Information about how to apply and pay for licences to keep native animals.
To keep a native reptile, bird, frog or mammal as a pet you need to first have a biodiversity conservation licence granted under the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (National Parks and Wildlife Service). The type of biodiversity conservation licence needed depends on the species and number of animals you want to keep.
You must be at least 16 years old to apply for a licence to keep native animals. If you are under 16 years of age the licence application must be in the name of your legal parent/guardian.
Some animals are only available to people who hold an advanced licence. These animal keepers have many years of experience keeping species that may be difficult and dangerous to maintain, or are of a higher conservation significance.
There are 41 native bird species you can keep without a licence.
You can only keep one animal listed as companion class on the NSW Native Animal Keepers' Species List. You must nominate the species you want at the time you apply for your licence.
This licence covers over 300 types of native birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals listed as class 1 or ‘basic’ (birds class B1, reptiles class R1, amphibian class A1 and mammal class M1) on the NSW Native Animal Keepers' Species List.
This licence is suitable for people with a basic knowledge of the animals and how to meet their needs.
Must be over 16 years of age or a parent or guardian of children under 16.