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When you need a paintball marker permit, eligibility requirements, and how to apply.
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When a paintball marker permit is needed
Apply for a paintball marker permit
Key information
- In NSW, you need a permit to own a paintball marker (gun).
- To get a paintball marker permit you must have completed the NSW paintball marker safety training course.
- You do not need a permit just to play paintball, or if you are staying in NSW for less than 3 months and hold a current equivalent permit from another state or territory.
- Paintball permits do not allow you to use a paintball marker outside an authorised venue.
- You must renew your paintball permit before it expires. Significant penalties may apply if you don’t.
When a paintball marker permit is needed
Paintball is a sport where teams or individual players compete to eliminate each other by shooting paint-filled pellets from a paintball marker (also known as a paintball gun).
In NSW, you need a paintball permit to own a paintball marker.
A paintball marker permit allows you to purchase and own a paintball marker in NSW.
This permit does not allow you to use the paintball marker outside an authorised venue.
Significant penalties apply for buying or possessing a paintball marker without a permit or using a marker outside an authorised venue.
You can apply for a 1, 3 or 5 year permit.
You do not need a permit just to play paintball, or if you are staying in NSW for less than 3 months and hold a current, equivalent permit from another state or territory.
Players under 18 years old
Provided they have written consent from a parent or guardian, any child 12 years and over can play paintball at an authorised venue, using the paintball markers supplied by that venue.
People under the age of 18 cannot own a paintball marker.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Before you apply for a paintball marker permit you must:
- be at least 18 years old
- pass a ‘fit and proper’ person assessment
- have completed the NSW Paintball Marker Safety Training course.
What does 'fit and proper' mean?
Fair Trading will perform checks (including financial and police checks) to determine whether you are a suitable person to hold a permit.
For example, this means you:
- have not been convicted of a relevant offence in the last 10 years under the Paintball Act 2018, the regulations, or another Act administered by the Minister for Fair Trading
- are not a mentally incapacitated person
- are not an undischarged bankrupt (including a body corporate or director of a body corporate)
- are not a member of or regularly associate with members of a declared criminal organisation.
Apply for a paintball marker permit
What you need
Before you begin your application for a paintball marker permit, make sure you have:
- a MyServiceNSW account (if applying online)
- your contact details
- proof of identity such as a driver licence or passport
- evidence that you have completed the paintball marker safety training course
- your passport and competition details (if applying for an international competitor permit)
- payment for the permit fee.
How to apply
You can apply online through Service NSW.
Select the application link below. It will take you to the Service NSW online application form.
Your fee will be calculated on completion of the online application.
Your application will take around 30 minutes to complete.
This is for new applicants only. Find out how to renew your permit below.
You can apply for a 1, 3 or 5 year permit.
Visit Service NSW if you need help applying online.
If you're unable to apply online, you can:
- download and complete the Application for a paintball marker permit form.
- email the application and supporting documents to [email protected] or visit a service centre to submit in person.
If you answered yes to any questions in the 'applicant's history' section of your application form, you'll also need to complete the paintball permit additional details form.
What happens next?
Review application
Your application will be reviewed and assessed to check it meets eligibility requirements. This can take up to 5 business days to process.
We might contact you (by email or SMS) if we need more information.
If we need to request additional information, the processing time will increase, so it is important that you submit all required information and documents with your original application.
Outcome advised
We will send an email or to advise you if your application has been successful.
If your application is successful, the email will include a copy of your permit.
If your application is unsuccessful, you’ll be advised of the reasons in writing and be provided with your options.
Renewing a permit
You need to renew your paintball marker permit before it expires.
When your current permit is nearing its expiry date, we will notify you via email prompting you to renew online.
You can only access the online renewal application through your renewal email.
Late renewals may result in significant penalties if you own and store a paintball marker, including fines and paintball markers being confiscated. If your licence has been expired for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a new licence and complete the NSW Paintball Marker Safety Training course.
You can apply for a 1, 3 or 5 year permit.
What you need
Before you begin your application to renew a paintball marker permit, make sure you have:
- your renewal notice
- a MyServiceNSW account
- proof of identity
- your contact details
- payment for the fee.
How to renew
You can access the online renewal application via the link in your renewal email.
If you have not received an email prompting you to renew, you wish to renew early or provide an updated email address, contact NSW Fair Trading on 13 32 20 or [email protected].
Updating permit details
You need to tell us of any changes to your details (e.g. change of contact details or address) if you’re a paintball marker owner.
This ensures that your renewal notice is sent to the right contact.
What you need
Before you begin your application to renew a paintball marker permit, make sure you have:
- the change of details for a paintball permit form
- the details that have changed
- a copy of name change documentation (if applicable).
Visit our paintball fees page to find out what you need to pay.
How to update your details
- Download and complete your change of details for a paintball permit form.
- Submit your payment online and enter your receipt number on the form.
- Email the form and any supporting documents to [email protected].
You can also submit your application in-person at your nearest Service NSW centre.
Replace a permit
If your permit is lost, stolen, damaged, destroyed or issued with a printing error you can apply for a replacement.
What you need
Before you begin your application to replace a paintball marker permit, make sure you have:
- the replace a paintball permit application form
- your permit number (if known)
- your contact details
- proof of identity (such as a driver licence or Australian passport)
- the reason for replacement.
Visit our paintball fees page to find out what you need to pay.
How to replace your permit
- Download and complete the replace a paintball permit application form.
- Submit your payment online and enter your receipt number on the form.
- Email the form and any supporting documents to [email protected].
You can also submit your application in-person at your nearest Service NSW centre.
Safety training
The NSW paintball marker safety training course addresses the safe use of paintball markers and the safe conduct of activities associated with paintball markers.
From 1 Dec 2021, you must have completed the NSW Paintball Marker Safety Training course if you are:
- applying for a Paintball Marker Permit or
- a new employee supervising paintball games at an authorised venue unless holding a Paintball Marker Permit.
Existing supervisors who have previously completed the NSW Police General Firearms Course for Long Arms (as per legislative requirements) prior to 1 December 2021 do not need to complete the NSW paintball marker safety training course.
If your permit has been expired for more than 90 days, your previous General Firearms Course for Long Arms will not be accepted and you will need to complete the NSW Paintball Marker Safety Training course.
To complete the NSW paintball marker safety training course, you can visit TAFE NSW.
If you're visiting a venue, you don’t need to complete an approved training course. However, the venue may provide you with a safety induction.
Suspended or cancelled permits
Disciplinary action, including suspension or cancellation of a permit, serving a notice to show cause, cautions, imposing conditions on a permit and disqualification from holding a permit may be taken in a number of circumstances including when a permit holder has:
- failed to comply with a condition of a permit
- engaged in improper or unethical conduct which indicated the holder is unfit to hold a permit.
- not complied with the Paintball Act 2018 and Paintball Regulation 2019.
Contact us
Need help applying?
If you need help with your application or have a question, please call 13 32 20.
Unsuccessful applications
If your application is unsuccessful, or if your permit has been suspended or cancelled, you can ask for a review.
A review involves another officer from Fair Trading, who was not involved in the original decision, reviewing the decision on your application.
For more information about the process see Reviews of Fair Trading decisions.