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.
Guns, Explosives and Weapons Control Act 2021 (GEWCA)
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
Firearms
- Handguns and revolvers
- Automatic guns and pistols
- Machine guns and sub-machine guns
- Self-loading rifles and shotguns
- Military firearms:
- Howitzer
- Mortar
- Bazooka and similar explosive projectile firearms
- Starting pistols (for sporting events)
- Firearms designed to fire:
- Tear gas projectiles
- Poison projectiles
Non-Firearms
- Electronic dart guns
- Spear guns
- Stun guns and tasers
- Paint-pellet guns/paintball markers
- Ballistic knives
- Airguns
- Tranquilizer guns (for animals)
Important Notes
Any of the above items are considered guns under GEWCA even if they:
- Have missing parts
- Have defects
- Have been modified
- Are collections of major parts that could be assembled into a working gun
Major gun parts are components that:
- Are essential to discharge projectiles
- Are integral to the gun's operation
- Relate to ammunition feeding mechanisms
Types of regulated Gun Accessories
- Magazine Adapters
- Devices that modify magazine compatibility
- Flash Suppressors
- Devices that reduce visible flash from firing
- Sound Reduction Devices
- Silencers
- Sound moderators
- Sound suppressors
- Any device capable of reducing discharge noise
- Modification Mechanisms Devices that convert guns to enable:
- Burst fire capability
- Semi-automatic operation
- Fully automatic operation
- Other Prescribed Accessories
- Any other mechanisms or devices specifically prescribed under GEWCA
For more information on the other Licence Matters under the GEW 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 Gun Licence
|
Nature |
Licence Name |
Licensing Conditions |
Criteria and Documents Required |
|
Base Licence |
Possession of Gun |
Click here |
Click here |
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Supply Gun |
Click here |
Click here
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Manufacture Gun |
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 Guns |
Click here |
Click here
|
|
Purchase of Arms (Guns) or Weapons |
Not applicable |
GEWCA Licence Fees
Licence Fees for Guns (Firearms) Licence
|
Activity |
New Fee under GEWCA / 3 years |
Bundled Licence Fee under GEWCA / 3 years |
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|
Possession |
$560 |
$560 + $170 for every additional Firearm |
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|
Transport |
$300 |
$2,410 |
$3,400 |
$4,400 |
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Repair |
$250 |
$2,120 |
$3,110 |
$4,100 |
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|
Supply |
$580 |
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Armourer (Store) |
$1,630 |
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Range |
$1,630 |
Not Applicable |
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Dispose |
$580 |
Not Applicable |
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Manufacture |
$1,120 |
Not Applicable |
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Licence Fees for Guns (Non-Firearms) Licence
|
Activity |
New Fee under GEWCA / 3 years |
Bundled Licence Fee under GEWCA / 3 years |
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|
Possession |
$320 |
$320 + $90 for every additional Firearm |
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|
Transport |
$300 |
$1,280 |
$1,770 |
$2,280 |
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|
Repair |
$250 |
$1,130 |
$1,630 |
$2,140 |
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|
Supply |
$580 |
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|
Armourer (Store) |
$520 |
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|
Range |
$500 |
Not Applicable |
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|
Dispose |
$580 |
Not Applicable |
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|
Manufacture |
$1,120 |
Not Applicable |
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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
|
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Blank-firing Firearm or Deactivated firearm $205for 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 $220for 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 $550for a period of not more than 2 years |
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Dealing in Swords, Spears, Spearheads, Bayonets and Daggers $405for a period of not more than 2 years |
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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.