A firearm licence in South Africa does not renew itself. You apply for a renewal at your police station, and the date you hand it in matters more than anything else in the process. Get it in at least 90 days before the licence expires and the law protects you while SAPS works through it.
The 90-day rule
Section 24 of the Firearms Control Act says you must apply to renew at least 90 days before your licence expires. You apply to the Designated Firearms Officer (DFO) at the police station for the area where you ordinarily live, or where your business is if the licence is for a business.
Count back 90 days from the expiry date on your licence card. That is the last day you can apply and still be in time. Going a few weeks earlier gives you room if the station turns you away for a missing document.
| Licence expires on | Apply on or before |
|---|---|
| 31 March 2027 | 31 December 2026 |
| 30 June 2027 | 1 April 2027 |
| 30 September 2027 | 2 July 2027 |
How long each licence lasts
The period depends on the section your licence was issued under (section 27 of the Act). Check the section on your card, then the row below.
| Licence section | Valid for |
|---|---|
| Section 13, self-defence | 5 years |
| Section 14, restricted firearm for self-defence | 2 years |
| Section 15, occasional hunting and sports shooting | 10 years |
| Section 16, dedicated hunting and sports shooting | 10 years |
| Section 16A, professional hunting | 10 years |
| Section 17, private collection | 10 years |
| Section 20, business (game ranching and hunting businesses) | 10 years |
| Section 20, all other business purposes | 5 years |
Not sure what your section means? Compare the licence types.
The SAPS 518(a) form
The renewal form is the SAPS 518(a), "application for renewal of a firearm licence, permit, certificate or authorisation". Don't confuse it with the SAPS 518 without the (a): that one is for a temporary authorisation, not a renewal.
SAPS publishes the form as a PDF on its firearms pages, and you can also collect it from the DFO. The regulations say you complete it yourself, in black ink, and hand it in at the station in person.
What you need to bring
SAPS lists these for a licence renewal:
- Your identity document.
- The original licence you are renewing.
- Two recent colour photos.
- A valid competency certificate for that type of firearm.
- The completed SAPS 518(a).
To renew, you also have to show you still meet the requirements for that licence (section 24(3)).
The fee
The 2025/26 gazetted fee for renewing a licence is R92. Ask your DFO whether a fee applies to the competency renewal. SAPS's own pages still show older amounts, and no 2026/27 figure has been published that we could find, so confirm the current fee with your DFO before you go. The regulations say fees are paid at a police station in cash or by bank-guaranteed cheque, and you must get a receipt.
If you apply in time
This is the protection the 90-day rule buys you. Section 24(4) says that if you applied in time, your licence stays valid until the renewal is decided, even if the expiry date on the card passes while you wait. SAPS's renewal FAQ adds that the application only counts as decided once any appeal is finished.
If you are late
A licence that is not renewed before it expires ends by law (section 28(1)(a) of the Act). This has been tested in court, and the two Constitutional Court judgments that matter are below. We state what they decided; we can't tell you how they apply to your own firearm, so speak to a lawyer or your association if this is you.
| Date | What the Constitutional Court decided |
|---|---|
| 7 June 2018 | Minister of Safety and Security v SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association (CCT 177/17, [2018] ZACC 14). The court found sections 24 and 28 of the Act constitutionally valid, reversing a 2017 High Court order. |
| 27 May 2022 | Minister of Police v Fidelity Security Services (CCT 195/21, [2022] ZACC 16). The court unanimously dismissed SAPS's appeal and held that missing the renewal deadline does not stop someone from applying for a new licence under sections 13 to 20, because applying and renewing are different processes. |
There have also been two firearm amnesties: 1 December 2019 to 31 May 2020, and 1 August 2020 to 31 January 2021. We found no amnesty after 31 January 2021.
If you missed a renewal, don't wait to find out what it means for you. A refusal can be appealed within 90 days, which is covered in refusals and appeals.
Renewing your competency
Your competency certificate and your licence are linked. A competency to possess a firearm stays valid for the same period as the licence it relates to (section 10(2)), and it is renewed together with that licence (section 10A). You don't redo the training and tests unless the Registrar asks you to.
The competency renewal form is the SAPS 517(g). The National Hunting and Shooting Association (NHSA) reports that a SAPS directive allows the 517(g) and the 518(a) to be handed in together. It also reports that each competency category follows the longest-running licence you hold in that category. Both points come from the association, not from the Act, so ask your DFO if your case is unusual. More on competency certificates.
How long a renewal takes
SAPS doesn't publish a separate target for renewals. The figures below come from different sources, and only the first one is official.
The 120 working days is the average SAPS gave Parliament for licence applications (January 2025 reply), counted from capture on its system. The 104 days is one commercial tracker's figure for how long renewals sit at an "in process" status; its method is not published. The bars compare the two numbers only, since one counts working days and the other calendar days.
Either way, a renewal lodged in time keeps your licence valid while you wait, which is why the 90 days matter more than the processing time. See how long each step takes.
Tracking a renewal
Renewals are checked on the same public SAPS enquiry page as new applications, using your reference number, or your firearm's serial number plus the reference number. Firearm Tracker checks it the same way.
We haven't found a published list of the statuses a renewal goes through, so we show you exactly what SAPS shows. One law firm reported in 2016 that a refused renewal was announced by SMS saying the licence "has not been issued" and telling the holder to contact the DFO. If you get a message like that, go to your station and ask for the decision in writing.
Renewal questions
Can I renew more than 90 days before expiry?
The Act sets 90 days as the latest you can apply and still be protected. It doesn't set an earliest date, so ask your DFO how early they will accept it.
My card has expired but I applied in time. Am I legal?
Section 24(4) says your licence stays valid until the renewal is decided if you applied at least 90 days before expiry. Carry your proof of application with the card. More questions.
Do I need to redo my training to renew?
No, unless the Registrar asks for it (section 10A). You renew the competency with the SAPS 517(g) alongside your licence. How training works.
I missed the deadline. What now?
The licence ends by law at expiry. The 2022 Constitutional Court judgment held that a late renewal doesn't stop you applying for a new licence. Get advice from a lawyer or your association before you do anything with the firearm.
Can Firearm Tracker remind me?
Save your applications in a free account to keep them in one place. In this version we don't send email or SMS reminders, so put your 90-day date in your own calendar too. How accounts work.
