Our Contact Centre will be closed from 5pm on 24 December 2024, reopening at 8am on 3 January 2025. National Office (Aitken Street, Wellington) reception will be closed from 5pm on Friday 20 December, reopening at 8am on Monday 6 January 2025. For more information, see Court and Tribunal hours
You will usually get the result of your application within 7 or 8 weeks. It will take longer if somebody objects or if it’s not clear if you are eligible.
You can check the progress of your application by searching your name or your application number in the public register.
Stage | What happens | Register shows status as: |
---|---|---|
You submit your application | We check that your application is complete. | Received |
We check if you are eligible | We do background and criminal record checks. We send your application to the Police and they can object. If you’ve applied for a licence, we note that you’ve applied on the notice of intention register and members of the public have one month to object to your application. |
In progress |
We make our decision | We review your application, the information we’ve gathered and any objections. We may ask for more information from you, Police or other sources. We may hold a hearing if somebody objects or if it’s not clear if you are eligible. |
Decision pending |
We tell you our decision | You’ll get a letter telling you our decision. | Completed |
You’ll get a letter with a copy of your licence.
You’ll get a letter.
To pick up your licence and ID badge, go to the PostShop you chose when you applied. You must take:
You’ll get a letter with a copy of your licence.
You’ll get a letter telling you why we have turned down your application.
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