Applying for a firearm licence in South Africa

Some people in South Africa think they’d be safer if they carry around a firearm. Well, if you want one, here are the processes you need to follow, put in place by the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Before you may possess a firearm, you must obtain a firearm licence from SAPS. You need a licence for every firearm that you possess.

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What you need to do:

• You must successfully pass the prescribed test to prove your knowledge of the Firearms Control Act, 2000, as well as the prescribed training and practical test regarding the safe and efficient handling of a firearm at an accredited training provider.
• On receipt of the training certificate, from a training provider accredited with the Safety and Security Sector Education and Training Authority (Sasseta), you must apply to SAPS for a competency certificate, by completing the SAPS 517 (Application for a competency certificate) form.
• Submit the application, together with the following supporting documentation, to the designated firearms officer (DFO) situated in the area where you reside:
  Your official identity document,
  – Your original training certificate issued by an accredited Sasseta training provider,
  – Two unobscured passport-sized colour photographs (with a neutral background) that are not older that three months, and
  – Any other supporting documents.

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• After you have obtained a competency certificate, you must complete the relevant sections of the SAPS 271 form (Application for a licence to possess a firearm).
• Submit the completed SAPS 271 form to the DFO in the area where you reside, along with the following documents:
  – Your original, official identity document,
  – Your original competency certificate,
  – Letter of appointment as executor, if the firearm was inherited, and
  – Two unobscured passport-sized colour photographs, not older that three months.

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• You must fully motivate your application and submit documents in support of your application.
• The DFO will:
  – Take a full set of your fingerprints on the SAPS 91(a) form (only for a competency certificate), and
  – Issue you with a remittance advice (SAPS 523(a)) before directing you to the financial office at the police station to pay the prescribed fee. The payment must be made by means of cash or a bank-guaranteed cheque. You will be issued with a receipt as proof of the payment, which you must submit to the DFO to ensure that the processing of the application will continue.
• You will receive a signed acknowledgement of receipt (SAPS 523) as proof that you have submitted an application for a licence to possess a firearm.
• After the successful consideration of your application, the DFO will ask you to, within 14 days, obtain and install a firearm safe that meets the standards set by the South African Bureau of Standards.
• The DFO will carry out an inspection of your premises to ascertain that you have met the requirements for the safe.

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How long does it take?

Upon receipt of the successful report about the safe inspection, your licence will be printed and sent to the DFO to be handed to you against a signature on the SAPS 86 register.

How much does it cost?

Competence certificate: R70
Firearm licence: R140

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