A major change has taken place for certain people who are prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.
On August 17, 2026, U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche announced a new federal process allowing eligible individuals to apply for restoration of their federal firearm rights under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c).
Before anybody starts celebrating or heading to the gun store, let’s be clear: firearm rights are not restored automatically. This is an application process, and every case will be reviewed individually by the U.S. Department of Justice.
Why Is This Such a Major Change?
Federal law has long included a process through which certain prohibited individuals could request restoration of their firearm rights. However, Congress stopped allowing the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, commonly known as ATF, to use federal funding to process applications from individuals in 1992.
That made the regular application process under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) effectively unavailable to most individuals for more than 30 years.
The new Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Program creates a functioning application process within the Department of Justice.
This does not mean affected individuals had absolutely no other possible legal remedies during that time. Depending on the circumstances, some people may have received relief through a presidential pardon, state pardon, expungement, set-aside conviction, restoration of civil rights or a court ruling. However, those options did not replace a regular federal application process available to most individuals.
Who May Apply?
According to the Department of Justice, anyone currently prohibited from possessing, receiving, shipping or transporting firearms or ammunition under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) may submit an application for federal relief.
This means the program is not limited to people convicted of federal felonies. Certain people with state felony convictions may also be prohibited under federal law and could potentially apply.
Other federal firearm prohibitions can involve:
- A conviction for a crime punishable by more than one year in prison
- Certain misdemeanor domestic-violence convictions
- Certain mental-health commitments or adjudications
- A dishonorable discharge from the Armed Forces
- Being a fugitive from justice
- Being subject to certain qualifying restraining orders
- Certain controlled-substance-related circumstances
- Certain immigration statuses
- Renouncing United States citizenship
Being allowed to apply does not mean a person will qualify for approval.
What Must an Applicant Prove?
The applicant must satisfy the Attorney General that the circumstances causing the firearm prohibition, along with the applicant’s criminal record, reputation and conduct since that time, demonstrate that:
- The applicant is not likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety.
- Restoring the applicant’s federal firearm rights would not be contrary to the public interest.
The Department of Justice may examine the complete facts behind a conviction or incident—not merely the name of the criminal charge.
DOJ may also request additional information while investigating an application. Providing false information or intentionally withholding required information can cause an approval to become void.
What Are Presumptive Disqualifiers?
A presumptive disqualifier does not always create an absolute lifetime ban on applying. It means DOJ will generally deny the application unless the applicant can show extraordinary circumstances strong enough to overcome that presumption.
The final rule establishes several categories of presumptive disqualifiers.
Permanent Presumptive Disqualifiers
Regardless of how much time has passed, an applicant will generally need to demonstrate extraordinary circumstances if the underlying offense involved conduct such as:
- Causing another person’s death
- Rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse
- Human trafficking
- Kidnapping
- Intimate-partner or domestic violence
- Burglary
- Robbery
- Extortion
- Carjacking
- Arson
- Certain violent racketeering or gang-related offenses
- Maiming, assault or battery
- Stalking
- Terrorism
- Witness tampering
- Escape or helping someone escape from custody
This presumption may also apply when a firearm was used or discharged, or an explosive was used, during the commission of certain crimes. Attempts, conspiracies, solicitation and aiding or abetting qualifying offenses may also be considered.
The 10-Year Presumptive Period
An applicant will generally need to show extraordinary circumstances if, during the previous 10 years, the applicant was convicted of or served any part of a sentence for certain offenses involving:
- Drug trafficking, manufacturing, selling, distributing, importing or exporting
- Threats of violence
- Manufacturing, possessing, transferring or using explosives
- Certain firearm- or ammunition-related conduct
- Possessing or discharging a weapon on school property
- Animal abuse
- A misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
Additional arrests or firearm prohibitions occurring during the applicable period may restart the 10-year period in certain domestic-violence cases.
The waiting period is not necessarily measured only from the conviction date or prison-release date. It may be measured from the date the person completed the final requirement of the sentence.
The Five-Year Presumptive Period
A five-year presumption generally applies to other felony convictions not included in the permanent or 10-year categories.
It can also apply to certain misdemeanor offenses involving assault, battery, stalking or threatened violence.
The five years are generally measured from the last date the person was convicted or served any part of the sentence. Completing the sentence may include finishing:
- Incarceration
- Probation
- Parole or supervised release
- Community service
- Court-ordered treatment
- Required restitution
- Required fines or other sentence conditions
In other words, being released from jail or prison does not necessarily start the clock if other parts of the sentence remain unfinished.
Current Status Disqualifiers
Absent extraordinary circumstances, an application will generally be denied while an applicant is:
- Awaiting sentencing
- Incarcerated or still serving any part of a sentence
- Participating in a diversion program used instead of a conviction
- A fugitive from justice
- Subject to certain qualifying restraining orders
- Unlawfully using or addicted to a controlled substance, subject to the rule’s marijuana exception
- Unlawfully present in the United States or present under certain nonimmigrant visas
- Required to register as a sex offender for an offense connected to the firearm prohibition
Special procedures also apply to people prohibited because of a qualifying mental-health commitment or adjudication. If the state, territory or government agency responsible for the disability offers its own relief program, the person may first be required to use that program.
What Will Applicants Need?
The application will require more than someone typing their name and explaining that they have changed.
Depending on the reason for the firearm prohibition, applicants may need to provide:
- State criminal-history records covering the previous 25 years or since age 18, whichever period is shorter
- Records from the locations where they have lived
- Charging documents
- The judgment of conviction
- A plea agreement
- The factual basis supporting a guilty plea
- Presentence reports
- Proof showing when every requirement of the sentence was completed
- Applicable military, mental-health, immigration or citizenship records
- Electronic fingerprints
- Three qualifying character references
If an official document cannot be obtained, DOJ may require a sworn statement explaining what the document contained, the efforts made to obtain it and why it is unavailable.
Character-Reference Requirements
Each applicant must provide three character references.
According to DOJ, a qualifying reference must:
- Not be related to the applicant by blood or marriage
- Have known the applicant for at least three years
- Not currently be prohibited from possessing firearms under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)
The references must provide information under penalty of perjury and may be contacted by DOJ for additional information.
Fingerprint Requirements
Individual applicants must submit electronic fingerprints through the United States Postal Service process designated by DOJ.
Fingerprints collected through another provider will not be accepted. After the application is submitted, the applicant should receive instructions, a case number and the barcode or QR code needed to complete fingerprinting at a participating USPS location.
Not every post office offers electronic fingerprinting services, and fingerprinting may involve a separate charge.
How Much Will It Cost?
The application fee will be $30 when the fee requirement begins.
The final rule allows DOJ to reduce or waive the application fee for an appropriate reason, including financial hardship. Electronic fingerprinting may involve an additional cost charged separately.
When Will Applications Open?
The program is being launched in stages:
- September 25, 2026: Applications open to candidates invited by DOJ.
- November 4, 2026: Applications open to the public for the first 5,000 applicants.
- January 4, 2027: Applications open for 500 additional public applicants, and the $30 application fee begins.
The online application is identified as OMB Form No. 1123-0017. DOJ states that the form is coming soon.
What Happens After Someone Applies?
DOJ restoration specialists may contact the applicant for additional records, explanations or other information.
After reviewing the application and completing its investigation, DOJ may issue one of several results:
- Approval
- Denial
- Indeterminate decision because there was not enough information
- Administrative closure without a decision
If relief is granted, the person’s name and the date of the approval will be published in the Federal Register.
If an application is denied, the applicant may be able to request judicial review in the United States District Court where the applicant lives. The person may also be allowed to apply again, although another waiting period or presumptive disqualifier could apply.
Federal Approval Does Not Automatically Remove State Restrictions
This part is extremely important.
Approval through the federal program removes only the applicable federal firearm disability. It does not override a separate restriction imposed by state law.
A person could receive federal relief and still be prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm under the laws of the state where the person lives.
Applicants should verify both federal and state law before attempting to purchase, possess, receive, transport or handle a firearm.
Do Not Possess a Firearm While an Application Is Pending
Submitting an application does not restore anyone’s firearm rights.
A person who is currently prohibited must continue following the law unless and until official relief is granted and any separate state restrictions have also been addressed.
Possessing a firearm while prohibited can result in serious federal or state criminal charges. Nobody should rely on a social-media post, application confirmation or pending case as permission to possess a firearm.
The Bottom Line
Yes, the new Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Program is real.
It gives certain federally prohibited individuals a path to request restoration of their federal firearm rights, but it is not automatic forgiveness for every person with a felony conviction. DOJ will review each applicant’s criminal history, conduct, reputation, supporting records and possible risk to public safety.
People with nonviolent convictions may have a more realistic path after the applicable waiting period, while violent offenses and several other categories carry strong presumptions against approval.
Anyone considering applying should read the official requirements carefully, gather every necessary record and consider speaking with a qualified attorney who understands federal and state firearm-restoration laws.
This article is provided for educational and informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not guarantee eligibility or approval.
Sources
Information in this article was verified using the U.S. Department of Justice announcement issued August 17, 2026; the DOJ Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Program; the final rule implementing 28 C.F.R. Part 107; and DOJ guidance covering presumptive disqualifiers, required documents, electronic fingerprints, character references and final decisions.
For official eligibility requirements, application updates and additional information, visit:
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