Botswana - Obtain a Firearm License

Advertisement

Procedure

Apply In Person

1. Any person who wishes to possess Firearm and Ammunition, are required to submit the completed application file for approval and registration by the Central Arms Registry office; the registered firearm will then be licensed and regulated by the licensing office at the police station.Botswana Police Service Contact Details
2. Applicants are required to collect and complete the Application for Permit to Acquire Firearms (raffle)- Form 1,which are obtainable at any of the police stations country wide or directly download it using this link, Application for Permit to Acquire Firearms(raffle) Form 1
3. 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.
4. The duly completed application form should be submitted in triplicate with the attachments as mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page, to the nearest licensing office at the police station within the applicant's place of residence. Any omission of the required information or documents will render the application process incomplete.
5. Upon submission, the application is checked for completeness and correctness by licensing officer, if everything is in order the application will be registered for processing and consideration by the Central Arms Registry, which is within one month,the applicant will be issued with an acknowledgment slip that proves submission of the application file and for inquiry referencing if the need arises.
6. No fees is charged for this application.
7. 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 permit unless he/she has personally interviewed the applicant and is satisfied that the recipient;
8. The Applicant has good reason to request permission to obtain a firearm license/permit.
9. The Applicant 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.
10. The applicant is not less than 18 years of age.
11. The applicant has the right training and knowledge on how to handle a firearm etc.
12. Upon receipt of the licensing office recommendation and the application file, the Central Arms Registry office will further evaluate, process, and make its 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.
13. The firearm license will then be made available for withdrawal by the applicant at the specific police station, licensing office, where the application was lodged, against the acknowledgment letter and his/her identification document.
14. The application process is followed by a raffle draw in which a specific number of applicants are picked.

Advertisement

Required Documents

• Completed Applicationfor Permit to Acquire Firearms(raffle) Form 1
• Valid National Identification documents (omang for citizens and passport for foreigners)
• For first-time firearm ownership, the applicant should provide a valid police clearance report.

Office Locations & Contacts

Central Arms Registry
Botswana Police ServiceHeadquarters office
Physical Address:
Lot 4, Government Enclave

Postal address:
Private Bag 0012Gaborone
Botswana
Tel. (+267) 3622000
Fax. (+267) 3973723
Email: [email protected]

Botswana Police Service
Public Relations OfficerP/Bag 0012,
Gaborone

Physical Address:
CBD, GaboroneZambezi Towers Floor 3
Tel: +267 399 3815 / 19 / 20/ 21 / 74 / 78
Fax: +267 397 2404
Email: [email protected]
Botswana Police Service Contact Details

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.

Fees

• No fee associate with this service.

Validity

• The validity of the license is five (5) years from the date of issue unless suspended, cancelled, or revoked by the authority.
• Upon expiring the license is subjected to renewal.

Documents to Use

Applicationfor Permit to Acquire Firearms (raffle) Form 1

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

• The time for processing the application is one (1) month.

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.gIn 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

Details of the owner and recipient of the firearm

• Full name/age
• Nationality
• Contact 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

Application for permit to Acquire Firearm

Others

More information which might help people.