NJ Gun FAQs

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The Firearms Purchaser Identification Card (FID) is your baseline credential. It lets you buy rifles and shotguns, and it is required to buy handgun ammunition.

A Permit to Purchase a Handgun is separate and single-use. You need one permit for each handgun you buy. Most people apply for several at once so they are not restarting the process for every purchase.

It depends on when it was issued.

• Issued before 22 December 2022: the old paper FID cards do not expire. They remain valid and we still accept them.
• Issued or renewed after that date: valid for 10 years, expiring on your birthday in the tenth year.

An FID card can also be revoked at any time if you become subject to a disqualifying condition. If you move to a different municipality, you must apply to your new town for a change of address, which triggers a fresh background check. You can file the change of address application online through the FARS portal and a reissued card.

Ninety days from approval, and electronic permits auto-renew for an additional 90 days. That gives you roughly six months to use it before it lapses.

Do not sit on a permit assuming it lasts indefinitely. If it expires unused, you apply and pay again.

Federal law sets the floor: you must be at least 18 to buy a rifle or shotgun from a licensed dealer, and 21 to buy a handgun. You must not have a disqualifying criminal conviction, be subject to certain restraining orders, be an unlawful user of controlled substances, or fall under any other federal prohibition. You must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident to purchase a firearm. New Jersey residents apply online through the FARS application site — not through their municipal police department.

The application requires references, fingerprinting for first-time applicants, a mental health records consent form, and a background investigation. Expect to provide roughly ten years of address history. If you have lived in another state during that period, you may be asked to complete additional mental health authorization forms for each state.

New Jersey residents apply through the municipal police department covering where they live, or the State Police if your town is served by NJSP.

Yes. Non-residents apply for a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card online through the New Jersey State Police FARS portal. Out-of-state applications are automatically assigned to an NJSP station, and you do not enter an ORI number because you are not applying to a local agency.

Permits to Purchase a handgun are a different matter. These are generally limited to New Jersey residents and dual residents. If you maintain a residence in both New Jersey and another state, you may qualify as a dual resident with proof such as a New Jersey driver's license, tax record or utility bill, and you would apply through your New Jersey municipality.

All applications go through the New Jersey State Police Firearms Application and Registration System (FARS). Before you start, have your ORI number, two references with working email addresses, and a passport-style photo. If you have lived outside New Jersey in the last 10 years, you may also need form SP-066, Consent for Mental Health Records — the police department processing your application will ask you to complete it, and it is submitted to the investigating officer assigned to your application after you submit.

The ORI (Originating Agency Identifier) is the code that routes your application to the correct police department, which is the department covering the town where you live. Find yours in seconds with our New Jersey ORI lookup — search by town or ZIP and copy it straight into your application.

Entering the wrong ORI sends your application to the wrong agency, and the fee is not refunded. Confirm it before you pay.

Out-of-state applicants do not use an ORI. Those applications are assigned automatically to a State Police station.

After you submit your application, you will receive instructions to schedule fingerprinting through the state's contracted vendor. First-time applicants are fingerprinted. If you already have an SBI number on file from a previous firearms application and your identifying information has not changed, you generally will not need to be reprinted.

Statute says 30 days. Reality varies widely by municipality and by how clean your application is. Errors and unresponsive references are the most common causes of delay.

Both credentials are electronic now. Your approval email contains a link and access key to download your E-FID card. Your Permit to Purchase lives in the FARS system and any New Jersey dealer, including us, can activate it at the time of purchase.

• $50 for your initial NJ Firearm ID card
• $25 for each handgun purchase permit
• $58 for initial fingerprinting

These fees are non-refundable, including if your application is rejected for an error. You will have to resubmit and pay again, so check everything twice before submitting.

No. New Jersey limits handgun purchases to one in any 30-day period. Rifles and shotguns are not subject to this limit.

Narrow exemptions exist and must be approved in advance by the State Police Superintendent, including purchases of multiple handguns obtained through inheritance, documented collector activity, and certain law enforcement purchases.

You are entitled to written notice of the reason and you may appeal to the Superior Court in the county where the denial was issued. Appeals are time-limited, so act quickly.

Denials frequently stem from incomplete disclosure, old records the applicant had forgotten, or paperwork errors rather than genuine disqualification. If you have been denied and believe it was in error, speak with an attorney who handles New Jersey firearms matters.

• Must be 21 or older
• Must have a valid NJ Firearm ID Card
• Must complete a Use of Force training class with a certified instructor
• Must pass the qualification exam protocol with a certified instructor
• Must be of good character and not disqualified under N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3(c)

New Jersey removed its justifiable need standard after the Supreme Court's 2022 Bruen decision, so applicants no longer have to demonstrate a special reason to carry.

You are required to complete the following:

• Use of Force (in-person classroom): covers the legal and practical aspects of using force, so you understand when and how force may lawfully be applied.
• Live-Fire Qualification: a minimum of 50 scored rounds on an FBI-type Q-target, with at least 10 shots from each of 15, 10, 7, 5 and 3 yards. A passing score requires at least 80% accuracy.
• Safe Handling and Proficiency: you must demonstrate safe holstering, unholstering and reloading during the course.

Qualification must be fired with the handgun you intend to carry. We run this training at our Marlton location; see our NJ Permit to Carry course page for dates and pricing.

Not required by statute, but strongly recommended if you have limited handgun experience. The qualification demands 80% accuracy, and shooters who have not trained recently often struggle at the 15-yard line. A private lesson or basic pistol course before qualification day is cheaper than failing and rebooking. Shop our classes and training packages on our Permit to Carry page for additional preparation to help you pass.

The state application fee is $200. That is separate from training costs, range fees, ammunition, and fingerprinting if required. Budget for the full package rather than the permit fee alone. Urban Tactical Firearms training and permit qualification packages range from $199 to $499, in addition to the $200 application fee — see our Permit to Carry page.

• Valid NJ Firearm ID Card
• Certificate of completion for Use of Force training
• Qualification scores from a certified instructor, fired with the handgun you intend to carry
• References as required on the current application form
• Application fee
• Fingerprints if you do not have an SBI number on file

Through the New Jersey State Police online Permit to Carry portal, routed to your municipal police department using their ORI number. Applicants living in towns without a local police department, and non-residents, apply through the State Police.

Timelines vary considerably by municipality. Some decisions are made in less than a month; others wait longer. Incomplete references and missing qualification paperwork are the most common causes of delay.

Two years from the date of issuance. Renewal follows the same process as the original application and requires a current training record completed within the past two years.

Fingerprinting is generally not required for renewal if you already have an SBI number on file and your identifying information has not changed. Start renewal well before expiration so your permit does not lapse — renew online through the State Police Permit to Carry portal.

Yes. Non-residents apply through the New Jersey State Police rather than a municipal department. The training and qualification requirements are the same.

This matters because New Jersey recognizes no other state's permit, so a non-resident who needs to carry here must hold a New Jersey permit.

No. New Jersey has no reciprocity agreements with any state, and there are no exceptions. A permit from Pennsylvania, Florida, or anywhere else authorizes nothing here.

This catches travelers out constantly. If you are driving through New Jersey with a firearm, you are relying on federal interstate transport protections, not your home state permit, and the transport rules below apply.

No. Even with a valid Permit to Carry, the handgun must be carried concealed in a holster. Statute treats brief incidental exposure, such as clothing shifting or while holstering, as a de minimis infraction, but deliberate open carry is not permitted.

The law also specifies requirements for the holster itself, prohibits carrying while under the influence of alcohol, cannabis or controlled substances, limits a permit holder to two firearms at one time, and forbids unjustified display of a handgun.

Yes. If you are stopped or detained by a law enforcement officer while carrying, you must disclose that you are carrying a handgun and that you hold a permit. Do it immediately and keep your hands visible.

New Jersey's 2022 law (Chapter 131) created roughly 25 categories of prohibited locations, including schools, government buildings, healthcare facilities, bars and restaurants serving alcohol, entertainment venues, public gatherings, and private property that has not affirmatively permitted firearms.

From Urban Tactical Firearms. Shop in store at our Marlton (Burlington County) or Jersey City (Hudson County) locations, or shop our full catalog online at utfirearms.com/guns and complete the transfer at either counter.

Bring your FID card and, for a handgun, your Permit to Purchase. We verify your credentials, activate the electronic permit in the state system, run the federal background check through NICS, and complete the ATF Form 4473 along with the state paperwork. You leave with your firearm once everything clears.

New Jersey imposes no state waiting period, though the background check itself can take longer than the instant result in some cases. For more information on the process of purchasing a firearm, visit our How to Buy a Gun in New Jersey guide.

You must be 18 to obtain an FID card and to purchase a rifle or shotgun from a licensed dealer, and 21 to purchase a handgun or handgun ammunition. Those minimums are set by a combination of state and federal law.

Yes. A Firearms Purchaser Identification Card is required for rifles and shotguns. A separate Permit to Purchase is required for each handgun. Out-of-state buyers follow the law of their own state and we ship to their local FFL.

Yes. Order from our website and select in-store pickup at Marlton or Jersey City. Bring your credentials when you collect it and we complete the transfer at the counter. See how to buy a gun in New Jersey for the full walkthrough.

Yes. Any firearm coming into New Jersey from out of state must be transferred through a licensed New Jersey dealer. Have the sending dealer ship it to us, bring your FID card and permit, and we handle the background check and paperwork.

Our incoming transfer fee is $75.

Not directly. Buying a firearm on behalf of another person is a straw purchase and it is a federal felony, even between family members and even with good intentions.

What works instead: a gift card — available for purchase on our online store. The recipient comes in with their own FID card and permit and chooses the firearm themselves.

Handguns, rifles and shotguns from the major manufacturers, along with ammunition, optics, holsters, safes and accessories. For New Jersey customers we stock configurations that comply with state law, and we perform compliance work including magazine pinning in-house. See our NJ compliant firearms collection.

There is no separate registration step you complete after buying, but the two categories are treated differently.

• Handguns purchased in-state are recorded to you through the Permit to Purchase system, so the state has a record of the transfer.
• Rifles and shotguns are not registered to the owner in the same way.

Dealers also retain records of every sale as federal law requires.

Federal and state law severely limit returns on firearms once a transfer is complete, so inspect any firearm carefully before you take possession. Once the buyer accepts the firearm after inspection, it is no longer refundable. Unused accessories in original packaging may be returned subject to our standard policy.

Ask at the counter or call before purchasing if you have any concern about fit or compatibility. We would rather answer questions first than deal with a return we cannot accept.

Visit our returns policy page for more information.

For handgun ammunition, yes. You must present a valid Firearms Purchaser Identification Card, a Permit to Purchase a handgun, or a Permit to Carry, and you must be at least 21.

Rifle and shotgun ammunition does not carry the same requirement. Note that some calibers are chambered in both handguns and long guns, so bring your FID card if there is any doubt.

You may own them, with real restrictions on where you can have them.

New Jersey permits you to keep hollow-point ammunition at your home or on property you own, and to transport it directly between the place of purchase and your home, or to a range or hunting location for lawful use. Carrying hollow points otherwise is prohibited. Armor-piercing ammunition is prohibited outright.

The New Jersey State Police publish guidance on transportation and use of hollow-point ammunition by sportsmen. Ask us at the counter if you are unsure how this applies to your situation.

Ten rounds. Magazines holding more than 10 rounds are prohibited, and firearms sold here ship with compliant magazines. We pin magazines in-house where a design requires it.

In effect, but under Supreme Court review. Here is the sequence.

On 17 July 2026 the full Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 10 to 5 that New Jersey's bans on so-called assault firearms and on magazines over 10 rounds violate the Second Amendment. It was the first time a federal appeals court struck down a state assault weapons ban.

On 4 August 2026 the Third Circuit granted the state's request to stay its own ruling while New Jersey petitions the U.S. Supreme Court. That stay keeps the existing bans enforceable, and it remains in place until the Supreme Court disposes of the petition.

New Jersey's petition is due in October 2026. The Supreme Court has separately agreed to hear challenges to similar bans in Connecticut and Cook County, Illinois, with a decision expected by mid-2027. A portion of the New Jersey case concerning banned pistols, shotguns and other listed firearms was sent back to the district court and is still unresolved.

What this means for you today: nothing has changed at the counter. New Jersey law applies exactly as it did before July. We will update this answer as the case develops.

With a valid Permit to Carry, you may carry a loaded handgun concealed on your person, including while in a vehicle.

Without a carry permit the rules are strict: the firearm must be unloaded, in a closed and securely fastened case, gun box, or locked in the trunk, and you must be traveling directly between authorized locations such as your home, a range, a dealer, or a hunting area. Detours and stops along the way can turn lawful transport into a criminal charge.

Unloaded, in a fastened case or the factory box, with ammunition stored separately, traveling directly to and from the range. This applies to any long gun and to handguns carried outside a permit.

We stock lockable cases that satisfy the requirement. A cheap lockable hard case is the best insurance policy in shooting.

Federal law provides limited protection for interstate transport if the firearm is unloaded, inaccessible from the passenger compartment, and you are traveling between two places where you may lawfully possess it. Ammunition should be stored separately.

Your home state carry permit means nothing here, and New Jersey's magazine and firearm restrictions apply while you are in the state. Travelers have been arrested in New Jersey for firearms that were entirely legal at both ends of their trip. Plan the route and the storage before you cross the line.

New residents may generally bring lawfully owned firearms with them, but everything you bring must comply with New Jersey law once you are here. That includes the magazine capacity limit and the restrictions on firearms the state classifies as assault firearms.

Apply for your New Jersey FID card promptly, since you will need it to buy ammunition and long guns. Your out-of-state carry permit does not transfer.

For further questions, see the New Jersey State Police firearms forms page.

Yes. New Jersey has an Extreme Risk Protective Order law that allows a court to temporarily order the removal of firearms from a person found to pose a significant danger to themselves or others. Family members and law enforcement may petition.

An order results in surrender of firearms and firearms credentials for its duration, and there is a process to contest or terminate it.

Start with training before you start with hardware. Handle several firearms before buying, because grip fit and trigger reach matter far more than the model everyone recommends online.

Then plan for the whole package: the firearm, a proper lockable case, secure storage at home, eye and ear protection, and enough ammunition to actually practice. Our staff at both stores talk first-time buyers through this every week, and there is no such thing as a dumb question at our counter.

For the full process, see our How to Buy a Gun in New Jersey guide.

Yes. Our Marlton location has a dedicated classroom and runs the New Jersey Permit to Carry course, including the Use of Force classroom component and live-fire qualification. We also work with new shooters who want fundamentals before attempting qualification. See our training page for the current schedule. If you are looking for specific training not listed there, call us and we can accommodate your special training needs.

Yes, at our Marlton location. That includes magazine pinning and other modifications needed to bring a firearm into compliance with New Jersey law. Jersey City offers customization on select days. Call ahead to confirm availability and turnaround.

Marlton: 65 E Rte 70 #9a, Marlton, NJ 08053 — (856) 780-4447
Jersey City: 548 West Side Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07304 — (201) 499-3601

Current hours for both stores are on our locations page.