You must not import explosives or export explosives into Queensland unless you have the appropriate authority.

• A licence or permit to import explosives will allow you to bring the stated explosives into Queensland from another country and possess the explosives for that purpose.
• A licence or permit to export explosives will allow you to send the stated explosives to another country from Queensland and possess the explosives for that purpose.

Note that a licence or permit to import or export explosives does not allow you to purchase, sell, transport or store explosives.

Who needs a licence or permit?

You'll need a licence or permit to import or export explosives unless the explosives are:

• part of the operational equipment of a road vehicle or boat, including airbags and distress signals that are part of the boat's safety equipment
• brought into Queensland from another Australian state or territory
• held in bond under the Customs Prohibited Export Regulation 1958.

You also may not need a licence or permit for collectors' ammunition or small arms ammunition for personal use (see below for requirements).

Licences versus permits

You should apply for a licence is you have an ongoing requirement to import or export the stated explosives.

You should apply for a permit if either:

• the import or export is a one-off and not generally related to business
• the explosives are destined for another country and being held in Queensland temporarily before being transported to the other country (if one-off case)
• the explosives are for an importer licensed in another state or territory and were destined for that state or territory but were diverted to Queensland by the shipping company (not the importer).

Importing and exporting ammunition

You won't need a separate licence or permit to export or import collectors' ammunition, as this is covered by the licence to collect ammunition.

You don't need a permit to import or export small arms ammunition for personal use (e.g. target shooting or hunting) if:

• the ammunition is for your own personal use for sports or target shooting or recreational shooting
• and
• you are licensed or otherwise authorised under the Weapons Act 1990 to use a firearm that uses the ammunition.

If you wish to import a weapon, you should apply to the Queensland Police for a B709 import permit.

Application requirements

Check the application form for a list of requirements, including requirements for security clearances and a safety and security management system.

Publicly listed corporations must appoint a responsible person for explosives matters if they have not already done so.

How to apply

Your application should include:

• Form E203 – Application for a licence to import or export explosives
• licence fee (see table below)
• supporting documents (according to the required documentation on the application form).

Fees and payment options

Licence fees can only be paid via credit card (BPOINT) following submission of the online form. Read more about payment of licence fees.

Fees for licences and permits to import/export explosives

Obligations of licence and permit holders

As a licence or permit holder you have a range of obligations, including notifying us before you import or export explosives.

You can find details of your obligations in Explosives information bulletin no. 21 – Import and export of explosives and Explosives information bulletin no. 50 – Handling explosives at ports.

Before importing or exporting explosives, contact the Department of Home Affairs to check their requirements.

The Explosives Act 1999 applies to explosives imported into Queensland under customs bond that are for immediate transport to another Australian state or territory, or export overseas

This can include any explosive brought into an airport or sea port, transported on a public road and stored temporarily in Queensland.

This does not include explosives under Customs Prohibited Export Regulation 1958 (i.e. explosives under the direct control of the Department of Defence).

You'll need a licence or permit issued under the Explosives Act to import, export, possess, transport and store explosives held under customs control in Queensland.

Any explosive you import into Queensland, including under customs bond, must be authorised and be listed on the list of authorised explosives register.

Security clearances

During transhipment, each person who has the explosives in their possession will need to hold a security clearance. Some explosives may not require a security clearance. See Information Bulletin 74 for more information.

An aviation security identification card (ASIC) or marine security identification card (MSIC) is not an adequate security check for access to explosives.

The operator in possession of the explosives at each part of the journey, under their security management system, needs appropriate security clearance for any employees with unsupervised access to the explosives.

You must also comply with the:

• Australian explosives code 3rd edition (AEC3) for a class 1 explosive, including the IMDG code for import or export and the additional requirements of section 6.3 for any explosives under customs bond (see the Safe Work Australia website for more information).
• Australian dangerous goods code 7th edition (ADG7) for a class 2–9 explosive (see the National Transport Commission website for more information).

Storage requirements state that, for any issue with explosives under customs bond, an explosives inspector may open and inspect a container's contents. The container then remains under customs bond and, following any inspection and remedial action, is re-sealed.

Contact the Explosives Inspectorate for further information.