Frequently asked questions

Any person who is 21 years of age or older can apply for a firearm licence. Individuals under 21 can still apply if they can provide compelling reasons or hold dedicated status, such as dedicated sport shooting or dedicated hunting status, and they must have parental consent.

Yes. According to SAPS you must be either a South African citizen or the holder of a permanent residence permit to apply for a standard firearm licence in South Africa.

Yes. You are required to hold a firearm proficiency certificate from an accredited training institution before you can apply for a competency certificate from SAPS.

Proficiency is the initial training and testing, where you prove your ability to handle a firearm safely and receive a certificate from an accredited training provider.

Competency is the legal second step, where SAPS issues a certificate confirming your legal fitness to own a firearm.

Yes. You are required to obtain a separate licence for every individual firearm in your possession.

SAPS considers several factors before disqualifying an application. These include, but are not limited to, the following.

Convictions for specific offences where you were incarcerated without the option of a fine, or where the sentence was completed less than five years before the application:

• Violent crimes — murder, culpable homicide, rape, robbery, kidnapping, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, or malicious damage to property.
• Firearm offences — unlawful possession of a firearm or ammunition, pointing a firearm, or negligent handling or loss of a firearm.
• Domestic violence — conviction of an offence under the Domestic Violence Act, 1998.
• Drug or alcohol abuse — offences involving the abuse of, or dealing in, drugs or alcohol.
• Fraud — conviction of fraud, theft or forgery, especially in relation to obtaining a licence.

Being declared unfit under an Unfit Person Declaration (Section 102 or 103):

• Mental instability — a confirmed mental condition, or a proneness to violent tendencies.
• Threats — having publicly threatened or expressed an intention to kill or injure yourself or another person.
• Substance dependency — dependence on drugs or alcohol.
• Negligence — failing to take reasonable steps to ensure the safe storage of a firearm in your residence.

You may also be disqualified if you are under the legal age of 21, have failed your prescribed competency training and practical tests, or are not a South African citizen or permanent resident.

SAPS has up to 120 working days to process an application, and actual times vary with the workload of your local Designated Firearms Officer (DFO) and the Central Firearms Register (CFR). What you can control is the quality of the submission, which is where we come in: we work to a 48-hour preparation target once we have your complete documents.

Renewal applications must be submitted at least 90 days before the expiry date. Start well ahead of that deadline and we'll handle the paperwork and keep it on track.