Private wildlife licences

Do I need a wildlife licence?

You do not need to apply for a wildlife licence for species listed in Schedule 4 of the Wildlife Regulations 2024 if you are keeping for non-commercial purposes. However, you must acquire animals from a lawful source (for example the holder of a Wildlife Dealer licence). Animals cannot be taken from the wild.

A wildlife licence is required to keep any animals listed in Schedules 2, 3 and 7 of the Wildlife Regulations 2024. If a species (or sub-species) is not listed in these schedules, it cannot be held under a Wildlife Basic or a Wildlife Advanced Licence.

A Wildlife Specimen licence is required to keep any prepared or mounted specimens of wildlife for non-commercial purposes.

A licence is not required to possess processed wildlife products (other than by taxidermy) from the following wildlife:

freshwater or saltwater crocodile
emu
common brushtail possum
eastern or western grey kangaroo
whiptail wallaby
common wallaroo/euro
red-necked wallaby
red kangaroo
Tasmanian pademelon.

Applying for a wildlife licence

Before applying for a private wildlife licence, you should determine what type of licence you need. Refer Private wildlife licenses for information about the different types.

You can now apply online Apply for a Wildlife Basic Licence, a Wildlife Advanced Licence, a Wildlife Specimen Licence, or a Dingo Licence.

Apply now

Alternatively you can download the form below:

Private Wildlife Licence Application Form v24.2

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Dingo Licence Application Form v24.2

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Hard copy application forms can also be sent to you by phoning the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

You can view the Wildlife Regulations 2024.

Please ensure that you provide all required information as part of your application. Missing information will result in a delay in processing your application.

An inspection will be required as part of the application process for all Dingo Licences and may be required in some other instances. You will be contacted by the Conservation Regulator if this is the case.

Licence fees

Do not include payment with your application - if your application is successful, a payment notice will be sent to you with appropriate fee.

From 1 July 2024, the maximum cost for each type of private wildlife licence in the following table is provided as a guide only, as the licence fee is pro-rata by month. Discounts apply for licences issued for 3 years.

Type	Full fee (1 year)	Concession (1 year)
Wildlife Basic Licence	$136.70	$68.30
Wildlife Advanced Licence	$253.10	$126.50
Dingo Licence	$195.90	$97.90
Wildlife Specimen Licence (to 30 September 2025)	$48.90	$24.40

Please note that once licence fees are paid, refunds will not be issued for change of mind. If you have a specific refund enquiry, please contact wildlifelicensing@delwp.vic.gov.au

Concession eligibility

You're eligible for a concession on the cost of a private wildlife licence if you hold the following cards:

Centrelink Health Care Card
Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession Card
Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card
Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card

Student card and seniors cards do not meet concession eligibility requirements.

Details about eligible concession cards are available from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Submit your application

Email your completed application to wildlifelicensing@delwp.vic.gov.au

You can also post your application to:

DEECA
Permissions Delivery
475 Mickleham Road
Attwood VIC 3049

Allow at least 4 weeks for your licence application to be assessed.
If your application is successful you will be sent a payment notice for your licence.
Your licence and Record Book will be posted to you in approximately 2 weeks.
To avoid delays, please email your application and complete payments electronically.

Your wildlife licence cannot be emailed to you, it must be issued with a hard copy Record Book.

You must not buy or possess any wildlife (except those species where a licence is not required) until you have received your licence and Record Book.

What happens after I have submitted an application?

Once your application is received, it will be assessed as quickly as possible.

If your application is successful you will be sent a payment notice for your licence.

Upon receipt of your payment, your licence and Record Book will be posted to you in approximately 2 weeks. Your wildlife licence cannot be emailed to you, it must be issued with a hard copy Record Book.

You must not buy or possess any wildlife (except those species where a licence is not required) until you have received your licence and Record Book.

This content now only relevant for people downloading the ‘hard copy’, and will be included in that version of the application forms rather than on the website.

Wildlife licence types

This type of licence authorises the holder to possess, keep, breed, buy, sell and dispose of wildlife listed in schedules 2 and 7 of the Wildlife Regulations 2024 for non-commercial purposes.

The minimum age for applicants is 10 years of age. Applicants under 18 years of age will need the signed consent of their parent or legal guardian.
Wildlife basic licences are available for 1 or 3 years and have a common expiry date of 30 September of the relevant year.

Species List for a Basic Wildlife Licence
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This type of licence authorises the holder to possess, keep, breed, buy, sell and dispose of wildlife listed in schedules 2, 3 and 7 of the Wildlife Regulations 2024.
The minimum age for applicants is 10 years of age. Applicants under 18 years of age will need the signed consent of their parent or legal guardian. Applicants under the age of 18 wishing to keep venomous snakes must provide documentary evidence of competency in the handling of venomous snakes with their application.
Wildlife advanced licences are available for 1 or 3 years and have a common expiry date of 30 September of the relevant year.

Species List for a Advanced Wildlife Licence
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A Dingo Licence authorises the holder to:
- possess, keep, breed, buy, sell and dispose of dingoes for private purposes, and
- possess any dingo at other sites for the non-commercial purposes of exercising, obedience training, education, or display at shows conducted by a canine association.
A Dingo Licence only applies to the keeping of pure dingoes. The keeping of hybrid animals does not require a wildlife licence but are required to be registered and managed as dogs under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 and local laws.

Please note that dingo enclosures must be constructed prior to an application for the Dingo Licence. Applicants for a dingo licence must be 18 years of age or older.

A Dingo Licence is available for 1 or 3 years and has a common expiry date of 30 June of the relevant year.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) on keeping dingoes

Find dingo FAQs

Standards for keeping dingoes

Dingo enclosures must meet the standards below:
- be child-proof and of sufficiently secure design and construction to prevent escape of dingoes and unauthorised access to dingoes
- have a minimum floor area of 30 sq. metres for up to two Dingoes and an additional 10 sq. metres for each additional Dingo (over 9 months)
- have fences of either 3.0 metres in height or a minimum of 2.0 metres in height with an additional 45° degree inward return of at least 1.0 metre in length (or the inward return being a full secure roof)
- have a 1.0 metre inward-facing mesh return fitted at the base of the fence and fastened to the ground at right angles to the fence (or fence anchored securely to a cement slab)
- have a secure escape-proof fence.
Enclosure must be constructed prior to the holder applying for a Dingo Licence, acquiring any dingoes or prior to the holder changing address.

The Dingo Licence holder must carry out any repairs or modifications directed by an Authorised Officer to an enclosure within the time specified by the Authorised Officer.

Dingo enclosure standards
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A wildlife licence is not required to keep wildlife listed in the following document for private purposes, provided the animals have been acquired lawfully and have not been taken from the wild.

Taxa that may be held privately without a wildlife licence
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A licence is not required to possess processed wildlife products (such as leather goods) derived from the following wildlife:
- freshwater or Saltwater crocodile
- emu
- common brushtail possum
- eastern or western grey kangaroo
- whiptail, euro or red-necked wallaby
- red kangaroo
- Tasmanian pademelon.
This exemption does not apply to preserved or mounted wildlife specimens prepared by a taxidermist.

Secondary permissions

Wildlife Regulations 2024 require the holder of certain types of wildlife licence to obtain prior written permission before conducting certain transactions.

Apply now

The most common secondary permissions are:

Acquire wildlife from an unlicensed person
Dispose of wildlife to an unlicensed person
Dispose of wildlife held for less than 6 months
Acquire unscheduled wildlife

Alternatively, you can email your request to wildlifelicensing@delwp.vic.gov.au.

Updated 1 July 2024