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Firearm licence & competency guides
Plain-English guides to SAPS firearm licences, competency certificates and the paperwork in between — written by a SAPS-accredited firearm training provider, not scraped off a forum.
How to renew a firearm licence in South Africa
A step-by-step guide to renewing your SAPS firearm licence: the 90-day deadline, the SAPS 517(e) form, what happens if you are late, and the documents you need.
The SAPS competency certificate, explained
What a firearm competency certificate is, the training behind it, how long it lasts, how to renew it on the SAPS 517(g), and how it differs from a licence.
Firearm licence sections 13 to 20, explained
Sections 13 to 20 of the Firearms Control Act — what each is for, how long it is valid, how many firearms it allows, and how to pick the right one.
How to write a firearm licence motivation letter
What a SAPS firearm motivation letter must contain, how it changes by section, and the mistakes that get applications refused.
Documents you need for a SAPS firearm licence
The full document checklist for a SAPS firearm licence or competency application: what must be certified, what expires, and what does not apply to everyone.
How long does a SAPS firearm licence take?
Realistic timelines for SAPS firearm licence and competency applications, what happens at each stage, and what you can actually do about a delay.
How to check your SAPS firearm licence status
Check a SAPS firearm licence or competency application using the online enquiry, the SAPS app, or your Designated Firearm Officer — and what each status means.
Track your SAPS firearm application, free
Track a SAPS firearm licence or competency application free: record your reference number, log every status change, and get a reminder if nothing moves.
Expired or late firearm licence renewal
What to do if your firearm licence has expired or you missed the 90-day renewal deadline: the legal position, your options, and what makes it worse.
Your firearm licence was refused — how to appeal
How to appeal a refused SAPS firearm licence on the SAPS 530: the 90-day deadline, getting the reasons, and what a successful appeal contains.
Firearm safe storage requirements in South Africa
What the law requires for storing a firearm at home: the safe standard, how it must be fixed, the SAPS inspection, and the rules on ammunition.
Buying your first firearm in South Africa
The complete path for a first-time firearm owner: training, competency, choosing a section, the safe, the licence application, and how long it all takes.
The SAPS 271 form, explained
A walkthrough of the SAPS 271 application for a new firearm licence: what each part asks for, the declarations that matter, and the entries that cause delays.
Section 20 — firearms for business purposes
How a Section 20 business firearm licence works: the six sub-types, the responsible person, PSIRA and accreditation requirements, and validity periods.
Dedicated hunter and dedicated sportsperson status
What dedicated status means, how you obtain it through an accredited association, what you must do to keep it, and how it unlocks a Section 16 licence.
Moving house as a firearm owner: the SAPS 521(b)
Firearm owners must notify SAPS of a move on the SAPS 521(b). What the form is, when to lodge it, what happens to your safe, and the SAPS 521(c).
What a firearm licence actually costs in South Africa
The real cost of a firearm licence in South Africa: training, competency, the safe, association fees, SAPS fees and what a preparation service charges.
Let us prepare it for you
Firearm License Pro SA builds your complete SAPS-ready application from the details on your profile — the correct SAPS form, a motivation letter written for your section, and a checklist of the supporting documents you need for any SAPS firearm application. You check it, print it, and hand it in.
Start your application See how it worksNot sure where to start?
- Never owned a firearm before? Start with buying your first firearm.
- Licence coming up for renewal? How to renew.
- Already expired? Read expired and late renewals today.
- Been refused? You have 90 days — how to appeal.
- Applying for a business? Section 20 explained.