) Add Particulars of New Employees Handling Arms |
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| 4) Delete Employees Handling Arms |
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| 5) Change of Contact Person
6) Change of Director
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7) Change Name or Address of Company/Business |
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| 8) Change Contact Details of Company/Licensee |
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Fees
No fee is required.
Processing Time
About 2 weeks from the receipt of the submission and the necessary documents, if required. Any incomplete or incorrect submission will be rejected.
You will be notified of the outcome via email. Alternatively, you can login to GoBusiness to view your application status.
Amend
Types of Arms (Gun) Licence
|
Nature |
Licence Name |
Licensing Conditions |
Criteria and Documents Required |
|
Base Licence |
Possession of Arms (Guns) |
Clickhere |
Clickhere |
|
Dealing in(Supply)Arms or Weapons (including swords, spearheads, bayonet & daggers) |
Clickhere |
Clickhere
|
|
|
Manufacturing of Arms (Guns) or Weapons |
Clickhere |
||
|
Repair of Arms (Guns) or Weapons (including swords, spearheads, bayonet & daggers) |
Clickhere |
||
|
Ad-hoc Licence |
Import or Export Arms (Guns) or Weapons |
Clickhere |
Clickhere
|
|
Purchase of Arms (Guns) or Weapons |
Not applicable |
Fees
|
Nature |
Licence Name |
Fees |
|
Base Licence |
Possession of Arms or Possession and Purchase of Arms by an Individual/ Schools/ Government Clubs |
Firearm $440 for a period of not more than 2 years
|
|
Blank-firing Firearm or Deactivated firearm $205for a period of not more than 2 years
|
||
|
Air gun or pistol or any arms that can propel, or is designed to propel, a projectile by means other than an explosive $220for a period of not more than 2 years
|
||
|
Any arm in respect of which a licence under rule 26(1)(a) or (b) is in force (Possess Arms Class Licence) $80 for a period of not more than 1 year
|
||
|
Dealing in Guns or Weapons (including swords, spearheads, bayonet & daggers) or Explosives. |
Dealing in Guns $550for a period of not more than 2 years |
|
|
Dealing in Swords, Spears, Spearheads, Bayonets and Daggers $405for a period of not more than 2 years |
||
|
Manufacturing of Guns or Weapons |
$550for a period of not more than 2 years |
|
|
Repair of Guns or Weapons (including swords, spearheads, bayonet & daggers) |
$405for a period of not more than 2 years |
|
|
Ad-hoc Licence
|
Import or Export Guns or Weapons |
$22for a period of not more than30 days / per consignment |
|
Purchase of Guns or Weapons |
$22for a period of not more than30 days /per purchase |
|
|
To Deal in Guns or Weapons |
$115 for 60 days validity |
|
|
To Possess Guns |
$40 for 60 days validity |
Processing Time
About 3 weeks from the receipt of the application, processing fee and the necessary documents, if required. Any incomplete or incorrect submission will be rejected.
You will be notified of the outcome via email. Alternatively, you can login to GoBusiness to view your application status.
Apply
To apply for amendment of Licence application, you will need to visit the GoBusiness webpage, which will require you to sign in using your Individual SingPass or Company SingPass.
The process may take about 15-20 minutes to complete.
Visit Overview of Gun Explosive and Weapon Licence to access information on the overview of Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control regulatory regime and useful downloads.