Eligibility

You're eligible for an explosives licence or permit if you:

• are an adult
  • 21 years of age for an explosives driver licence
  • 18 years of age for all other licences or permits
• are physically able to conduct the nominated explosives activities
• have the knowledge and training to do the work competently.

You must have a security clearance to apply for a licence or permit relating to security-sensitive explosives or fireworks.

Who needs a licence or permit?

In Queensland, you need a licence or permit to:

• use explosives for
• • blasting and shotfiring
  • conducting fireworks displays
  • any other specialised purpose (e.g. demolition, testing)
• import and export explosives
• manufacture explosives
• • at a place of use
  • in a factory
  • in a mobile manufacturing unit
• sell explosives
• store explosives (other than in a government reserve)
• collect ammunition
• drive a vehicle that is licensed to transport explosives
• transport explosives.

Permits are issued for single-use, non-commercial activities related to importing and exporting explosives, and storing explosives (other than in a government reserve).

There is no fee for permits.

Appointing a responsible person

Publicly listed corporations must appoint a responsible person for explosives matters and this person must hold a security clearance (the responsible person may be a director of the corporation).

You only need to nominate the responsible person once (not with every application). If the responsible person leaves the company or no longer holds a security clearance, then the nomination must be updated.

To nominate a responsible person when submitting a new licence application, complete the applicable nominated responsible person's details on the form (E114 is not required). Note, if the company is not a listed corporation, the application may be refused.

To update or replace a nominated person in relation to an existing licence(s), contact us to complete Form E114 – Nominated responsible person.

General obligations for licence holders

All licence and permit holders have obligations under the Explosives Act 1999. Regardless of your licence or permit type, you must keep the explosives secure and use them safely.

You must also:

• notify the Explosives Inspectorate when a significant explosives incident occurs
• ensure your licence is current
• comply with the licence conditions
• use only explosives that are authorised or approved
• keep records.

Licence and permit categories

Explosives licences and permits are issued to a person and are categorised as corporate, partnership or individual.

Corporate licence

A corporate licence may be issued to a registered company, association or club, cooperative trading society or government agency. Licences can’t be issued to registered business names.

Partnership licence

A partnership licence may be issued to a combination of individuals, or a combination of other partnerships and corporations.

Note: Currently, partnerships should use the corporate application form.

Individual licence

An individual licence may be issued only to individual applicants.

Applying for an explosives licence or permit

To apply for a specific explosives licence or permit, see our sections for particular sectors and activities.

We can process your application within 20 working days if you complete the form correctly and provide all relevant supporting documents.

Security clearances

Security clearances are required for work involving security-sensitive explosives.

The requirements apply to holders of explosives licences and permits and employees who have unsupervised access to the explosives.

Find out more about the requirements for security clearances and how to apply.

Safety and security management systems

All authority holders (prescribed under section 46 of the Explosives Regulation 2017) who have 1 or more employees who conduct activities under the authority, must have a safety and security management system (SSMS) under the Explosives Regulation 2017.

Employee definition

An employee, in relation to SSMS requirements, means any of these:

• a contractor or subcontractor
• an employee of a contractor or subcontractor
• an employee of a labour hire company who has been assigned to work in the person's business or undertaking
• an apprentice or trainee
• a student gaining work experience
• a volunteer.

However, an SSMS isn't mandatory for a prescribed individual licence or permit holder who is a sole operator working under the licence or permit.

The safety and security management system must include the following:

1. A description of the holder's safety and security policy.
2. Details of the organisational structure of the holder's operations, including details of the personnel responsible for performing all the functions provided for under the system.
3. A system procedure for each matter stated in schedule 3, part 1 of the Explosives Regulation 2017.
4. An operational procedure for each matter stated in schedule 3, part 2 of the Explosives Regulation 2017 that applies to the place or activity to which the system applies.
5. A security plan that complies with section 46C.
6. An emergency response plan to manage risk to the safety and health of persons and the security of explosives in an emergency event.
7. A process for ongoing consultation with employees and contractors of the holder who are engaged in carrying out activities under the prescribed authority, at least once in each month, about safety and security in relation to the activities.

Your SSMS must cover every activity you conduct under the licence and be based on a risk management approach. To make the SSMS effective, you must:

1. Document it.
2. Communicate it to all relevant people.
3. Implement it.
4. Enforce it.
5. Review it regularly.

Penalties apply for non-compliance.

Security plans

All prescribed authority holders must have a security plan based on section 46C of the Explosives Regulation 2017. The plan must cover all activities conducted under the licence or permit.

Your security plan should be appropriate to your circumstances. For example, a security plan for the seller of propellant powders from a shop wouldn't need the same detail as a security plan for a transporter of explosives or major explosives seller.

All security plans should be based on the following principles:

• Keep explosives secure at all times or under an appropriate person's control (i.e. someone with an explosives security clearance who has appropriate competencies and general conduct).
• Implement a documented chain of custody as explosives pass from one licence holder to another (or their representative).
• Ensure that explosives are always in the possession and control of either you or your authorised representative.
• Be able to account for explosives accurately and quickly to assist in investigations of theft, loss or stock discrepancies.

Reviewing your security plan

You must review your security plan every year, and whenever there is a change in the national counter-terrorism alert level or level of risk.

You must also review your security plan whenever you experience any of the following:

• loss of explosives or a stock discrepancy that cannot be accounted for
• unauthorised entry or attempted break-in to your explosives storage place
• theft of explosives
• explosives obtained fraudulently
• intentional damage to one of your explosives facility
• loss or theft of information about explosives
• failure to deliver a shipment by the expected delivery time.

Also consider...

• Report an incident about fireworks or explosives.
• Read about security plans for sellers of security-sensitive explosives.

For some applications, we may require that you submit a current medical assessment.

If you already have a current medical report for using commercial vehicles with dangerous goods, you can use this as your medical assessment. Otherwise, please follow the instructions below.

The medical assessment must be conducted by a qualified medical doctor. The Explosives Inspectorate does not accept Coal Board Medicals for licence applications.

Note: A medical report remains current for 3 years from the date of the examination.

Who needs an assessment?

You must submit a completed medical assessment if you apply for the following licences:

• shotfirer licence
• explosives driver licence
• fireworks operator licence
• licence to use explosives (specialised purpose).

You also need a medical assessment if you:

• apply to have your current interstate licence recognised in Queensland
• drive mobile manufacturing units.

Obtaining a medical assessment

Step 1

Download and print these forms. You will need to take them along to your doctor's appointment.

• F3712 Medical certificate for motor vehicle driver (or equivalent*)
• F3195 Private and commercial vehicle driver's health assessment (or equivalent*).

*An acceptable equivalent is any assessment form issued by a government agency assessing your fitness to drive.

Both forms need to be completed by your doctor. They will retain form F3195 for their records and give you the completed medical certificate (form F3712).

Step 2

Complete Part 1 of the medical certificate form (F3712) before you visit your doctor.

Step 3

Attend your medical appointment and have the doctor complete the forms in accordance with the standards for commercial vehicle drivers.

The doctor must select Commercial for Part 2 of form (F3712).

Step 4

Keep the original for your records and submit a copy with your application.

Note that we may request more information from your doctor about your physical health, or a report from a psychiatrist or psychologist about your mental health.

About licence fees

All licences and authorities (excluding permits) issued under the Explosives Act 1999 (Qld) have regulatory fees attached (fee unit amounts), which are calculated for each year of the licence period. The fee unit value is reviewed annually.

However, there is no fee for explosives permits.

Most licences are issued for 1 or 5 years. Fireworks operator and contractor licences are issued for 1 or 3 years.

We may issue licences for various categories, such as a licence to import explosives (blasting explosives and distress signals). If more than 1 category applies, you would pay only the higher licence fee.

Paying for your licence

Note: We do not accept credit card payments via email or fax.

For new, or renewal applications submitted via the RSHQ Portal or Smartform, payment is made using a credit card at the end of the application process.

For renewal applications (licences only) submitted via:

• Email—payment is made via credit card (BPOINT). A payment link will be forwarded via email after submission of a complete application.
• Posted mail—you may either
  • submit your credit card details on a completed E115 – Acceptable methods of payment form (PDF, 305KB)
  • pay via credit card (BPOINT). A payment link will be forwarded via email after submission of a complete application.

Post your application form and any attachments with your payment form to an Explosives Inspectorate office.

Obtaining refunds

We may refund fees for an application if:

• the Chief Inspector of Explosives decides not to issue the licence
• you're surrendering your licence partway through the term and the refund amount is for the unexpired part of the term (whole years).

Fees for specific licences

To see the fee amounts for specific licences, see the Information Bulletin 37 – Regulatory and security clearance fees or licensing information for particular sectors and activities.

Renewing a licence or security clearance

We will email you a renewal notification prompting you to apply to renew your licence or security clearance. If you don't receive a renewal notification within 1 month of the due date, contact us.

You can't renew a permit, as they're used for one-off purposes.

Surrendering a licence or security clearance

Before you surrender a licence or security clearance, you must dispose of any explosives that you have under that licence safely, acceptably and legally. Contact your nearest Explosives Inspectorate office for assistance.

To surrender your licence or security clearance, complete form E217 – Voluntary surrender of licence or security clearance.

Fees for licences are refundable for any remaining whole years of the licence period. The security clearance fee is not refundable.

Once your licence is surrendered, it's illegal for you to possess explosives under the surrendered licence (though you may continue to possess explosives under a different licence).

Replacing a licence

To replace a licence that has been lost, stolen or defaced, complete the form E218 – Duplicate of licence.

If the licence has been lost or stolen, you must include a statutory declaration certifying that the licence is lost or stolen.

For damaged or defaced licences, you must return the original licence after submitting the application.

Replacing a security clearance

If you have a physical security clearance card that is lost, destroyed or stolen, you must notify us within 7 days by phone or email.

From April 2026, all applications for new, renewal or reissued security clearances are applied for and issued digitally via the RSHQ Portal.

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.

Application fee for duplicate or replacement licence

Changing the details on your licence

If you currently hold a Queensland explosives licence and you wish to amend your existing licence details, contact us for the appropriate form.

If you already have a current licence to use explosives issued by another state or territory, you may be able to apply for an equivalent licence in Queensland under mutual recognition.

The only licences to which this applies are those that are issued to individuals (not to partnerships or corporations).

Explosives licences that may have an equivalent licence (or combination of licences) are the:

• shotfirer licence
• explosives driver licence
• licence to use explosives (specialised purposes)
• fireworks operator licence.

All licences issued in Queensland under mutual recognition are valid for 1 year only. Your licence may be renewed if you meet all Queensland licensing requirements, including competencies.

If you allow your licence to expire, you can't apply again under mutual recognition for that licence type.

How to apply for mutual recognition

From mid-May 2026, applications for occupational authorities and mutual recognition are submitted via the RSHQ Portal (the Portal). If you do not already have a Portal account, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Create an account on the Portal—visit the RSHQ Portal for more information on how to create an account, and to access help resources.
2. Complete an identity verification in the Portal.
3. Submit a QESC application in the Portal—you must hold a valid security clearance before you can apply for an occupational authority relating to security-sensitive explosives (which includes fireworks and pyrotechnics).
4. Submit the occupational authority (licence) application in the Portal.

Your application includes the payment of the licence fee, and the following supporting documents:

• a certified copy of the current equivalent explosives licence from the other state or territory for the licence category you're applying for under mutual recognition
• a completed statutory declaration form (PDF, 629KB).
• evidence of the endorsements and restrictions on the current licence held from the other state or territory
• your medical report and signed statement from medical practitioner (if applicable).

Also consider...

• Find out more about mutual recognition for occupational licences in Australia.