Gun Rights
DOJ Updates Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Fingerprint Process: What FFRR Applicants Need to Know
The U.S. Department of Justice has updated its official instructions for submitting
electronic fingerprints as part of the new Federal Firearm Rights Restoration (FFRR)
application process under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c).
The September 22, 2026 update provides important new details about what happens to
an applicant’s fingerprints after they are taken by the United States Postal Service,
when applicants should obtain fingerprints, and how fingerprint results become part
of the federal firearm rights restoration application.
Quick Answer: What Changed?
FFRR applicants should not obtain fingerprints before beginning the DOJ
application process. After submitting the required initial portion of the
application, the applicant receives an email from Criminal Justice Information
Services (CJIS) containing a case number and QR code.
The applicant then takes that information to a participating USPS electronic
fingerprint location. According to DOJ’s updated instructions, USPS sends the
fingerprints directly to the FBI. The FBI processes them and the results are
uploaded into the applicant’s FFRR application.
DOJ also states that the applicant will receive notification when the FBI receives
the fingerprints.
This means applicants generally should prepare their supporting records first,
begin the FFRR application when eligible to do so, and then follow DOJ’s instructions
for fingerprinting rather than obtaining fingerprints independently in advance.
The FFRR Fingerprint Process Step by Step
- Prepare your application documents.
DOJ recommends collecting the necessary records before beginning the electronic
application because applicants have a limited period in which to complete the
application. - Begin the DOJ FFRR electronic application.
Access to the application is being introduced through DOJ’s phased rollout. - Submit the initial portion of the application.
Do not obtain fingerprints before reaching this stage. - Wait for the CJIS email.
The email will contain your case number and the QR code needed for fingerprinting. - Locate a participating USPS fingerprint location.
Not every Post Office provides electronic fingerprint services. - Bring your CJIS information, identification, and payment.
Follow the instructions provided by DOJ and USPS. - USPS electronically transmits your fingerprints.
The fingerprints are sent directly to the FBI. - The FBI processes the fingerprints.
DOJ states that the resulting information is uploaded into the applicant’s
FFRR application. - Watch for confirmation.
Applicants should receive notification when the FBI receives their fingerprints.
Can I Get My FFRR Fingerprints From a Police Department or Private Fingerprinting Company?
No, not for the DOJ FFRR application under the current procedure.
DOJ specifically states that fingerprints collected anywhere other than through
the required USPS electronic process will not be accepted.
That makes the fingerprint procedure different from many other legal, licensing,
employment, and firearms-related background checks.
Applicants should therefore avoid paying a police department, private fingerprint
provider, attorney, or other business to create fingerprint cards for the FFRR
application unless DOJ changes its instructions.
What Identification Can You Bring to USPS?
DOJ currently identifies the following acceptable forms of identification:
- State-issued driver’s license;
- State-issued non-driver identification card;
- United States passport or passport card; or
- Military ID (Uniformed Services Identification Card).
Applicants should also bring the CJIS email containing the information required
for fingerprint processing and an accepted form of payment.
Questions about acceptable identification, payment methods, or a particular
fingerprint location should be confirmed directly with the participating Post Office.
Do Not Get Your Fingerprints Before You Apply
This is one of the most important practical points for prospective applicants.
DOJ’s current FAQ states that applicants must obtain their fingerprints
after submitting the first portion of the electronic application and receiving
the QR code by email.
Getting fingerprinted early does not allow an applicant to skip this step.
The DOJ process is designed to connect the applicant’s electronic fingerprints
with the applicant’s specific FFRR case.
Current Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Application Dates
DOJ is rolling out the new 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) application system in stages.
The currently announced schedule is:
- September 25, 2026: applications open to invited candidates.
- November 4, 2026: applications open to the first 5,000 public applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
- January 4, 2027: 500 additional applicants may apply as DOJ tests its electronic payment system.
DOJ has stated that it intends to make the program available to the public at
large after it is satisfied that the application and payment processes are
functioning effectively.
Because access is being phased in, prospective applicants may want to begin
assembling their records before their application window opens.
How Long Do You Have to Complete the FFRR Application?
DOJ currently states that once an applicant initiates the electronic application,
the applicant has 30 days to complete and submit it.
If the completed application is not submitted within that period, the applicant
must start the application process again.
That makes advance preparation especially important. Obtaining decades-old court
records, criminal-history reports, military records, and other documents can take
substantially longer than expected.
See our Federal Gun Rights Restoration Required Documents Checklist before beginning your application.
What Documents Should FFRR Applicants Prepare?
The documents required depend upon the reason a person is federally prohibited
from possessing firearms. For applicants prohibited because of a state or federal
felony conviction, DOJ identifies records that can include:
- Charging document, such as the indictment or complaint;
- Judgment of conviction;
- Official documentation showing completion of the final requirement of the sentence;
- Plea agreement, when applicable;
- Factual basis for the plea, when applicable;
- Presentence report or similar sentencing document, when applicable; and
- Required state criminal-history records.
DOJ generally requires state criminal-history records covering the shorter of
the previous 25 years or the period since the applicant turned 18, including
relevant jurisdictions where the applicant lived or was arrested.
Applicants with military convictions, misdemeanor domestic-violence convictions,
mental-health prohibitions, foreign records, prior restoration applications,
pardons, expungements, or other circumstances may have additional documentation
requirements.
Before applying, review our complete FFRR document checklist
.
FFRR Also Requires Three Character References
Fingerprints are only one part of the new application. DOJ’s final rule also
requires affidavits from three qualified character references.
Choosing references should therefore be part of an applicant’s preparation rather
than something left until the end of the application period.
Learn more in our guide to FFRR character-reference requirements
.
What Is the FFRR Application Fee?
DOJ currently lists the Federal Firearm Rights Restoration application fee as
$30. Applicants may also incur separate costs for fingerprints,
criminal-history records, certified court documents, and other records.
DOJ’s FAQ also states that an applicant may request a waiver or reduction of the
application fee, including based on indigency. Additional information concerning
the waiver process is expected from DOJ.
Who Should Prepare Now?
Anyone considering federal firearm rights restoration should first determine
the source of the federal firearm prohibition and review DOJ’s
presumptive disqualifiers.
The new rule does not treat every conviction or applicant identically. Certain
conduct creates permanent presumptive disqualifications, while other categories
may involve five-year or ten-year periods. DOJ may also consider the underlying
conduct rather than relying exclusively on the title of the offense.
Read our guide to FFRR presumptive disqualifiers before determining whether and when to apply.
Applying for Federal Gun Rights Restoration
The return of the 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) process creates a federal pathway for people
who have been prohibited under the Gun Control Act to request relief from their
federal firearm disability.
But restoration is not automatic. DOJ evaluates whether granting relief would
present a danger to public safety or be contrary to the public interest, and the
Department may examine criminal history, underlying conduct, behavior during
incarceration and supervision, time since completion of the sentence, and other
individual circumstances.
Federal relief also does not automatically eliminate an independent state-law
firearm prohibition.
If you are considering applying, start with the Federal Gun Rights Restoration Application section of FelonJustice.com.
You can also review Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Eligibility Review to better understand issues that may affect an application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I get fingerprints for a Federal Firearm Rights Restoration application?
DOJ currently requires FFRR applicants to use a participating United States
Postal Service electronic fingerprint location. Fingerprints obtained through
another process will not be accepted.
Can I get my fingerprints before submitting my FFRR application?
No. DOJ instructs applicants to wait until after submitting the first portion of
the electronic application and receiving the required CJIS email and QR code.
What happens to my fingerprints after USPS takes them?
USPS electronically sends them to the FBI. According to DOJ, the FBI processes
the fingerprints and the results are then uploaded into the applicant’s FFRR
application.
Will I know when the FBI receives my fingerprints?
Yes. DOJ’s September 22, 2026 instructions state that the applicant will receive
notification when the FBI receives the fingerprints.
Can a local police department fingerprint me for FFRR?
Not under DOJ’s current FFRR procedure. DOJ says fingerprints obtained anywhere
other than through the USPS electronic process will not be accepted.
How much does the FFRR application cost?
DOJ currently lists a $30 application fee. Applicants may incur additional costs
for fingerprints, criminal-history records, court records, and other required
documentation.
How long do I have to complete my application?
DOJ currently provides 30 days from initiation of the electronic application to
complete and submit it. Applicants who do not complete the application within
that period must begin again.
Does federal firearm rights restoration automatically restore state gun rights?
No. Relief granted through the federal process addresses applicable federal
firearm disabilities. An independent state firearm prohibition may still apply.
Preparing a Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Application?
The strength and completeness of an application can matter. Applicants should
identify the source of their firearm disability, review possible presumptive
disqualifiers, collect required records, identify qualified character references,
and follow DOJ’s fingerprint instructions carefully.
Last updated: September 24, 2026. FelonJustice.com monitors
Department of Justice and Federal Register developments concerning the federal
firearm rights restoration program. This article is provided for educational
purposes and is not legal advice.
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General information only. This article is not legal advice and is not permission to possess, receive, transport or purchase a firearm. Verify the current law and the legal effect of your actual court orders.
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