Check your competency status on the official SAPS firearm status enquiry with your competency reference number. Add it to LicenseWatch to get alerts when it moves through each of the 15 competency steps.
How to check your competency status online
- Find your reference number. It comes by SMS after you hand in your forms, and it's printed on your SAPS 523 receipt.
- Open the SAPS firearm status enquiry on saps.gov.za (Services → Firearms → Firearm status enquiry).
- Type your reference number exactly as it appears, for example R12345678 or C12345678, and submit.
- Read the status. SAPS shows a short message such as "Received at DFO" or "Correspondence with CRC", with the date it changed. See what every status means.
The 15 SAPS competency steps
A competency application moves through these steps. LicenseWatch shows exactly where yours is and how long each step usually takes.
- Payment Received
- Received at DFO
- In Process at DFO
- Send to Provincial DFO
- Received at Prov DFO for Quality Control
- Send to CFR (AVS)
- Received at CFR (AVS)
- Send to Competency Section
- Received at Competency Section
- Correspondence with CRC
- In Process at CRC
- Completed at CRC (Feedback Electronically)
- In Preparation for Consideration
- For Consideration
- Approved
Track your competency automatically
LicenseWatch checks SAPS for you, explains each step in plain English, tells you when it moves and estimates when your certificate should be ready. Free for South African gun owners.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my SAPS competency status online?
Use the official SAPS firearm status enquiry with your competency reference number (it usually starts with a C). Or add it to LicenseWatch to be alerted automatically when it changes.
How long does a SAPS competency certificate take?
Usually about 1 to 3 months from handing in, but it varies by province and time of year. See current processing times.
What does Correspondence with CRC mean on my competency?
Your application is with the Criminal Record Centre, which checks your fingerprints and criminal record and reports back to the Central Firearms Register electronically. Nothing is needed from you.
Does a competency certificate expire?
It doesn't expire on its own. It stays valid with your license, and you renew it together with your license on the SAPS 517(g).
What is a further competency?
A further competency (SAPS 517(a)) adds another firearm type, for example a rifle after a handgun. You need a proficiency certificate for the new type from an accredited training provider.