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Requirements to obtain a Competency Certificate
  1. You must submit the following documentation to the Designated Firearms Officer at the police station nearest to your usual place of residence:
    • Your official original identity document
    • The original training certificate obtained from an accredited training provider
    • Two unobscured passport size colour photographs not older than three months

  2. You will be requested to complete the relevant sections of the SAPS 517 (Application for a competency certificate) form. The Designated Firearms Officer will take a full set of your fingerprints on a SAPS 91(a) form.

  3. The Designated Firearms Officer will issue you with a remittance advice (SAPS 523(a)) and direct you to the financial office at the police station to pay the fee of R70.00. The payment must be made in cash or by bank-guaranteed cheque. After the payment of the prescribed fee you will be issued with an expenditure receipt (Z263) as proof of payment and you must submit the expenditure receipt to the Designated Firearms Officer for the further processing of your application.

  4. You will receive a signed acknowledgment of receipt (SAPS 523) as proof that your application for a competency certificate was submitted to the South African Police Service.

  5. The Designated Firearms Officer will conduct a background evaluation on you before forwarding the application for a competency certificate together with the supporting documentation to the Central Firearms Register (CFR) for consideration.

  6. While it is not a requirement, it will greatly speed up the processing of your application if you are able to bring two persons (neighbour, employer, parents, etc) whom the police must interview (apart from your spouse or house partner) regarding your application for competence in respect of your health and physical fitness, character, temper, emotional and behavioural stability, etc.

  7. Should your application be successful, the DFO will contact you personally to collect the competency certificate. The competency certificate expires after a period of five (5) years from the date it was issued.

  8. If your application for a competency certificate is refused, a refusal letter with reasons will be posted to your postal address.

  9. You may appeal against the refusal to the Chairperson of the Appeals Board, Private Bag X811, Pretoria, 0001.