A competency certificate is SAPS saying you're a fit and proper person who knows the law and can handle a firearm safely. You need it before any firearm licence can be issued. This guide covers a first-time application on the SAPS 517 form.
Who needs one
The Firearms Control Act says no licence may be issued to anyone who doesn't hold the relevant competency certificate (section 6(2)). So if you want to own a firearm, this comes first. Gun dealers, manufacturers and gunsmiths need their own kind of competency too.
For a first application, section 9(2) of the Act says you must:
- be 21 or older,
- be a South African citizen or permanent resident,
- be fit and proper, mentally stable and not dependent on alcohol or drugs,
- have none of the convictions the Act lists,
- have passed the test on the Act, plus the training and practical tests.
The SAPS 517 does allow an applicant under 21 who has a "compelling reason", such as being gainfully employed, a dedicated hunter or sports person, or a collector.
Competency types
A certificate states exactly what it covers (section 10(1) of the Act). You tick the boxes you need on the SAPS 517.
| Type | What it lets you apply for |
|---|---|
| Possess a firearm | A licence for that kind of firearm. The form splits it into handgun, rifle and shotgun. |
| Possess a muzzle-loading firearm | Muzzle-loaders only. |
| Possess as a private collector | Firearms in a private collection. |
| Trade in firearms | Running a firearms dealership. |
| Manufacture firearms | Running a manufacturing business. |
| Gunsmith business | Working as a gunsmith. |
Hunting associations report a SAPS directive of 10 January 2017 that treats a handgun, a self-loading rifle, a manually operated rifle and a shotgun as separate competencies. We haven't seen the directive itself. Make sure your training and your 517 cover the exact type you plan to buy. Adding a type later needs a further competency on the SAPS 517(a).
The steps, in order
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Train with an accredited provider
Pass the knowledge test on the Act and the practical test. You leave with a training certificate. How training works.
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Fill in the SAPS 517
Complete it yourself, in black ink. SAPS publishes the form as a PDF on its website, and DFOs keep copies.
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Hand it in at your DFO
In person, to the Designated Firearms Officer (DFO) for the area where you live or where your business is.
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Pay the fee
At the police station. You get a Z263 receipt. Keep it: it's your proof that you applied.
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Have your fingerprints taken
The DFO takes a full set on the SAPS 91(a). This is only done for the competency, not for each licence.
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Interviews with people who know you
Two people who aren't your spouse or partner, plus your spouse or partner if you have one.
Bring your training certificate and your ID. The regulations ask for a certified copy of the ID page with your photo and details. Take the original along so the DFO can certify copies.
Your referees will be asked whether you're fit and proper, mentally stable, not inclined to violence and not dependent on any substance (regulation 13(7)). Tell them before the DFO calls. The Registrar may also look at protection orders, earlier refusals, and any history of suicide threats, depression or substance abuse in the past five years, and may ask for a medical or psychological report (regulation 14).
How long it stays valid
This is where sources disagree, so here is what each one says.
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| The Act, section 10(2) | A competency to possess a firearm stays valid for as long as the licence it relates to, unless it's ended or renewed. The Act sets no fixed "five years". |
| The Act, section 10(3) | A muzzle-loading competency lapses 10 years after it's issued. |
| The Act, section 10A | You renew the competency together with the licence it relates to, on the SAPS 517(g). You don't redo training unless the Registrar asks. |
| A national hunting association | Says a handgun or shotgun competency expires 10 years after issue, and that each category follows your longest-running licence in it. |
The Act and association guidance don't line up neatly. If your licence or competency is close to expiring, ask your DFO which date applies to you, in writing if you can.
What it costs
| Item | Fee 2025/26 Gazette |
|---|---|
| Competency certificate | R92 |
| Further competency (adding a type) | R92 |
These are the 2025/26 amounts from the gazetted fee schedule (Government Gazette 48604, May 2023). We found no gazetted figure for 2026/27, and SAPS's own web pages still show older amounts. Confirm the current fee at your DFO before you go. The regulations say you pay at the police station in cash or by bank-guaranteed cheque. Training is a separate cost, set by each provider.
How long it takes
The Act sets no deadline for SAPS. Since February 2021 its own target is 120 working days, about six months.
Other figures, and how sure we are of each:
- 30 to 90 days: one commercial tracker's estimate. Its method isn't published.
- 9 months to a year: what applicants reported on a forum in 2021. One said it took about 11 weeks just to leave the station.
On the SAPS enquiry page, a competency can be checked with the reference number alone. You can track it here and see what each status means on the stages page.
After it's approved
Applicant guides say SAPS lets you know by SMS. A firearm owners' group reports that you then collect a copy of the certificate at your station. Keep the original safe: the licence application asks for it.
If it's refused, you should get written reasons. You can appeal to the Appeal Board within 90 days of the decision on the SAPS 530. How refusals and appeals work.
Applying for competency and a licence together
Honestly, this isn't settled in anything official we could find.
- The Act says a licence can't be issued without the competency. It doesn't say you can't hand both in on the same day.
- SAPS's own FAQ describes the order as competency first, then the licence on the SAPS 271 once you have the certificate.
- A national hunting association reported in 2016, and again in 2020, a SAPS directive saying first-time competency and new licence applications are no longer accepted together. We haven't seen the directive's text.
- The same association says renewals are different: a competency renewal (517(g)) and a licence renewal (518(a)) can go in together.
The safe plan for a first-timer: get the competency, then apply for the licence. If your DFO says otherwise, ask them to note it on your file. The full path is in how to get a firearm licence.
Questions
Do I need a new competency for every firearm?
No. You need one for each type you want to own, such as handgun or shotgun. Each firearm then gets its own licence.
Can I apply at any police station?
The Act says you apply to the DFO for the area where you ordinarily live or where your business is.
Will SAPS phone the people I list?
The SAPS 517 has an interview report for two people other than your spouse or partner, plus your spouse or partner if you have one. Expect contact, and let them know ahead of time.
Does a competency expire after five years?
The Act doesn't say five years. It links a competency to possess to the licence it relates to. See how long it stays valid for where sources differ.
Can I track my competency application?
Yes. Use the reference number from your SMS or the 517 form. Leave the serial number blank. Check it now.
