Getting a bird keeper's licence
What sort of licence do you need?
If you wish to keep birds that aren't covered by the exemptions above, you must get a licence from the NPWS before obtaining any bird. These licensing systems allow the NPWS to monitor what species are being kept, bred and traded amongst enthusiasts.
People who hold a licence can obtain protected birds from other people who are licensed, or through licensed fauna dealers (pet shops). There are three classes of bird keeper licences:
Class 1 licence
A Class 1 licence authorises you to keep most of the common species that are easy to look after and can be traded by licensed pet shops. A person with just a basic knowledge of the needs of birds should have no difficulty maintaining these species.
Some of the birds that can be kept under a Class 1 licence are:
- crimson rosella
- turquoise parrot
- double-barred red-browed finch
- Major Mitchell's cockatoo.
Anyone over the age of 10 years can get a Class 1 licence. If you're under the age of 16 years, you must have parental/guardian consent.
Companion bird keeper's licence
If you want to keep just one bird as a pet, you may be able to apply for a companion bird keeper's licence. The bird must be one of the species covered by a Class 1 licence (see above).
Class 2 licence
You'll need a Class 2 licence if you want to keep species that are difficult to keep and are not traded by pet shops. These species can only be obtained from specialist bird breeders. A large commitment of time and experience in keeping birds is required to successfully maintain these species.
The species that can be kept under Class 2 licences include:
- wrens
- silvereyes
- honeyeaters
- ducks.
The holder of a Class 2 licence can also keep Class 1 species. A Class 2 licence is available only to people over the age of 18 years with at least 2 years proven experience of keeping birds in aviaries.
Licence fees
The following fees apply:
| Type of licence | Standard fee | Fee for NSW Pensioner Concession Card holders |
| Class 1 (two years) | $60 | $48 |
| Class 1 (five years) | $120 | $95 |
| Class 2 (one year) | $60 | $48 |
| Class 2 (two years) | $120 | $95 |
| Class 2 (five years) | $240 | $190 |
| Companion bird licence (five years) | $40 | $30 |
Documents to download
- Complete outline of the NSW bird licensing system (PDF - 39KB), including lists of all the species that can be held under the three licence classes.
- Bird licence application form (PDF - 22KB)
- Companion Keepers Application Form (PDF - 51KB)