Botswana - Apply for Arms (Gun, Firearm) Licence or Permit

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Procedure

Apply In-Person

1. To apply for an Arms (Gun, Firearm) Licence or Permit, eligible applicants should visit the nearest police station and express their interest to possess a firearm at the police office, inquire desk. Botswana police service contact details.
2. Applicants will be issued with an Application form for a permit to acquire firearms (raffle), these forms are available for free at any police station's front desk or directly download them using this link;Application Form for Permit to Acquire Firearms.
3. For a first-time firearm ownership application, the applicant should, visit the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB), Botswana Police Service office first and have their fingerprints taken and obtain a police clearance report/certificate.
4. The duly completed forms, along with the attachments as mentioned below 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, applicants will then be issued with an acknowledgment letter as proof of submission of the application.
5. On receipt of the application file, 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 firearm permit or license unless he/she has personally interviewed the applicant and is satisfied that the recipient;
   • Has a good reason for the possession of the firearm.
   • 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.
   • Is not less than 18 years of age.
6. Upon receipt of the licensing office recommendation and the application file, the Central Arms Registry office will further evaluate, processing and make 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.
7. The firearm permit/license will then be made available for withdrawal by the applicant at the specific licensing office, where the application was lodged, upon payment of the required permit fee and against the acknowledgment letter and his/her identification document.
8. The registered firearm will then be license and regulated by the licensing office at the police station within the applicant's jurisdiction.
   

Appeals

• Where any person is aggrieved by the refusal of issue of any license, certificate, or permit, he/she may appeal in writing to the Minister, whose decision shall be final.
• Notice of appeal specifying the grounds thereof; shall be lodged to the Commissioner office within 14 days after the date on which the appellant first received notice, whether written or oral, of the decision by which he is aggrieved and the Commissioner shall cause the notice of appeal to be sent to the Minister without delay.
  

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Required Documents

• Valid National Identification document (Omang).
• Non-citizens must present a valid passport and residence permit.
• For first-time firearm ownership, the applicant should provide a valid police clearance report.
  

Office Locations & Contacts

Central Arms Registry
Botswana Police Headquarters
Physical Address: Lot 4, Government Enclave
Private Bag 0012
Gaborone
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 3622000
Fax. (+267) 3973723
Email: [email protected]

Botswana Police Service
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: [email protected]Botswana police service contact details

Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)
Botswana Police Service
Private Bag 0400
Gaborone, Botswana
Physical Address:
Criminal Records Bureau (CRB),
Botswana Police Service
Zambezi Towers, Central Business District
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: +267 3993803/ 3993882
Email: [email protected]

BOTSWANA POLICE SERVICE - TOLL-FREE NUMBERS

• Kasane 0800 600 048
  
• Maun 0800 600 040
  
• Nata 0800 600 057
  
• Masunga 0800 600 030
  
• Gantsi 0800 600 115
  
• Letlhakane 0800 600 055
  
• Francistown 0800 600 027
  
• S/Phikwe 0800 600 063
  
• Serowe 0800 600 073
  
• Palapye 0800 600 074
  
• Mahalapye 0800 600 075
  
• Molepolole 0800 600 131
  
• Mochudi 0800 600 094
  
• Mogoditshane 0800 600 107
  
• Jwaneng 0800 600 142
  
• Gaborone (PHQ) 0800 600 144
  
• Kanye 0800 600 138
  
• Ramotswa 0800 600 102
  
• Lobatse 0800 600 108
  
• Tsabong 0800 600 122
  

Eligibility

For applicants (citizen or non-citizen) to be eligible, they should meet the following criteria;

• Any person aged 18 years and above.
• Applicant should have no criminal record.
• Must be of sound mind.
  

Fees

No fee associate with the service.

Validity

Firearm license/permit is valid for one year from the date when it was granted or last renewed.

Documents to Use

Application Form for Permit to Acquire Firearms

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

The service usually takes months as it encompasses the application process, followed by sorting, raffle draw, and vetting of successful applicants.

Related Videos

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 displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

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

Required Information

• Full name/age
• 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)
  

Need for the Document

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.

Information which might help

Enter other informations which might help.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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

External Links

Gov.BW

Others

More information which might help people.