Firearm licence guide
Six pages on how firearm licensing actually works in South Africa. Everything here is drawn from the Firearms Control Act, the Regulations, or status responses SAPS itself returns. Where we do not know something, the page says so.
How a SAPS firearm licence application moves
The thirteen stages a firearm licence application passes through at SAPS, in order, and what each one leads to next.
ReadThe firearm licence sections, and what each one allows
Sections 13 to 20 of the Firearms Control Act: what each licence permits, how many you may hold, and how long each lasts.
ReadThe competency certificate, and how long it really lasts
What a competency certificate requires, who may apply under 21, and why its validity is not a flat five years.
ReadRenewing a licence, and the 90-day deadline
A firearm licence renewal must be applied for at least 90 days before expiry. What happens if you miss it.
ReadApplying: the form, the documents, and the small rules
How a firearm licence application must be submitted, including the details in the Regulations that get applications sent back.
ReadWriting a motivation letter that answers the question asked
What a motivation letter has to establish for each licence section, the mistakes that make one weak, and how a renewal motivation differs.
ReadR250once-off
Applying? Have the motivation letter written for you
Our AI-assisted generator asks the questions your licence section actually turns on, section by section, then writes a complete, professional motivation letter from your own answers and cites each supporting document by annexure. Three attempts are included, with a document checklist matched to what you told us.
You will need a free account and to be signed in. No approval is guaranteed: SAPS decides, not us.
See what it coversR180per firearm, once-off
Renewing? Have the renewal motivation written for you
For a licence you already hold. Our AI-assisted generator asks what the sworn Annexure to SAPS 518(a) asks, then writes the additional motivation for its field D6 from your own answers, argued on what you have done since the licence was issued and citing your supporting documents by number. Up to three drafts are included, with a document checklist matched to what you told us.
One firearm per purchase: renewing three licences needs three. You will need a free account and to be signed in. No approval is guaranteed: SAPS decides, not us.
See the renewal motivationThese pages describe how the process works and what the Act says. They are not legal advice about your own application.