Australian Sword Laws: Are Katanas Legal by State? | TOUKENZA
Australian Sword Laws: Are Katanas Legal by State?
Last updated: 2026-06-06
Table of Contents
If you are in Australia wondering whether a katana is legal, the honest answer is that it depends on which state or territory you live in. Australia has no single national sword law for possession. Bringing a sword across the border is handled by federal customs, but keeping one at home is governed by eight separate state and territory weapons regimes that treat a sword very differently from one another. This page sets out that federal-versus-state split, gives a verified row for each jurisdiction, and explains the trap that catches collectors: a sword can clear federal customs cleanly and still be unlawful to possess in your own state without an exemption. Every legal point links a primary government or statutory source, and the position is stated as at 2026 — this is an area in active reform, so confirm the current rule before you buy.
Sword Law in Australia Is State Law
The first thing to separate is import from possession. Importing a sword into Australia is a Commonwealth (federal) matter, decided at the border by the Australian Border Force under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956
. Possessing, carrying, and selling a sword once it is in the country is a matter for the state or territory where you live, under that jurisdiction's own weapons Act. The two questions are answered by different laws and different governments, and clearing one does not satisfy the other.
This matters because the import step is the easy part. The federally controlled bladed categories are double-edged daggers and concealed or disguised blades such as cane swords; a traditional single-edged katana with a visible scabbard is not in those categories and is generally admissible on a customs declaration, as set out in the import section below. State possession law is where the real barrier sits, and it varies widely: in most of the country a sword is a "controlled weapon" you may keep at home with a lawful excuse, while in Victoria and South Australia a sword is a "prohibited weapon" that you may not possess at all without a formal exemption.
The consequence is a genuine trap. A resident of Victoria or South Australia can lawfully import a katana through the Border Force and then be in unlawful possession of a prohibited weapon at home, because no Commonwealth clearance grants a state exemption. Where you live, not the border, decides whether you may keep the sword. The sections below treat each side in turn.
State-by-State Rules
The table summarises how each jurisdiction treats an ordinary, openly carried single-edged sword such as a katana. In every state and territory a concealed or disguised sword — a cane sword or a blade hidden in another object — is a prohibited weapon regardless of the row below.
Victoria is the strictest, and the most important jurisdiction to get right. Since 1 July 2004 a sword has been a prohibited weapon in Victoria, not merely a controlled one, under the Control of Weapons Act 1990 and the current Control of Weapons Regulations 2021, which define a sword as a thrusting, striking, or cutting weapon with a long blade and a hilt — a category that plainly includes a katana. Because it is a prohibited weapon, you cannot simply keep one at home: you need either a Governor in Council Exemption Order or an individual Chief Commissioner's Approval, as Victoria Police explains. In practice most lawful collectors and martial artists rely on the Governor in Council exemption, which covers members of approved collector clubs, martial-arts organisations, and historical re-enactment bodies. The path to lawful ownership in Victoria therefore usually runs through membership of a recognised body rather than an individual application, and a collector should arrange the exemption before acquiring the blade, not after.
South Australia became the second exemption jurisdiction on 1 July 2025, when swords and machetes were prescribed as prohibited weapons under the Summary Offences Act 1953 and the Summary Offences Regulations 2016 (reg 6). Possessing a prohibited weapon there without an exemption is an offence, and a three-month surrender period ran from that date. Exemptions exist — including for collections and for sporting or recreational use under Schedule 2 of the Act — but they are conditional, and the safest course for a South Australian collector is to confirm eligibility with SAPOL before buying. New South Wales sits at the opposite end: an ordinary sword such as a katana falls outside the prohibited-weapons list in Schedule 1 of the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998, so no licence or permit is needed to own one. Only a concealed sword — a sword cane or a blade disguised as another object — is a Schedule 1 prohibited weapon requiring a permit. The remaining jurisdictions broadly let you own and display a sword at home while restricting how you carry it in public, but because several states reformed their knife and weapon laws in 2025, treat each row as a starting point and verify the current state rule.
Importing into Australia
At the border the federal treatment of a traditional single-edged sword is favourable. The controlled non-firearm bladed categories under Schedule 13 of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 are things such as daggers, concealed or disguised blades, throwing knives, and flick knives. A "dagger" for this purpose is defined narrowly — a sharpened blade designed for stabbing with cutting edges along the length of both sides — so a single-edged katana, whose back edge is not sharpened, is not a dagger. The Australian Border Force administers these controls, and a single-edged sword carried with a visible scabbard is generally admissible on a truthful customs declaration rather than being a prohibited import.
The forms confirm the distinction. The controlled categories are imported under a Schedule 13 weapons import application (the B709 family of forms), and where a police-certification test applies the importer obtains a B709B certificate from the relevant state or territory police weapons registry. Critically, that police-certification test covers "daggers and similar devices" and expressly excludes swords and bayonets — which is the clearest signal that an ordinary sword is not treated as one of the controlled blades. The contrast is with a cane sword or a double-edged dagger, which is what the permit and certification machinery is built for.
Two cautions belong here. First, the import paperwork requirements are periodically revised, including the police-certification forms, so confirm the current ABF requirement for the exact item before shipping. Second, and more important, clearing customs is necessary but not sufficient. The Border Force decides only whether the sword may enter the country; it does not grant any state exemption. A sword that the ABF admits can still be unlawful to possess in Victoria or South Australia without the exemption described above, so resolve your state position first and treat the import as the second step.
Duties and Taxes
Two separate charges can apply when a sword arrives: import duty and Goods and Services Tax (GST). The Australian low-value threshold is AUD 1,000. For a consignment with a customs value over AUD 1,000, the Australian Border Force collects any duty, GST, and clearance charges from the importer at the border. For goods valued at AUD 1,000 or less, no duty applies, but GST of 10 percent is generally collected by the overseas seller at the point of sale under the low-value imported goods rules. Since a genuine collectible sword usually exceeds AUD 1,000, expect GST and any duty to be assessed at the border in most cases.
Age changes the duty picture sharply. A sword that is genuinely more than 100 years old can be classified as an antique and imported free of duty, but the Border Force requires proof: a Certificate of Antiquity stating that the goods are over 100 years old. For a documented koto or shinto-era blade, the duty line can therefore be zero, while GST may still apply on the value. A modern sword is treated as an ordinary edged arm and attracts duty, with the exact rate depending on its tariff classification under the working tariff. Treat any specific rate as something to confirm with the Border Force or your customs broker on the declared value, because tariff figures change; the practical step on your side is to document the blade's age and authenticity so the correct classification — antique or modern arm — is applied.
Buying from Japan
Buying a genuine nihonto from Japan for delivery to Australia is workable, and the order of operations matters: confirm whether your state lets you possess the sword, arrange any exemption you need, then import it. The Japan-side export of an ordinary art sword — including deregistration of the registration card and the cultural-affairs export certificate — is handled by the seller as a matter of routine, as covered in our how to buy from Japan guide.
For how other jurisdictions compare, see our sword laws by country hub, and to understand the authentication papers that prove a blade is a genuine antique nihonto — which also support an antique classification at customs — read our NBTHK certificate guide. If you would like help choosing a sword or finding a specific piece, you can ask through our consultation window or submit a search request. This page is general information, not legal advice, so confirm the current federal and state rules before you commit.
FAQ
Are katanas legal in Victoria?
Only with an exemption. Since 1 July 2004 a sword has been a prohibited weapon in Victoria under the Control of Weapons Act 1990 and the Control of Weapons Regulations 2021, and the definition of a sword covers a katana. You cannot simply keep one at home: you need a Governor in Council Exemption Order or an individual Chief Commissioner's Approval, and most collectors and martial artists rely on the Governor in Council exemption through membership of an approved club or organisation. Arrange the exemption before acquiring the blade, and confirm the current rule with Victoria Police.
Do I need a licence for a sword in NSW?
No, not for an ordinary sword. A katana or similar sword falls outside the prohibited-weapons list in Schedule 1 of the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998, so you do not need a licence or permit to own one in New South Wales. The exception is a concealed or disguised sword, such as a sword cane or a blade hidden in another object, which is a Schedule 1 prohibited weapon that does require a permit. As always, public carry is separately restricted, so keep the sword at home or cased for transport.
Can I import a katana into Australia?
Generally yes, at the federal level. The controlled non-firearm bladed categories under Schedule 13 of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 are daggers, concealed or disguised blades, and similar items. A dagger is defined as a blade sharpened along both edges, so a single-edged katana is not a dagger, and the police-certification test expressly excludes swords. A single-edged sword with a visible scabbard is therefore generally admissible on a truthful customs declaration. But clearing customs does not grant a state exemption, so if you live in Victoria or South Australia you must also resolve your state position before you can lawfully possess it.
Do I pay GST on an imported sword?
Usually yes. Australia charges GST of 10 percent on imported goods. For a consignment valued over AUD 1,000, the Australian Border Force collects GST, any duty, and clearance charges from you at the border; for goods valued at AUD 1,000 or less, GST is generally collected by the overseas seller at the point of sale. Since a collectible sword usually exceeds AUD 1,000, expect GST at the border. A sword over 100 years old can be imported free of duty with a Certificate of Antiquity, though GST may still apply on its value.
Is a katana a prohibited weapon in South Australia?
Yes, since 1 July 2025. South Australia prescribed swords and machetes as prohibited weapons under the Summary Offences Act 1953 and its dangerous-articles regulations, and a three-month surrender period ran from that date. Possessing a prohibited weapon without an exemption is an offence carrying significant penalties. Exemptions exist, including for collections and for sporting or recreational use under Schedule 2 of the Act, but they are conditional, so confirm your eligibility with SAPOL before buying a sword in South Australia.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the relevant authorities or a qualified professional.
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