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Scientific licences

Applying for a licence

Applications can be made online using the Government Licensing Service. Look for the licence type “Native Flora and Fauna Research”.

If you are unsure about applying online, contact us to discuss options for lodging your application.

We aim to make decisions on applications within 4 to 6 weeks of receipt of completed applications.

Animal Ethics

Please note that if you are undertaking research on animals, you may also have to meet obligations under the NSW Animal Research Act. This is administered by NSW Dept of Primary Industries.

It is useful in the assessment of your licence to submit your animal ethics application form in addition to any approval received. If you do not or are not able to submit it at the time of application, we may ask for it later. In some situations a scientific licence may be issued without an ethics approval, however the licence will only be valid once the ethics approval has been granted.

Online Applications

'Other' Values

If you are working on abiotic material or your focus of work is not available in the online Flora or Fauna list, you can select one or more of the values below using the Species Type "Other". A licence to study these items is only required where the study locations are within NPWS estate or occur within an Endangered Ecological Community (EEC).

• Air Quality Sampling
• Aquatic Macro Invertebrates
• Fossil Material
• Invertebrates (General)
• Leaf Litter Sampling
• Rock / Geological Sampling
• Speleothems
• Soil Samples (Aquatic)
• Soil Samples (Terrestrial)
• Sub Fossil Material
• Visitor Survey
• Water Samples

Licence conditions, renewal and amendments

All licences are subject to general conditions. There may also be class or licence specific conditions applied to your licence. Reporting requirements will apply either annually, or at the end of the licence term. Licences may be renewed if all conditions and reporting requirements are met.

Reminders outlining the renewal process will be sent to the licensee prior to licence expiry.

Minor amendments to the licence such as changes in personnel, or addition of new locations, species or techniques, may be made during the term of a licence. It will be at the discretion of the WLMU whether the changes require a new application, or whether the licence will be reissued.

Documents to download

• Additional questions (S132cAppQs1111 - 546kB) - These are compulsory for all new applications. Save, and attach to your online application.
• Karst questions (S132cKarstQs1111 - 553kB) - These are compulsory for all new applications for work within Karst environments. Save, and attach to your online application.
• FAQs (S132cFAQs.pdf - 96kB)
• Spreadsheet for recording and submitting research data (scientificLicenceDatasheet.xls - 73kB)
• Atlas of NSW Wildlife - Field Data Book (WildlifeAtlasFieldDataBook.pdf  - 221kB)
• Atlas of NSW Wildlife - Census of Australian Plant Species Taxa (CAPS.xls - 3.4MB)
• Atlas of NSW Wildlife - Census of Australian Vertebrate Species Taxa (CAVS.xls - 1.1MB)
• Atlas of NSW Wildlife - Taxa Metadata (WildlifeAtlasTaxaMetadata.xls - 18kB)

Policies and guidelines

• NPWS Field survey methods
• FloraBank Guidelines
• Policy on the translocation of threatened fauna - This policy guides the planning and implementation of translocation programs for threatened animals in NSW.
• Guidelines for the translocation of threatened plants in Australia