Firearms licensing: frequently asked questions
What is a firearms permit?
A permit can be issued by the Chief Officer of Police, as a temporary authority, for the possession of firearms or shotguns. It is not normally issued to a certificate holder, but to someone who, unexpectedly, finds the need to have legal access to weapons (see example above).
The authority is usually of a restrictive nature and may not allow use of the weapons for shooting. The permit, by nature of the fact that it is temporary, has a limited life span, probably about thirty days.
This can be extended in exceptional circumstances by the Firearms Licensing Manager.
The idea of the permit is to allow the holder to transfer or transport weapons, perhaps to a Registered Firearms Dealer or another certificate holder. It is not designed as a legal authority in place of a normal certificate.
You could look on a permit as a temporary "cover-note"