National Shooting Association

Firearm Licences

All you want to know about the licensing of your firearms

IMPORTANT ASPECTS in firearm licensing | NSA Dedicated Hunter Status
Guidelines for application for New Licences & Renewal of Firearm Licences

HANDGUN OWNERS MUST READ THIS !!!

COMPLETE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO FIREARM LICENSING

(The NSA is accredited with the SAPS CFR as a Hunting Association: Nr. 1300050)

Fed-up with the licensing process?

Whatever you do, do not hand in legally owned firearms at the SAPS just yet. Wait until we know where the implementation of the Firearms Control Act (60 of 2000) is going. Many people think the processes are difficult and tiresome. This is not entirely true. It is relatively easy to acquire proficiency status and therafter competency with the SAPS. Then you can apply for renewal of your firearms.

Senior members of the SA Police Service (CFR) have indicated that they would be open to negotiation for licensing of firearms if one would for instance want to negotiate the handing in or transfering of a firearm if a license for another firearm would be awarded - contact the NSA Firearm Licensing Helpline on 012-343-3236 (office hours only) for assistance here.

Do not despair because you think that to comply with the stipulations of the New Act is so complicated and cumbersome that it is not worth your while to go through the effort. The requirements are simple, and easy to comply with , despite it being time consuming.

At the very least, make sure that your membership of a SAPS accredited hunting organisation, such as NSA (join here), is paid up and maintained annually. This assists with application for firearm licenses under the new Act. Membership of an accredited organisation, such as NSA is a crucial recommendation, as this not only assists you with aplication for firearm licences, but also assists you greatly when you acquire Dedicated Hunter (Sportsperson) status with NSA .

Important

The Regulations of the Firearms Control Act requires one to complete training with a SASSETA accredited training provider for a specific module (called a unit standard) for your specific firearm (handgun, rifle, shotgun) before you may apply for competency and also a license for a new firearm. You can also only complete the relevant unit standard for renewal of your already legally owned firearm under the previous Act (1969).

In the Government Gazette of 20 February 2006, the Minister of Safety and Security announced the moving of due dates for the relicensing process. The new cut-off dates for relicensing of firearms that were licensed under the previous Arms and Ammunition Act of 1969, are as follows:

Date of birth	Cut-off date
January - March	31 March 2006
April - June	31 March 2007
July - September	31 March 2008
October - December	31 March 2009

All firearm licences awarded under the previous Arms and Ammunition Act of 1969 are valid until 30 June 2009, if such licences have not been renewed as stated above. Thereafter such firearms that have not been relicensed will be forfeited to the State.