Firearms Regulations 2026

1. Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Firearms Regulations 2026 and come into force on 1 October 2026.

2. Interpretation

(1) In these Regulations:

"the counter" means the firearms counter at the Police station, Puerto Coral;

"firearms officer" means a police officer whom the Commissioner has authorised to conduct handling assessments;

"the Ordinance" means the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance 2026.

(2) Other words used in these Regulations have the meanings given by section 2 of the Ordinance.

3. Forms

(1) The forms to be used under the Ordinance are those listed in Schedule 1.

(2) Forms are obtained from, and lodged at, the counter only.

(3) A form is completed in full and signed by the applicant or, for a company, by a director, in the presence of an officer of the Firearms Registry.

4. Applications

(1) Every application under the Ordinance is made in person at the counter by the applicant or, for a company, by a director.

(2) The applicant produces:
(a) proof of identity;
(b) their visa, residence permit or certificate of citizenship;
(c) the declaration of their referee, where the form requires one; and
(d) for a dealer's licence, a range licence or a security firm firearms authority, the business licence of the business.

(3) The fee is paid at the counter when the application is lodged, under regulation 3A of the Fees and Charges Regulations 2026.

(4) A written receipt is given for the application and the fee.

(5) No application is accepted by post, by message or through any website.

5. Safety test and handling assessment

(1) The safety test is a written test of 20 questions on the Ordinance, these Regulations and the safe handling of firearms. It is taken at the Police station, Puerto Coral, and the pass mark is 18.

(2) The handling assessment is a practical assessment of safe loading, unloading, carrying, storage and shooting. It is conducted by a firearms officer, or at a licensed range by a range officer whom the Commissioner has approved for the purpose.

(3) An applicant who fails the test or the assessment may take it again after 24 hours.

(4) A current firearms licence issued in Los Santos may be taken into account as evidence of training, but it does not replace the test or the assessment.

(5) The results of the test and the assessment are recorded on the application.

6. Storage

(1) Firearms are stored unloaded, in a steel cabinet fixed to the structure of the building at the registered address, which is kept locked.

(2) The keys are kept on the holder's person or in a separate locked place, and never with the cabinet.

(3) Ammunition is stored in a separate locked compartment of the cabinet, or in a separate locked container.

(4) The cabinet must be large enough to hold every firearm listed on the certificate.

7. Inspection

(1) Before a certificate is granted or renewed, a police officer inspects the storage at the registered address at a time agreed with the applicant.

(2) The officer records whether the storage is approved and, if it is not, what must be done. The applicant may ask for a further inspection when the work is done.

(3) A holder who intends to change their registered address applies for a variation. Firearms are not kept at the new address until its storage has been inspected and approved, and in the meantime they may be deposited at the Police station, Puerto Coral.

8. Ammunition limits

(1) Unless the certificate states otherwise, a certificate holder may possess no more than:
(a) 200 rounds for each Category A or Category C firearm listed on the certificate; and
(b) 250 cartridges for each Category B firearm listed on the certificate.

(2) Ammunition bought at a licensed range and used there on the same day does not count towards those limits.

9. Transport

(1) A firearm carried under section 15(1)(a) of the Ordinance is securely cased and unloaded, with its ammunition carried separately, and is taken by the most direct route.

(2) A firearm or ammunition in transit is never left unattended in a vehicle or vessel.

(3) The person carrying it has their certificate or permit with them throughout.

10. Dealers' records

(1) A dealer records every transaction in firearms and ammunition, showing:
(a) the date;
(b) the name of the buyer, seller or other party;
(c) the number of their certificate, permit or licence;
(d) for a firearm, its category, calibre and serial number; and
(e) for ammunition, its calibre and quantity.

(2) The records are kept for 1 year at the dealer's premises and are open to inspection by a police officer at any reasonable time.

(3) The dealer notifies the Registry of each sale or transfer of a firearm on form FR8 within 72 hours.

(4) A dealer's stock is stored to the standard in regulation 6.

11. Ranges

(1) A range officer is present whenever firing takes place.

(2) The range keeps a register of every person who shoots, showing their name, the date and times, and the number of their certificate or visitor's permit or that they shot under paragraph (4).

(3) The register is kept for 1 year and is open to inspection by a police officer at any reasonable time.

(4) A person who holds no certificate or visitor's permit may shoot at a licensed range under the direct supervision of the range officer, using a firearm belonging to the range and ammunition issued for use there. A range officer supervises no more than one such person at a time.

(5) When the range is closed, its firearms and ammunition, and any firearm kept there for the holder of a visitor's permit, are locked away to the standard in regulation 6.

12. Security firms

(1) The armoury of a licensed security firm meets the standard in regulation 6.

(2) The firm keeps an issue and return log showing, for each period of duty, the name of the security officer, the numbers of their certificate and carry permit, the serial number of the firearm, the ammunition issued and returned, and the times of issue and return.

(3) Every firearm is returned to the armoury at the end of the period of duty for which it was issued.

(4) The log is kept for 1 year and is open to inspection by a police officer at any reasonable time.

13. Notices

(1) A transfer of a firearm or ammunition, and a change of registered address, is notified to the Registry on form FR8 at the counter within 72 hours.

(2) The loss or theft of a firearm, ammunition, certificate or permit is reported within 24 hours, on form FR8 at the counter or by report to any police officer.

14. Surrender

(1) A receipt is given for every item surrendered at the Police station, Puerto Coral.

(2) An item surrendered under section 38 or section 39 of the Ordinance is destroyed after 30 days, unless within that time it is returned to a person whose certificate covers it, or it is kept as evidence.

(3) An item surrendered under section 12(4) or section 13(6) of the Ordinance is kept while any suspension or appeal lasts. Once a revocation or expiry is final, the item is destroyed after 30 days unless in that time it is transferred under section 24 of the Ordinance.

(4) A prohibited weapon is never returned.

15. Standard conditions

(1) Every certificate is subject to the standard conditions in paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) The holder must:
(a) have the certificate with them whenever they have a listed firearm away from the registered address, and produce it to a police officer on request;
(b) store every firearm and its ammunition as regulation 6 requires;
(c) report the loss or theft of a firearm, ammunition or the certificate within 24 hours;
(d) notify every transfer and change of registered address within 72 hours; and
(e) allow the storage to be inspected on reasonable notice.

(3) The holder must not:
(a) take a firearm into a prohibited place;
(b) carry or use a firearm while unfit through drink or drugs; or
(c) use a firearm for any purpose other than the good reason stated on the certificate.

(4) Paragraphs (2) and (3) apply, with the necessary changes, to every carry permit and visitor's permit.

Schedule 1. Forms

The following forms are obtained from and lodged at the counter.