New Jersey guide
NJ gun permits: which one do you actually need?
New Jersey does not issue one "gun license." It issues a Firearms Purchaser ID card, handgun purchase permits, and permits to carry — three different applications with different requirements. Here is how they fit together, and what arrives at the end of each.
New Jersey has three firearms credentials
People searching for a "NJ gun permit" or "New Jersey gun license" usually mean one of three different things. Sorting out which one you need saves weeks.
- Firearms Purchaser ID Card (FID): the base credential for buying or receiving rifles and shotguns, and for buying ammunition.
- Permit to Purchase a Handgun: a separate permit needed for each handgun purchase, applied for at the same time as, or after, your FID card.
- Permit to Carry a Handgun: the concealed carry permit, with its own training, range qualification and endorser requirements.
How to apply for a NJ gun permit
- Step 1
Take the required training
First-time FID applicants review the state's Firearms Safety & Awareness course — it's built into the FARS online application, with no separate certificate to obtain. Carry-permit applicants also need an approved carry course covering law, safe handling and use of force.
- Step 2
File through FARS or with your chief of police
FID cards and handgun purchase permits are filed in the State Police Firearms Application and Registration System. Permit-to-carry applications go to the chief of police where you live, or to the State Police where there is no local department.
- Step 3
Provide references or endorsers
FID and purchase permit applications require two reputable references. Permit-to-carry applications require four endorsers who have known you for at least three years.
- Step 4
Qualify on the range (carry permits)
You must qualify with a certified instructor for each handgun you intend to carry. Your instructor signs the qualification form you file with the application.
- Step 5
Fingerprints and background investigation
New applicants are fingerprinted electronically for a state and FBI check. The issuing agency investigates and contacts your references or endorsers.
- Step 6
Receive the credential — usually as a PDF
Approved credentials arrive by email as a secure PDF download. Save the original file. That file is what we print onto a durable card.
Costs and timelines
Fees are set by the state and change over time — confirm current amounts with your issuing agency before you file. Timelines vary far more than the statute suggests: an FID card is nominally about 30 days, and carry permits add training and qualification time on top of the investigation.
Since New Jersey's 2022 law change, permit-to-carry applicants no longer have to demonstrate justifiable need or obtain a judge's endorsement. Permits are typically valid for two years and list the handguns you qualified with.
Common questions
How do I get a gun permit in New Jersey?
File through the State Police FARS system for an FID card — the required safety course is built into the online application — and add any handgun purchase permits. For a permit to carry, take an approved carry course, qualify on the range with each handgun, and file with your chief of police or the State Police with four endorsers.
Is a NJ gun license the same as an FID card?
There is no single "gun license" in New Jersey. The FID card covers long guns and ammunition, handgun purchase permits cover buying a handgun, and a permit to carry covers carrying one.
How much does a NJ gun permit cost?
The state sets separate fees for the FID card, handgun purchase permits, fingerprinting and permits to carry, and they have changed in recent years. Check the current schedule with the New Jersey State Police or your local department before filing.
How long is a NJ permit to carry valid?
Permits to carry are generally valid for two years and list the handguns you qualified with. Requalify and refile before it expires so there is no gap.
Can I carry a copy of my permit instead of the original?
New Jersey now issues these credentials electronically, so what you hold is a digital document you print or display. Many holders keep a durable printed reference card in their wallet and the original PDF saved on their phone and computer. These cards faithfully reproduce your valid, state-issued credential for everyday reference and carry. Based on our review of the applicable requirements in consultation with the issuing agency and several New Jersey firearms attorneys, we are confident these cards serve as an appropriate way to demonstrate your credential to law enforcement.
Print it on a real card
When you have the document, choose the matching card type and attach the file during checkout.
Educational information only, not legal advice. We are a private printing shop in Boonton, NJ and do not issue permits or act for the State of New Jersey. Confirm current requirements, fees and timelines with the New Jersey State Police or your local police department.