So you decided to get yourself a scaly friend - but since you need proof of your reptile licence upon purchasing your new pet, there is one question that pops up, “How do I get a reptile licence?”
First thing you need to know is in order to apply for a reptile licence you must be at least 13 years of age. A licence may be issued to a child (aged between 13 and 17 years of age) if the child and the child's legal guardian live at the same address where the animal will be kept and the guardian agrees to supervise the child's activities under the licence. Both the child's and the legal guardian’s name will appear on the licence, but the child will still be the licence holder.
Next, if you are not currently registered with the Department of Environment and Science you will need to register to access online services in order to apply for a wildlife permit. Click here to register
Before you apply for a licence, it is important you understand the licences available and what each will permit you to do.
There are three types of reptile licences:
- Standard Licence ($61.70 for five years)
- Specialised Licence ($330.30 for five years)
- Advanced Licence ($711.00 for five years)
Some animals are exempt from requiring a licence, allowing you to keep these animals without a licence.
Animals not listed as exempt, Class 1 or Class 2 are by default prohibited from being kept and traded on a Standard, Specialised or Advanced Licence.
Standard Licence
By far the most popular option, and likely the one you may be after, this licence allows you to keep a maximum of 10 class 1 animals. You are not permitted to allow these animals to breed and require permission from the department if you wish to dispose (e.g. sell or give away) an animal within 6 months of acquiring it.
Specialised Licence (Non-dangerous)
This licence permits you to keep a maximum of 50 vertebrate class 1 and class 2 animals (birds, reptiles, amphibians) and an unlimited number of protected scorpions and spiders. You are not permitted to keep any dangerous animals under this licence. You can allow these animals to breed, provided you do not exceed the maximum permissible number of animals. You require permission from the department if you wish to dispose (e.g. sell or give away) an animal within 6 months of acquiring it.
Specialised Licence (Dangerous)
This licence permits you to keep a maximum of 50 vertebrate class 1 and class 2 animals (birds, reptiles, amphibians) and an unlimited number of protected scorpions and spiders. This licence will permit the keeping of dangerous animals. You can allow these animals to breed, provided you do not exceed the maximum permissible number of animals. You require permission from the department if you wish to dispose (e.g. sell or give away) an animal within 6 months of acquiring it.
Advanced Licence (Non-dangerous)
This licence permits you to keep an unlimited number of class 1 and class 2 animals, but you are not permitted to keep any dangerous animals under this licence. You do not require permission from the department if you wish to dispose (e.g. sell or give away) an animal within 6 months of acquiring it.
Advanced Licence (Dangerous)
This licence permits you to keep an unlimited number of class 1 and class 2 animals and you are permitted to keep dangerous animals under this licence. You do not require permission from the department if you wish to dispose (e.g. sell or give away) an animal within 6 months of acquiring it.
Advanced Licence (Dangerous)
This licence permits you to keep an unlimited number of class 1 and class 2 animals and you are permitted to keep dangerous animals under this licence. You do not require permission from the department if you wish to dispose (e.g. sell or give away) an animal within 6 months of acquiring it.
Step by step guide
So how do you actually get your reptile licence? Follow this step by step guide to have your scaly friend in no time!
From your customer record home page, click Wildlife Authorities.
The Wildlife Authorities page is displayed. From this page you can apply for and manage all types of wildlife licences and permits.
For more information on Online Services and to view the other user guides please go here
Click on "Apply for a Wildlife Authority" in the Actions menu.
The actions menu contains links to wildlife authority actions, such as "Apply for Wildlife Authority". Click the blue text to initiate the process.
Note: to view or initiate actions relating to an existing record (permit, invoice or return), search for the particular record by clicking a record type from the Records menu.
Read the Terms and Conditions and click "ACCEPT".
This will bring up the customer details page.
Review to make sure the details are correct and click NEXT.
In Select Activity / Permit choose from Standard, Specialised (dangerous / nondangerous) or Advanced (dangerous / non dangerous) licence in the drop-down menu. For example, if you want a Standard wildlife licence you would choose Standard Licence in the drop-down box and the activity for a Standard licence is ‘Keep & use live Class 1 animals’ Once the licence type and activity is selected click the ‘ADD TO SELECTION’ button then click NEXT.
If the application is for a Specialised or Advanced Licence, you must also select a sub-activity i.e. Dangerous Animals or Non-dangerous Animals.
After selecting click ADD TO SELECTION and NEXT. Department of Environment and Science Online Services - How to apply for the new Standard, Specialised or Advanced licence 9 Once the appropriate licence and activity is chosen in the drop-down box, the Activity Guidelines screen will appear, detailing the guideline(s) for the licence. Check the box stating ‘I have read and understood the guidelines for the permit activity I have selected’ Then click NEXT.
On this screen the Codes of Practice applicable to the wildlife licence you are applying for will be listed as hyperlinks. You need to read and review the applicable Codes of Practice and you will be asked if you can comply with the Codes of Practice. To continue with the lodgement of the application, click ‘I have read and understood the guidelines for the permit activity I have selected’ and click NEXT.
Please Note: If you choose to answer NO a message will appear that states, ‘A wildlife licence cannot be granted if you do not comply with the Code of Practice’. You will not be able to proceed further with your application.
You will now be asked to confirm the physical address of where the animals are to be kept. The wildlife authority can be granted for one location only. If the activity will take place at the residential address of the applicant click NEXT.
If the activity takes place at a different location, then check the box ‘Activity takes place at a different location’.
Under ‘Add Location’ you have a choice of adding in a physical street address or Lot on Plan. Type in an address or lot on plan and click on Search Address. Select an address from Results or check box next to Address not found if the physical address or lot number is not found. You will be able to enter the physical address or lot number in manually.
Once the address or lot number is selected and added, the ‘Assign activity to Location’ screen will appear. This confirms that the licence being applied for and the physical address where the animals will be kept.
Click NEXT.
In this screen, you will now be presented with the Questionnaire on Wildlife Suitability, you must answer this question to be able to proceed with the lodgement of your application.
Click either YES or NO. Click NEXT. After clicking on NEXT, the Record Book questions will be displayed.
1. If you will be using the online record book, click the first option: “I will use the electronic record book provided free of charge by the department.”
2. If you already use a hard copy record book, you will need to transfer all current species and totals to the electronic record book when the licence is granted. Click the second option: “I already have a department approved hard-copy record book. I hereby agree to transfer to the electronic record book provided free of charge by the department if my licence is granted.”
3. If using an electronic record book will cause you hardship, you need to click the third option “I hereby sincerely declare that the use of the electronic record book provided free of charge by the department would be a hardship because of the reason selected below. I would like to purchase a hard copy record book.” Please Note: You will need to select one of the reasons for hardship from those listed below and purchase a hardcopy record book. The record book fee will be added to your application fee and displayed on the payment screen.
Select the reasons for hardship by clicking one of the three options available. Select which hard copy book type you wish to order by clicking on either the 20-page record book or the 50-page record book. Click NEXT. Licence holders who chose to use a hard copy record book will be required to submit a return of operations to the department. The frequency at which the return of operations needs to be submitted to the department will be stipulated in your permit conditions.
If you are applying for a Specialised or Advanced licence for dangerous animals, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire at this point in the application.
You are required to add all relevant documentation and photos before the wildlife authority application will proceed to the next screen. Click NEXT.
1. The Person in Charge screen allows you to select yourself as the Person in Charge by clicking the ‘Same as applicant’ option.
2. Or you can choose to nominate an alternate person in charge by clicking the ‘Alternate person in charge’ option.
If you choose Option 2 then the alternate person in charge details will need to be filled out in this section. To search for their address, you can use the SEARCH ADDRESS function.
Click NEXT.
Fill out with the alternate Person in Charge details.
Click NEXT.
Review the Application Contact details. Click either Same as applicant or Alternate contact details as shown below.
Provide alternate contact details if not the same as the applicant. Click NEXT.
Provide any other documentation that may assist your application if not already provided. Select NEXT if you do not wish to upload any further documentation.
The Review Screen allows the applicant to review all the information provided and submit the application. Review all the information on the screen. Select SUBMIT.
The Payment Screen allows you to review and pay the application and record book fee if selected.
Enter payment details. Click PAY NOW. Click on SUBMIT to complete your purchase.
If the application is for a Standard, Specialised Non-dangerous or Advanced Nondangerous licence and there is no assessment required, you will see a Permit Confirmation Screen which will confirm payment has been successful and documents have been emailed to you. Click Finish to return to the Online Services home page.
If the application is for a Specialised or Advanced Licence for dangerous animals or if you have applied for a Standard Licence and you have answered the wildlife suitability question in the affirmative, you will only see an Application Lodgement Confirmation Screen with the Application Reference Number.
Please note: Applications for licence types for dangerous animals require assessment and are not be issued immediately. You may be contacted by the Wildlife Assessment team regarding the assessment if required.
Click Finish to return to the Online Services home page
Please Note: If you’ve chosen to use a hardcopy record book, the book will be posted to you once the licence has been granted.
Please Note: You cannot purchase or acquire dangerous animals without the granted Specialised or Advanced Licence for Dangerous Animals in hand.