A beginner's guide to firearm licensing in South Africa
Civilian firearm ownership in South Africa rests on four pillars. Understand these and the rest of the journey makes sense.
The four pillars
- Competency - and the rules for keeping and renewing it.
- Licences to possess a category of firearm - and their renewal.
- Safekeeping - an SABS-compliant safe, correctly installed.
- Rules of ownership - lawful use, carriage in public, transport and category-specific rules.
The categories you may licence
- Handguns (self-loading handguns and revolvers).
- Shotguns (manually operated and semi-automatic).
- Manually operated rifles (bolt-action, pump-action, hinge / break-neck).
- Self-loading rifles / carbines (for sport shooting via accredited associations).
How it flows
First you become competent (training + the SAPS competency certificate). Then you choose the section you apply under, buy the firearm, and lodge a SAPS 271 application with your motivation and supporting documents at your Designated Firearms Officer. In the ordinary course, an application is approved within about 90 business days.
Frequently asked
What are the four pillars of firearm ownership in South Africa?
Competency, the licence to possess a firearm, safekeeping in an SABS-compliant safe, and the rules governing lawful use, carriage and transport.
How long does a firearm licence application take?
In the ordinary course an application is approved within about 90 business days, after which the licence is printed and delivered to your DFO for collection.
Ready to build your motivation?
Start with a guided intake. You'll only be asked what your section and firearm actually require.
Start your motivation