Free check
Gun rights restoration, updated November 2026

Your gun rights can
come back.

For the first time in more than 30 years, you can ask the federal government to lift its gun ban. The public application opened November 4, 2026. Here's how it works, what it costs, and the catch most people miss.

Go to the official DOJ application
Free to apply until Jan 4, 2027Any state. It's a federal program.No lawyer required.
The dates

It opens in waves, and the waves have caps.

DateWho can applyFee
Sept 25, 2026Invited candidates onlyNone
Nov 4, 2026The public. The first 5,000 applicants.None
Jan 4, 2027The public. 500 more applicants.$30 (waiver or reduction available)

DOJ doesn't publish a live count. If the first 5,000 spots are gone when you check, the next wave is only 500, so have everything ready before January 4. Check justice.gov/ffrr for the current status.

Who it's for

Do you fit?

Good candidatesA nonviolent felony, sentence finished more than 5 years ago, and a clean record since. Depending on the conviction, the wait is 5 or 10 years.
Presumed ineligibleViolent felonies, registered sex offenders, and people unlawfully in the U.S. A narrow exception exists for extraordinary circumstances.
The standardThe Attorney General must find you're not likely to be a danger to public safety and that restoring your rights isn't against the public interest. Approval is never automatic.
The catch most people miss

It only fixes the federal ban.

A grant removes federal firearm disabilities. It does not restore your rights under state law. If your state also bars you, you need state relief too, like a pardon, a sealing, or a state rights restoration.

And if your only conviction is federal, there's a second route: a presidential pardon also removes the federal ban.

Check my state optionsCheck my federal options
What you need

Get these ready before you click start.

Once you start, you get 30 days to finish or you start over. The fingerprint step happens inside those 30 days. Gather everything first.

  1. Court and sentencing records for every conviction. Get them from the court clerk or PACER for federal cases.
  2. State criminal history reports. Order your own record from each state where you've been charged.
  3. Three sworn character references. Each must have known you at least 3 years. Ask early, because people take time.
  4. Electronic fingerprints. DOJ emails you a QR code. Take it to a participating U.S. Post Office. Fingerprints from anywhere else aren't accepted.
  5. Your story, on paper. DOJ specialists may ask follow-up questions. Know your dates, your history since release, and why you're asking.
Want help getting it right?

The application is free. Getting it right is on you.

You don't need to pay anyone to apply. If you want a guided system, the Federal Pardon Kit includes a step-by-step gun rights checklist, a character reference builder, a full records checklist, and a personal statement builder. It also covers the presidential pardon, if that's your better route.

See what's in the kit
Straight answers

Gun rights restoration, in plain English

Is this the same as a pardon?

No. A pardon forgives a conviction. 925(c) relief only lifts the federal gun ban. They're separate applications, and both go through the Office of the Pardon Attorney.

Does it work for state convictions?

It can remove the federal ban that a state felony triggers. It does nothing about your state's own ban. Check your state's rules too.

How long does it take?

DOJ hasn't published a timeline. Restoration specialists may ask for more information, and grants are published in the Federal Register. Plan for months, not weeks.

I applied to ATF years ago. Does that count?

Don't assume it does. The process is new. DOJ may contact past applicants, but plan to apply fresh.

Do I need a lawyer?

No. The application is built for individuals. A lawyer can help if your record is complicated or you're near one of the presumed-ineligible categories.