Renewing a licence, and the 90-day deadline
This is the shortest page here and possibly the most useful. One number decides whether a renewal is straightforward or a problem.
Ninety days, at least
The Act requires the holder of a licence who wishes to renew it to apply at least 90 days before the date it expires. Not on expiry, and not shortly before.
The application goes to the Designated Firearms Officer responsible for the area where you ordinarily live, or where your business is.
What renewal is assessed on
A renewal is not automatic. It may not be granted unless you show that you have continued to comply with the requirements for that licence. The circumstances that justified the licence are expected to still hold.
What happens when a licence expires
A licence terminates on the expiry of its period unless it has been renewed. It also terminates if it is surrendered, if the holder becomes or is declared unfit to possess a firearm, or if it is cancelled.
The Registrar may cancel a licence where the holder no longer qualifies for it, or has contravened the Act or a condition of the licence.
Knowing when yours is due
Work back from the expiry date on the licence, not from the date it was issued, and set the reminder more than 90 days out so there is room to gather documents. If you record your firearms on this site you can set that reminder here.
R180per 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 motivationWhere this comes from
This page describes how the process works and what the Act says. It is not legal advice about your own application.