Firearm Licence – Application Process for a New Licence
| Description
Before you may possess a firearm, you must obtain a firearm licence from the South African Police Service (SAPS). You need a licence for every firearm that you possess.
Prospective firearm owners must successfully undergo the prescribed training at an accredited training institution and obtain a training proficiency certificate. A list of accredited training institutions are maintained on the website of the SAPS or you may call the SAPS National Firearms Call Centre at Tel: 012 353 6111 or Fax: 012 353 6574 for information. |
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Steps to follow
- You must successfully complete the prescribed test on the knowledge of the Act 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 an accredited training provider or SASSETA (Safety and Security Training Authority), apply to the South African Police Service for a competency certificate. You must complete the SAPS 517 (Application for a competency certificate) form. The applicant must be submitted by the applicant together with the following supporting documentation to the Designated Firearms Officer situated in the area where you ordinarily reside:
- official identify document
- your original training certificate issued by an accredited by an accredited training provider (SASSETA)
- two unobscured passport size colour photographs (with a neutron background) not older than 3 months,
- any other supporting documents.
- 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 Designated Firearms Officer (DFO) situated in the area where you ordinarily reside.
- You must take the following documents with you to the DFO:
- your original official identity document
- original Competency Certificate (if it has already been issued)
- letter of appointment as executor, if the firearm is inherited
- two unobscured passport-size colour photographs, not older than three months
- You must fully motivate your application and submit supporting 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).
- issue you with a remittance advice (SAPS 523 (a) and direct 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 an expenditure receipt (Z263) as proof of the payment, which you must submit to the DFO to enable the continuance in processing the application.
- You will receive a signed acknowledgment of receipt (SAPS 523) as proof that you have submitted an application for a licence to possess a firearm.
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| Legal framework
(Documents are provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on your computer.)
Firearms Control Act, 2000 (Act 60 of 2000) |
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| Service standard
The DFO will send the application form, as well as the supporting documents, to the Central Firearms Register (CFR) for consideration. After the successful consideration of your application for a firearm licence, the DFO will ask you to obtain and install, within 14 days, a firearm safe that meets the standards set by the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). The DFO will carry out a physical inspection of your premises to ascertain that you have met the requirements for a safe. Upon receipt of the successful Safe Inspection Report, your licence will be printed and sent to the Designated Firearms Officer to be handed to you against a signature in the SAPS 86 register. |
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Cost
- Competency Certificate: R70
- Firearm licence: R140
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| Forms to complete
(Forms are provided in PDF format. To open PDF documents, you need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader 4 or higher installed on your computer.)
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| Contact details
National Firearms Call Centre: 012-353 6111 |
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SAPS National Firearms Call Centre: |
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National |
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| City/town: |
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Pretoria |
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| Tel: |
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012 353 6111 |
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| Fax: |
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012 353 6036 |
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| Web address: |
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www.saps.gov.za |
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Related Posts
How long does the whole process take from the first day of the competency training to the day of issue? (more or less)
I have applied for my licenses almost 2 years ago and eventually in January this year (2011) when I called the call centre they advised that my applications have been refused despite the fact that my competancy was approved. I have been waiting for the refusal letters but nothing is arriving in the mail. I was advised that it can also be faxed to me however when I phone the call centre they put me from one person to the next where I spend an hour on the phone with no result. Can anybody help me and advise what I can do to at least get a copy of my refusal letter so that I can take action and appeal?
I submitted mine in August 2008 and I’m still waiting. Licence finally cleared fingerprints in March 2011. I was told be be patient for the next 6 months. So the whole process will take more than 3 years.
Hi there,
I have an old green license, but had to apply for new license+competency very soon (born in March)
My competency certificate is going to expire now on 2012-01-29.
Given the ruling/pending ruling, do I have to continue with the process, or does my Green Licence cover me? (If so, do I go to my local Police Station?)
Your help would be appreciated.
Or where should I go to find out?
Regards
Pieter
Good morning,
I applied for my licence in March 2010 – all relevant papers were handed in including my compentancy certificate and training certificate – I have now received a letter from the firearms department advising me that my compentancy certificate was declined as the certificate was not included with my application. It is not my fault that the police officer who assisted me at the time did not include all the relevant paperwork as this was handed in to them. Where do I go from here?? I have sent an appeal to the chairperson at the firearm department to advise that all documents were handed in at the time I applied for my licence but still waiting for their reply.
Please can you give me some advice?
Kind regards