Apply In-Person

1. A person interested in acquiring a new firearm (gun) license shall submit a completed application file for evaluation and consideration by the Central Arms Registry office, the registered firearm will then license and regulated by the licensing office at the police station. Botswana Police Service Office Location & Contact Details
2. Collect and complete the Application form for a permit to acquire firearms(raffle), obtainable at any of the police stations countrywide or directly download it using this link-Application form for a permit to acquire firearms(raffle)
3. A separate complete application form is required in respect of each arm which it is desired to acquire.
4. For first-time firearm ownership, the applicant should, visit the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), Botswana Police Service office and have their fingerprints taken and obtain a police clearance report/certificate.
5. The completed application form, accompanied by all the supporting documentation as listed under the “Required Documents” section of this page, should be submitted to the licensing office, at the police station nearest to the applicant's place of residence or business operation.
6. Upon receipt of the application, the licensing officer will check for discrepancies or ineligibility in the application documents. If a discrepancy that cannot be immediately corrected exists in any of the documents, the application and all the submitted documents will be returned to the applicant and should not be re-submitted until the discrepancy has been rectified.
7. No fee is associated with the services.
8. Applicants will then be issued with an acknowledgment letter containing details of the application.
9. The licensing officer shall as soon as practicable, forward the application, together with his recommendation thereon, to the Central Arms Registry; Provided that, where the applicant is an individual, a licensing officer shall not recommend the issuing of a permit unless he/she has personally interviewed the applicant and is satisfied that the applicant is eligible to apply for the license.
10. Upon receipt of the licensing officer recommendation and the application file, the Central Arms Registry office will further evaluate, processing and considerations, if the authorized official/registrar approves the request, the applicant of the firearm permit/license will be registered by the Central Arms Registry office, and the firearm license/permit will be drawn-up/signed and stamped by the licensing office, once notified by the Central Arms Registry office.
11. The firearm permit/license will then be made available for withdrawal by the applicant at the specific licensing office, where the application was lodged, against the acknowledgment letter and his/her identification document.
12. The time frame accumulatively for processing the application may take months.
    

• Duly completed-Application form for a permit to acquire firearms(raffle)
• Valid applicable Identification document.
• For first-time firearm ownership, the applicant should provide a valid police clearance report.
• Any other additional document information, as may be requested by the Authority.
  

Central Arms Registry
(Botswana Police Headquarters)
Physical Address:
Lot 4, Government Enclave
Gaborone
Botswana

Postal Address:
Private Bag 0012
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel. (+267) 3622000
Fax. (+267) 3973723
Email: police@gov.bw

Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)
Botswana Police Service
Postal address:
Private Bag 0400
Gaborone, Botswana

Physical Address:
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB),
Botswana Police ServiceZambezi Towers,
Central Business District
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: +267 3993803/ 3993882
Email: pclearance@gov.co.bw

Botswana Police Service Postal Address:
Public Relations Officer
P/Bag 0012, Gaborone
Physical Address: CBD, Gaborone
Zambezi Towers Floor 3
Tel: +267 399 3815 / 19 / 20/ 21 / 74 / 78
Fax: +267 397 2404
Email: police@gov.bw
Botswana Police Service Office Location & Contact Details

Applicants should meet the following eligibility criteria.

• Citizens and Non-Citizens eighteen (18) years and above.
• Should have a good reason for the possession of the firearms.
• Is of sound mind, temperate habits, and of good character without any serious criminal conviction, and would use the arms applied for without danger to the public safety or peace.
  

No fee is associate with the service.

The permit validity period shall be mentioned on the document and it shall remain valid for that specified time unless suspended, revoked, or cancelled by the Authority.

Application form for permit to acquire firearms(raffle)

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

The time frame for processing the application accumulatively may take months.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is dkisplayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since January 1908.

• Full name/age of the applicant
• Nationality
• Conduct details (residential address/ postal address/telephone/email/mobile number/fax)
• Occupation
• Employer's name and address
• Arms for which permit is required (type/calibre/maker name/serial number)
• Registration Certificate Number
• Reasons for requiring arms (if for stock protection, state number of stock, ranches, and boreholes owned)
• Applicant declaration (signature/thumbprint)
  

The firearms license allows the licensee to buy, own, possess or carry a firearm. It is often subject to several conditions or restrictions, especially concerning storage requirements or the completion of a firearms safety course, as well as background checks.

Enter other information which might help.

Please explain what are other uses for obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

Application for a permit to acquire firearm

More information which might help people.