Checked against official sources · August 8, 2026
Start with your situation.
Four sentences below cover most people who land here. Pick the one that fits and see what the process actually asks of you—dated, and linked to its official source.
None of these fit? Tell us what’s missing →
Your path
Apply for your first New Jersey firearms ID
New Jersey uses FARS for an initial Firearms Purchaser Identification Card and for handgun purchase permits. You can request both in the same application.
- Steps
- 4 key steps
- Time to prepare
- About 10 min
- Status
- Current
- Last reviewed
- August 8, 2026
What this path involves
- Confirm the correct issuing agency and ORI—the wrong one is not refundable
- Gather identification, employment, references, and prior addresses
- Complete the safety-and-storage training module inside FARS
- Schedule fingerprints and watch for a separate local payment step
Every path ends at an official source.
We explain the process in plain language. These linked government portals and agency pages remain authoritative for your situation.
| Source | Publisher | Kind | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Firearms Application & Registration System | NJ State Police | Official portal | |
| FARS Help Section | NJ State Police | Agency guidance | |
| Firearms Information | NJ State Police | Agency guidance | |
| Firearms Questions and Answers | ATF | Agency guidance |