What changed in 2026?
The Department of Justice finalized criteria and procedures for federal firearm-rights restoration and moved administration to the Office of the Pardon Attorney. DOJ has announced a staged rollout. Its current FAQ says the first 5,000 people in a broader public phase may apply beginning November 4, 2026, on a first-come, first-served basis.
Who can apply?
DOJ states that people federally prohibited under categories of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) may be eligible to submit an application. That includes many people prohibited because of a felony conviction. But an application can still face a presumption of denial because of the type of offense, timing, later conduct or current status.
The standard is individualized
The statute focuses on the circumstances underlying the disability, the applicant’s record and reputation, subsequent conduct, dangerousness and the public interest. The new regulation adds more specific categories and waiting periods to that analysis.
What the federal grant does—and does not do
A federal grant can remove applicable federal firearm disabilities. It does not expunge the conviction and does not automatically override a state firearm restriction. That makes a state-law review a required part of responsible planning.
Application preparation
The current DOJ process calls for detailed court and criminal-history records, electronic fingerprints, character references and other supporting information. The record should be internally consistent before the application is filed.
Official federal sources
Use the Justice Department’s Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Program for the controlling application instructions, current dates, fees and required documents.