Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (GEWCA)
Under the GEWCA “weapon” includes:
1. An arbalest.
2. An arrow that, if used in the way for which it is designed or adapted, is capable of being aimed at a target and causing hurt or injury.
3. A device (commonly called a crossbow) consisting of a bow fitted transversely on a stock that has a groove or barrel, designed to direct a dart, bolt or an arrow whether or not mentioned in item 2.
4. A crossbow designed for aiming and discharging an arrow (whether or not mentioned in item 2), a dart, bolt or similar projectile when held in one hand, commonly called a pistol crossbow.
5. A bow regardless of its draw weight, and includes a longbow.
6. A bayonet, being a thrusting, striking or cutting weapon designed to be attached to a gun.
7. A sword, being a thrusting, striking or cutting weapon with a long blade having one or 2 cutting edges and a hilt, and includes the martial arts weapon known as a “Butterfly Sword”, a machete, parang, bolo, kukri or hooked swords.
8. A sharp pointed stabbing instrument (other than a sword or bayonet) —
(a) having —
(i) a flat blade with cutting edges (whether serrated or not serrated) along the length
of both sides; or
(ii) a needle-like blade or spike, the cross section of which is elliptical or has 3 or
more sides;
(b) designed for hand to hand combat, such as —
(i) to be held between the fingers or the forefinger and thumb with the handle
supported by the palm of the hand and to inflict injury by a punching or pushing
movement, such as a push knife or push dagger;
(ii) to cause serious injury when thrown, such as a throwing knife; or
(iii) to be held in the closed fist with the fingers through the handle which serves as a knuckleduster, such as a trench knife; and
(c) ordinarily capable of being concealed on the person of an individual, and includes a diving knife, hunting knife, kris, karambit, kirpan or dirk.
9. A knife comprising a blade or spike and a handle, in respect of which —
(a) the handle is in 2 sections that fold so as to wholly or partially cover the blade or spike when the knife is not in use; and
(b) the blade or spike can be exposed by gravity or centrifugal force, and includes a butterfly knife, a “balisong” and a gravity knife.
10. A knife in respect of which —
(a) the blade is concealed when folded or recessed into the handle and springs or is released into the extended position by the operation of a button or other device on the handle; or
(b) the blade is wholly or partially concealed by a sheath that can be withdrawn into the handle of the knife by gravity, centrifugal force or by the operation of a button or other device, and includes a flick knife and a switchblade.
11. A knife, sometimes known as a wasp knife, which is capable of injecting a ball of compressed gas that freezes both human and animal tissues and organs surrounding the point of penetration or injection.
12. An article comprising a number of points, blades or spikes pointing outwardly from a central axis and capable of causing serious injury when thrown, such as throwing stars and shuriken.
13. A device or instrument (commonly called a knuckleduster) designed to be worn across the knuckles of a hand so as to —
(a) increase the force or impact of a punch or blow when striking another with the hand; or
(b) protect the knuckles from injury, and includes a weighted or studded glove, but not a boxing glove.
14. A spear, being a thrusting, throwing, striking or cutting weapon to be propelled by human power without the use of any device, and includes a halberd, glaive and a martial arts weapon called “Guandao” or “Yanyuedao”.
15. A spearhead for a spear described in item 14.
16. A scythe, or sickle-shaped article designed as a weapon, that —
(a) has a fixed or folding blade; and
(b) may or may not have a chain attached, and includes the martial arts weapon known as “Kama”.
17. An article consisting of a handle and an edged blade, joined by a chain or a combination of chain and metal pieces or steel rods, designed to be used as a whip, including the martial arts weapon commonly known as “Chinese whip”, “whip spear”, “7 piece iron chain”, “9 piece iron chain”, “Bian Tzu Chiang” or “Lien Tzu Chiang”.
18. An article consisting of a blade or blades with cord, rope or chain attached for the purpose of enabling the blade to be thrown and retrieved, including the martial arts weapon known as “Shoge”, “ninja Kyoketsu-Shoge” or “Kyoketsu Shoge”.
19. A “Sai” or “Jitte”, being a short, tapered, metal rod, dull at the point, with flared metal prongs guarding the handle.
20. An article that consists of 2 sticks, rods or batons joined by a cord, rope or chain, including the martial arts weapon known as “Nunchaku”.
21. An article consisting of a chain, rope or cord with a wooden or metal baton, stick or rod attached at each end, including the martial arts weapons known as “Kasari-Fundo”, “Kusari-Fundo” and “Manrikigusari”.
22. An axe, including a tomahawk, a “Ge”, a parashu or an “Ono”.
23. A blow gun or blow pipe, being a hollow tube or similar device out of which an arrow or a dart or hard pellet or projectile is shot by use of breath expelled from the mouth.
24. A dart designed to be shot out of a blow gun or blow pipe by use of breath expelled from the mouth.
For more information on Licence Matters under the GEW Regulatory Regime, please visit the following:
- Information on Gun Licence Matters
- Information on Explosive Licence Matters
- Information on Explosive Precursor Licence Matters
For overview of all matters concerning Gun, Explosive and Weapon Licences, please visit Overview of Gun, Explosive and Weapon Licence.
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.
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.
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.
| Weapon Licence Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Possession | Authorises possession of specified weapons. Limited to entities with legitimate needs (e.g., collectors of premissible type 1 weapons). |
| Supply | Permits sale/distribution to licensed entities. For approved dealers only. |
| Manufacture | Allows production of specified weapons. Highly restricted. |
| Repair | Authorises repair and maintenance of weapons. Limited to qualified entities with technical expertise. |
| Dispose | Permits disposal through approved methods. |
| Transport | Permits movement of weapons between approved locations. |
| Noxious Substance Licence | Description |
|---|---|
| Possession | Authorises possession of specified noxious substances. Not issued to general public. |
| Supply | Permits sale/distribution to licensed entities. For approved suppliers only. |
| Manufacture | Allows production under strict controls. Highly restricted. |
| Dispose | Permits disposal through approved methods. For qualified entities only. |
| Transport | Permits movement between approved locations. For authorised entities only. |
Relevant Regulations for Both Categories:
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Weapons and Noxious Substances) Regulations 2025
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Manufacture, Trading, Supply, Carriage and Disposal of Type 2 Weapons — Class Licence) Order 2025
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Type 3 Weapons — Exemption) Order 2025
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Theatrical Use — Class Licence) Order 2025
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Religious Use of Weapons — Class Licence) Order 2025
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Sporting or Recreational Use — Class Licence) Order 2025
- Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Ornamental Use — Class Licence) Order 2025
GEWCA Weapon and Noxious Substance Licence Fees
The full list of Licence Fees related to Weapons and Noxious Substance is under the Fee Schedule of the Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control (Weapons and Noxious Substances) Regulations 2025
Weapon Licence Fee
|
Activity |
New Fee under GEWCA / 3 years |
Bundled Licence Fee under GEWCA / 3 years |
|||
|
Possession |
$150 (5 years) |
||||
|
Transport |
$220 |
$460 |
$600 |
||
|
Repair |
$150 |
$340 |
$480 |
||
|
Supply |
$250 |
||||
|
Dispose |
$250 |
Not Applicable |
Not Applicable |
||
|
Manufacture |
$350 |
||||
Noxious Substance Licence Fee
|
Activity |
New Fee under GEWCA / 3 years |
Bundled Licence Fee under GEWCA / 3 years |
|||
|
Possession |
$150 |
||||
|
Transport |
$300 |
$730 |
$1,140 |
||
|
Supply |
$340 |
$600 |
$1,020 |
||
|
Dispose |
$460 |
||||
|
Manufacture |
$630 |
Not Applicable |
Not Applicable |
||