DOJ Federal Gun Rights Restoration Update: What Changed in September 2026

The Justice Department has continued adding details to its new Federal Firearm Rights Restoration program. The biggest September 2026 changes are practical: DOJ has published an applicant-code access page for invited candidates, clarified the 30-day e-application window, explained when fingerprints must be taken, and warned that a lost application link and PIN may require the applicant to start over.

DOJ has published an applicant-code access page

DOJ now has a Federal Firearm Rights Restoration applicant-code webform asking invited applicants for their name, email, and FFRR applicant code. That does not mean the public application is open. DOJ’s main rollout page still lists September 25, 2026 as the opening date for invited candidates.

If you are trying to determine whether your conviction is a realistic candidate for relief before the public window opens, start with the FelonJustice Eligibility Review or browse the new offense-specific gun-rights guides.

The official e-application has a 30-day clock

DOJ’s updated FFRR FAQ says that once an applicant initiates the official e-application, the applicant has 30 days to complete and submit it. If the application is not completed within that period, DOJ says the applicant will have to start over.

That makes advance preparation important. DOJ recommends collecting the required records before beginning. Our shorter Federal Gun Rights Restoration Application intake is designed to identify the core facts first without forcing a visitor to recreate every federal question before speaking with the office.

Do not get fingerprints before DOJ tells you to

DOJ’s fingerprint guidance states that applicants must obtain fingerprints after submitting the first part of the official e-application and receiving a QR code. The required electronic fingerprints must be taken through a participating United States Post Office. DOJ says fingerprints from other sources will not be accepted for the FFRR process.

A lost link and PIN can force a restart

DOJ’s September FAQ says the Office of the Pardon Attorney currently cannot provide a way to recover a lost application link and PIN. An applicant who loses them may have to start the application over. Save every federal application email and access credential in a secure place.

The required-document list is broader than the judgment

For applicants prohibited because of a state or federal felony conviction, DOJ’s required-document page currently asks for the charging document, judgment, and official proof of the date the final sentence requirement was completed. When applicable, DOJ also lists the plea agreement, factual basis, and presentence report. If a required official record cannot be obtained for reasons outside the applicant’s control, the rule provides for a sworn statement describing the record and the efforts made to obtain it.

DOJ also requires state criminal-history records covering the last 25 years or since age 18, whichever is shorter, for relevant places of residence and arrest. Applicants who previously sought a state pardon, expungement, set-aside, or rights restoration may also need copies of those applications and decisions.

The fee is $30, but the rollout timing matters

DOJ’s FAQ identifies a $30 application fee and says information about waiver or modification requests, including indigency-based requests, will be made available. DOJ’s rollout page says the fee begins with the January 4, 2027 public phase. Fingerprints, criminal-history reports, and other records can create additional costs.

A federal pardon can change whether FFRR is necessary

DOJ’s current FAQ says that a person who received a federal pardon and was only convicted of a federal offense generally does not need to use the FFRR process for that federal offense. That does not automatically answer separate state or tribal firearm-law questions. Use the Gun Rights by State directory when another jurisdiction may still matter.

What should applicants do now?

First, identify the exact prohibiting conviction and every companion count. Second, confirm the final sentence-completion date. Third, collect the records DOJ already says it will require. Fourth, correct inaccurate criminal-history records before filing. Finally, review any state restriction separately from federal relief.

For broader questions, see the Felon Gun Rights Restoration FAQ, the conviction-specific guides, and the shorter federal application intake.

Frequently asked questions