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Apply online for a Native Animal Keepers Licence
Apply online for a Companion Animal Keepers Licence
Renew your native animal keepers licence
List of all native animal species that may be kept under licence in NSW
A list of native animal species that can be kept without a licence
List of all threatened plants and animals and threatened communities in NSW
Use an E-book instead of lodging paper returns
Information and resources about Wildlife Licensing in NSW
Fact sheets about some well-known native animals in NSW
Wildlife Trade and Conservation information from the Australian Government
Go to our species list to find out which species you can keep as a companion animal. This licence type:
1) Is for five years and
2) Does not have any annual record keeping requirements
3) However, you must nominate the species of companion animal at the time of application
Native Animal Keepers Licences are a type of biodiversity conservation licence required under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 to keep native birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles as pets. Go to our species list to find out which species you can keep. The following classes of licences are granted:
Bird keeper's licence: Required to keep native birds as pets. Granted in the following classes:
1) Basic Bird
2) Advanced Bird
3) Emu Endorsement
Reptile keeper's licence: Required to keep native reptiles as pets. Granted in the following classes:
1) Basic Reptile
2) Advanced Reptile, Non Venomous
3) Advanced Reptile, Venomous, Category 1
4) Advanced Reptile, Venomous, Category 2
5) Advanced Reptile, Venomous, Category 3
Amphibian keeper's licence: It's against the law to collect frogspawn, tadpoles or frogs from the wild, but with an NPWS licence you can still witness metamorphosis in action. Granted in the following classes:
1) Basic Amphibian
2) Advanced Amphibian
Mammal keeper's licence: Only three native mammals can be kept as pets in NSW: dingos, spinifex hopping-mice and plains rats. You'll need a licence for the last two of these. Granted in the following classes:
1) Basic Mammal
Apply for a Licence to import or export protected native animals
The interstate import and export of protected native animals is subject to monitoring and regulatory controls by the native animal protection agencies in all states and territories. Licences are granted in the following classes:
1) Licence to export protected native animals out of NSW
2) Licence to import protected native animals into NSW
Licence to undertake activities or research likely to harm or endanger flora & fauna.
Online access to NSW biodiversity information
Statutory body managing Botanic Gardens in NSW
You will require a biodiversity conservation licence under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 if you wish to undertake an activity for scientific, educational or conservation purposes, that is likely to result in one or more of the following:
1) Harm to any protected animals, or to an animal that is a threatened species or is part of an endangered ecological community.2) Harm to any protected plant, or any plant that is a threatened species or is part of an endangered ecological community. You will need a licence if you plan to collect voucher specimens for identification purposes, pick cuttings or whole plants, or collect seed for research or conservation purposes.
3) Damage to a declared area of outstanding biodiversity value.
4) Damage to a habitat of a threatened species or an endangered ecological community.
Quick Links
About Wildlife LicencesFind out about proposed changes to wildlife licensing following commencement of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
Licences for land owners and developers to harm protected native animals or threatened species
Licences to carry out taxidermy or hold preserved native fauna
Licences for suitably qualified people to catch and release reptiles.
If you want to carve or decorate emu eggs (also known as Kalti Paarti), you'll need a licence from the NPWS
A number of other Wildlife licences are granted in NSW, these are:
For Property Owners and Developers
1) Licence to harm flying-foxes (to protecting commercial crops from flying-fox damage)
2) Landholder licences to harm protected native animals on private property
3) Licence to harm a threatened species or ecological community
Other Licences:
1) Licence to carry out taxidermy or hold preserved specimens of native fauna
2) Licence to use a prescribed substance to harm any bird in NSW
3) Licence to suitably qualified people to catch and release reptiles
4) Licences to carve or decorate emu eggs
Apply online for a Native Animal Keepers Licence
Renew your Native Animal Keepers Licence OnlineRenew your native animal keepers licence
Apply online for a Native Animal Import / Export LicenceApply for a Licence to import or export protected native animals
Apply online for a Native Flora & Fauna Research LicenceLicence to undertake activities or research likely to harm or endanger flora & fauna.
Find out about proposed changes to wildlife licensing following commencement of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016.
Manage your native animal keeper holdings onlineUse an E-book instead of lodging paper returns
All about Wildlife Licensing in NSWInformation and resources about Wildlife Licensing in NSW
Native Animal Fact SheetsFact sheets about some well-known native animals in NSW
List of all native animal species that can be kept under a Native Animal Keeper licence and a Companion Animal Keeper licenceList of all native animal species that may be kept under licence in NSW
Exempt Species ListA list of native animal species that can be kept without a licence
Threatened Species listList of all threatened plants and animals and threatened communities in NSW
Wildlife Trade and ConservationWildlife Trade and Conservation information from the Australian Government
Apply online for a Companion Animal Keepers LicenceApply online for a Companion Animal Keepers Licence
NSW Atlas of WildlifeOnline access to NSW biodiversity information
The Royal Botanic Gardens & Domains TrustStatutory body managing Botanic Gardens in NSW
Licences to harm wildlifeLicences for land owners and developers to harm protected native animals or threatened species