business.gov.au

Specialised licence - Queensland

Description

You need this licence if you intend to keep, trade and breed up to a maximum of 50:

  • class 1 animals - birds, reptiles and amphibians
  • class 2 animals - birds, reptiles and amphibians
  • unlimited protected scorpions and spiders.

There are 314 species that require a specialised animal licence. Please see 'Animals that require a specialised licence' in other resources for a full list of animals permitted under this licence.

You must comply with the following codes of practice:

  • captive reptile and amphibian husbandry
  • aviculture.

Service type

Licence

A licence defines the need to obtain recognition / certification and registration to undertake a certain business activity.

Eligibility requirements

To hold a native animal keeping 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.

New native animal keeping licences:

  • cannot be issued if you have a criminal conviction that relates to animal welfare issues or related conservation matters within the past three years
  • allow you to keep legally obtained wildlife for up to 5 years after which you will need to reapply for the licence.

Duration

Up to 5 years

Fees

Fees Details for this service in table format.

Task Type Business Structure Amount Description
Apply Application All $365.10

Fees for 2026-27
Renew Renewal All $365.10

Fees for 2026-27

Application process

Apply

Licences which propose the keeping of venomous snakes will not be issued immediately online as they may require manual assessment. Once your application has been assessed, you will be sent an email notifying you of the assessment outcome.

Approval time

Up to 40 business days

Administering agency

Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation

Wildlife and Threatened Species Operations

Contact details

Contact Email, Phone and Address Details for this service in simple two column table format, header then data.