What Is ICASA Type Approval in South Africa and Why It’s Mandatory for Importing and Selling Telecom & RF Equipment? Background, Requirements and Process Overview

1. Introduction

ICASA Type Approval is mandatory for any telecommunications or radio‑frequency (RF) equipment entering the South African market. Enforced under the Electronic Communications Act (No. 36 of 2005), it ensures every device meets safety, technical, and spectrum standards.

2. Who Needs ICASA Type Approval?

Manufacturers, importers, and distributors—anyone supplying RF or telecom equipment must secure Type approval before marketing their products in South Africa. Products without ICASA certification risk seizure, legal action, and heavy fines.

3. Which Devices Require ICASA Approval?

All Telecommunication and Radio devices are subject to mandatory type approval including:

• Mobile phones, tablets, Wi‑Fi routers, Bluetooth headphones

• Two‑way radios, satellite terminals

• Any industrial or scientific RF devices

  
  

  Even receivers only must be approved—there are no exemptions for them.

4. ICASA Certification Process – Step‑by‑Step:

Step 1: Send Your Documents to Nano Technology Solutions

Submit your documents—Declaration of Conformity (DoC), Power of Attorney (PoA), datasheet, user manual, external and internal photos (including block diagrams), CE test reports (EMC, safety, RF), TAC letter (if applicable), and RF sensitivity documentation if not included in the test reports. We review and assemble your application.

Step 2: Submission to ICASA

Our team finalizes the forms and files the application to ICASA on your behalf.

Step 3: ICASA Review and Approval

If all is in order, ICASA issues a permanent Type Approval Certificate—valid indefinitely unless there are changes to specifications, manufacturer, or model name. Note: If any of those details change, you must update ICASA within 14 days, or restart the approval process entirely.

Average timeline: 6–8 weeks—though it can take up to 10–12 weeks depending on regulatory staff availability and priority.

5. Local Representation—We’ve Got You Covered

South African law requires a local entity to spearhead the application. That’s where we step in. Our local team handles:

• Application submission

• Liaising with ICASA

• Managing certificate issuance and transfers

If your business already operates locally, we can register your own entity as the representative—and still support the process. Regardless of whose name the certificate is issued under, you can still use it for importation and your importer will not require separate type approval under their own name.

6. Certificate Validity - When Re‑Approval Is Needed

Once issued, the certificate remains valid as long as standards don’t change and equipment specs remain the same. Name, model, or manufacturer changes must be reported—otherwise, you risk invalidation.

7. Labeling Requirements—We Handle That, Too

Every certified device and its packaging must bear:

• The ICASA logo (minimum 3 mm × 3 mm)

• Certificate number in format TA YYYY‑NNNN (minimum 1 mm text height)

  
  

  The overall label must maintain a 1:2 height-to-width ratio.

• After approval, we’ll obtain a Label Authorization Letter from ICASA for you—this lets you legally print or apply labels. We manage that request and ensure compliance.

8. Provisional Approvals — What You Should Know

Need the device for demos, trials, or research? ICASA can issue a Provisional Type Approval valid for up to 6 months. It covers trial deployments under strict conditions and must be withdrawn afterward if full approval isn't pursued. Remember: devices like receivers are not exempt—they still require full approval.

9. Test Reports—Bring What You Have

ICASA generally accepts CE-compliant EMC, RF, and safety reports from ISO/IEC 17025–accredited labs. You can send the test reports, we'll advise whether it's acceptable or needs supplementary documentation.

We offer full end-to-end support for South Africa ICASA Type Approval — from documentation and local representation to submission, labeling, and compliance. Feel free to reach out to us at info@nanotechsol.com with you South Africa Certification needs and we will be happy to assist.