Firearm owners in Gauteng and across South Africa are being urged to check their gun licence expiry dates as new research shows firearm relicensing applications have fallen by 74% since 2021 and 2022. Gun Free South Africa says applications dropped from 213 631 to 55 936 in 2024 and 2025, raising concerns about the number of firearms linked to expired licences. Under the Firearms Control Act, firearm possession is regulated through a licensing system, with SAPS requiring owners to apply for renewal at least 90 days before a licence expires.
The decline has renewed debate about South Africa’s firearm licensing system, the Central Firearms Registry and what owners must do when a licence approaches its expiry date.
Gun Free South Africa researcher Claire Taylor said the drop in relicensing applications points to weaknesses in the country’s firearm control system. Gun owner organisations, however, argue that administrative delays and legal uncertainty have contributed to the decline.
For Gauteng residents who own a firearm or are considering applying for one, the current debate has placed the application and renewal process back in focus.
ALSO READ: Johannesburg Water Shutdown: Areas Facing Low Pressure or No Water on 17 July 2026
Gun Licence Renewal Applications Have Dropped By 74%
Research by Gun Free South Africa, based on information from South African Police Service annual reports, found that relicensing applications declined from 213 631 in 2021 and 2022 to 55 936 in 2024 and 2025.
Taylor said firearm licensing helps keep weapons on record, allows authorities to conduct checks and creates an administrative trail when a firearm is lost, stolen or linked to an incident.
According to the South African Police Service, the purpose of renewing firearm licences and permits is to establish whether a person continues to comply with the Firearms Control Act and Firearms Regulations.
The SAPS renewal process is therefore not simply an update to the expiry date. The system is intended to allow authorities to assess whether the owner still meets the requirements for firearm possession.
Gun owner organisations dispute claims that the fall in applications automatically points to widespread lawlessness. They argue that delays at the Central Firearms Registry and uncertainty following court cases have affected the licensing system.
How To Apply For A Gun Licence In South Africa
A person who wants to legally possess a firearm in South Africa must follow the SAPS firearm licensing process.
The first major step is obtaining a competency certificate.
According to SAPS, applicants must submit a competency certificate application to the Designated Firearms Officer at the police station responsible for the area where they ordinarily live. The SAPS firearm information pages and official forms set out the competency process.
Applicants generally need to:
- Complete the relevant SAPS competency application form
- Submit the application to the local Designated Firearms Officer
- Provide identification documents
- Provide supporting documentation required by SAPS
- Complete accredited firearm training
- Meet the legal competency requirements
- Complete the SAPS assessment process
The official competency application form is SAPS 517.
Once the required competency process has been completed, an applicant can proceed with an application for a licence to possess a firearm.
Applying For A Firearm Licence Requires A SAPS 271 Form
The official application to possess a firearm is made using the SAPS 271 form.
According to SAPS, applicants must submit the firearm licence application to the Designated Firearms Officer at the police station in the area where they ordinarily reside.
Applicants should take their original official identity document and original competency certificate to the Designated Firearms Officer.
SAPS also lists two unobscured passport size colour photographs not older than three months among the documents required for the firearm licence application.
Where a firearm has been inherited, a letter of appointment as executor may also be required.
The applicant must fully motivate the application and submit documents supporting the reason for applying for the firearm licence, according to SAPS.
The exact licence category will depend on the intended purpose and the firearm involved.
Applicants should confirm the requirements for their specific category with the Designated Firearms Officer before submitting documents.
How To Renew A Gun Licence In South Africa
Firearm licence holders should check the expiry date printed on their licence and begin the renewal process before the deadline.
According to the South African government, a firearm licence must be renewed at least 90 days before its expiry date. The validity period can range from two to ten years depending on the type of licence.
The SAPS 518(a) form is used to apply for the renewal of a firearm licence, permit, certificate or authorisation.
SAPS advises applicants to take the following documents to the Designated Firearms Officer:
- An official identity document
- The original firearm licence, permit or authorisation being renewed
- A training certificate from an accredited training provider
- A competency certificate, if already issued
- Four unobscured passport size colour photographs not older than three months
Two photographs are used for the firearm licence process and two for the competency certificate application where applicable, according to SAPS.
Firearm owners should contact their local Designated Firearms Officer before submission to confirm the documents required for their individual application.
Do Not Wait Until Your Firearm Licence Has Expired
The 90 day renewal period is particularly important for firearm owners.
SAPS states that firearm licences and permits issued under the Firearms Control Act must be renewed within the prescribed period. The national government guidance specifically tells owners to renew at least 90 days before expiry.
The legal position around expired licences has been the subject of court proceedings and public debate.
In the 2022 Minister of Police and Others v Fidelity Security Services case, the Constitutional Court found that the Firearms Control Act contains a mechanism through which a firearm owner can apply for a licence to regain lawful possession of a firearm. The court found that an application can be made under the licensing provisions in sections 13 to 20 of the Act.
This does not mean firearm owners should ignore renewal dates.
A standard renewal and a new licence application following the expiry of an existing licence are different legal processes.
Owners whose licences have already expired should seek guidance from their Designated Firearms Officer on the applicable licensing process rather than assuming that an expired licence can simply be renewed late.
Why Gun Free South Africa Is Concerned About Expired Licences
Gun Free South Africa argues that the sharp decline in renewal applications weakens firearm control.
Taylor said licensing reduces risk by keeping firearms on record and requiring checks on owners.
She also pointed to the number of civilian firearms reported lost or stolen.
According to figures cited by Taylor, civilians reported an average of about 8 000 firearms lost or stolen each year over the past three years.
Gun Free South Africa argues that an effective licensing system can help authorities track firearms and identify ownership when weapons are lost, stolen or otherwise investigated.
The organisation has linked the decline in renewal applications to legal uncertainty, misinformation and what it describes as a failure by SAPS to enforce renewal provisions.
Gun Owners Say Administrative Problems Are Part Of The Crisis
The South African Gunowners’ Association has disputed the suggestion that declining relicensing applications prove widespread lawlessness among firearm owners.
Association chair Damian Enslin said the decline should be considered alongside problems at the Central Firearms Registry and uncertainty about the licensing framework.
He argued that firearm owners have faced lengthy application delays and uncertainty about the process.
The debate centres on whether the fall in applications primarily reflects noncompliance or broader administrative weaknesses in the firearm licensing system.
However, the official government guidance on renewals remains clear. Firearm owners are told to submit renewal applications at least 90 days before the expiry date.
What This Means For Gauteng Residents
Gauteng firearm owners should check their licence cards and confirm the expiry dates of every firearm licence issued in their names.
A person who owns more than one firearm should not assume that all licences expire on the same date.
Residents whose licences are approaching expiry should contact the Designated Firearms Officer at the police station responsible for the area where they ordinarily live.
The practical steps are:
- Check the expiry date on the firearm licence
- Start the renewal process at least 90 days before expiry
- Obtain the SAPS 518(a) renewal form
- Gather the required identification and firearm documents
- Confirm competency requirements
- Submit the application to the local Designated Firearms Officer
- Keep proof and records linked to the application
Residents applying for a firearm for the first time should begin with the competency process and follow the SAPS licensing requirements before possessing a firearm under the relevant licence.
SAPS provides firearm licensing information and official application forms through its Firearms, Liquor and Second Hand Goods information portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Apply For A Gun Licence In South Africa?
Applicants generally need to obtain the required competency certificate and submit a SAPS 271 firearm licence application to the Designated Firearms Officer at the police station responsible for the area where they ordinarily live.
When Must I Renew My Firearm Licence?
Government guidance states that firearm owners must apply for renewal at least 90 days before the licence expiry date.
Which Form Is Used To Renew A Firearm Licence?
The SAPS 518(a) form is the application for renewal of a firearm licence, permit, certificate or authorisation. The form is available through the official SAPS firearm forms portal.
What Happens If My Firearm Licence Has Already Expired?
The Constitutional Court confirmed in the Fidelity Security Services case that the Firearms Control Act contains a mechanism to apply for a licence to regain lawful possession. An owner with an expired licence should contact a Designated Firearms Officer about the applicable new licence process rather than treating the application as a standard late renewal.
Where Can I Get Help With A Firearm Licence Application?
Applicants can contact the Designated Firearms Officer at their local police station. The national government also lists the SAPS National Firearms Call Centre on 012 353 6111 and the Central Firearms Registry enquiry email for firearm licensing queries.
Check Your Firearm Licence Expiry Date Before The 90 Day Deadline
The 74% fall in firearm relicensing applications has placed renewed attention on South Africa’s firearm control system and the responsibilities of licensed firearm owners.
For Gauteng residents, the immediate step is to check existing firearm licence expiry dates and start the renewal process before the prescribed deadline.
New applicants must complete the competency and firearm licensing process through SAPS, while existing owners should submit renewal applications at least 90 days before expiry.
Official firearm application and renewal forms are available through the SAPS firearm forms page.
