FIREARMS APPLICATION PROCESS

Updated 01/27/2023

 

The New Jersey State Police have made major changes to the Firearms Application and Registration System (FARS).

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The main change that directly affects applicants is that both Firearms Purchaser Identification Cards and Permits to Purchase Handguns are issued electronically to applicants.

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The previous printed ID Cards and Permits to Purchase Handguns have been phased out for all applications approved.

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Applicants will now receive an Electronic Firearms Purchaser Identification Card (E-FID) and/or an Electronic Permit to Purchase a Handgun (E-PERMIT).

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The previously issued yellow Firearms Purchaser Identification Cards are still valid and are still accepted at all NJ Licensed Firearms Dealers and do not have to be replaced.

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ELECTRONIC FIREARMS PURCHASER IDENTIFICATION CARD (E-FID):

Applicants that apply for an Initial Card, a Replacement Card (Lost, Stolen, Mutilated), Change of Address, Change of Name, or Change of Sex will receive an email from NJ Firearms System-NJ Portal (NJ State Police) advising that your application was approved. In the email will be a link to download the E-FID and an Access Key that allows you to download the E-FID Card.  The Electronic Firearms Purchaser Identification Card will be available to download for one year from date of issue. Please ensure that you print and save a copy for your records. If you do not download the E-FID card within the year you will need to apply for a replacement ID Card which will result in additional application fees on the FARS Site and an additional background investigation by the New Hanover Township Police as required by NJ State Law.

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ELECTRONIC PERMIT TO PURCHASE A HANDGUN (E-PERMIT):

When an application is approved, the applicant will receive an email from NJ Firearms System-NJ Portal (NJ State Police) advising of the approval of the Permits to Purchase Handguns. The email will not contain the actual E-PERMIT. It just advises the applicant that the E-PERMIT has been approved.  The actual E-PERMIT is contained on the NJ State Police FARS Site and can be activated by any NJ Licensed Firearms Dealer at time of purchase.  E-PERMITS have the same expiration period as the former paper permits (90 days from date of approval, with a renewal period of an additional 90 days). Once 180 days have passed since the E-PERMIT was issued, the E-PERMIT is no longer valid and cannot be renewed. 

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FIREARMS APPLICATION PROCESS AND REQUIREMENTS:

The process begins with making application for a Firearms Purchaser Identification Card and along the way, requires you to submit to a background investigation by both state and federal agencies, supply references, be fingerprinted, and consent to a mental health records check.

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Applicants should anticipate the process taking approximately thirty days from the date of receipt of the application. Incomplete or missing information may delay the process, as will the failure of your references to respond in a timely manner. 

 

Please follow the below instructions for the Firearms Reporting System.

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FARS Application Procedures for Applicants

 

Step 1: Visit this website. You MUST enter the site address as follows: https://www.njportal.com/NJSP/fars

Step 2: When you log on, you must enter the New Hanover Township Police Department’s

              ORI #:NJ0032600. Please ensure you are a resident of New Hanover Township before                                 submitting with this ORI. Incorrect entries will require you to re-apply and all fees are

               non-refundable.

 

Step 3: Complete the online application. You may complete the application using a smartphone,                        mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer. Please ensure that all information is correct.

 

             When deciding how many permits you would like to get, remember:

             a. ONE Permit is required for each handgun you wish to purchase

             b. You can purchase 1 handgun in a 30 day period

             c. Permits are good for up to 180 days

             d. If you decide you want another handgun permit and you didn’t get more than one initially,                       you will need to apply again.

 

Step 4: If you have resided out of the State of New Jersey within the last 10 years, you must respond to                 the Police Records Windows and sign a consent for Mental Health Records Form for your                           application to proceed.

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Step 5: All first-time applicants MUST be fingerprinted. WWW.IDENTOGO.COM . All other applicants,                         including those seeking a duplicate Firearms Purchaser Identification Card, are required to                       complete the online 212A Criminal History Records Check. Upon completion of the online                           application process, the S.T.S. 033 and 212A requirements will have been met.

 

Step 6: After the applicant enters all required information, a REVIEW PAGE appears where the                               applicant can edit all information entered into the application before final submission. Most                     issues incurred or created by the applicant during the online application process cannot be                   altered after submission.

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Step 7: You will need to submit payment at the Police department for your permits and, if applicable,                   the Firearms ID card. Permits to Purchase handguns are $25 for each permit, and $50 for the                   ID card.

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** All Pistol Permits will be electronically delivered to the email address provided in the application. Should you delete or otherwise lose the email the Firearms Dealer can retrieve your pistol permit.

 

*You will be receiving automated email updates throughout this process.

 

*Once your application is complete, a Firearms representative will contact you.

 

*Please advise your references that the FARS system will email them the reference questions to be answered. Your references can complete the questions using a smartphone, mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer. Please advise your references to complete the questions immediately so your background investigation can be completed.

 

*The on-line application is applicant driven. Please ensure that you have entered the best phone numbers for yourself and references as well as the best email addresses for yourself and references.

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  Applying for a Permit to Carry a Handgun

 

The following instructions are the same for the initial and renewal application.

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YOU MUST APPLY IN PERSON

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  **Out of State Residents- apply at a State Police Barracks closest to your residence.** 

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PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING AT TIME OF APPLICATION:

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Step 1. Copies of your Driver's License and Birth Certificate OR Driver's License and Passport OR Driver's                License and Naturalization Paperwork/Green card.

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Step 2. Two (2) State of New Jersey Applications For Permit To Carry A Handgun, form SP642. Must be                   double sided and notarized.

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                                             ** References CAN NOT be related by blood or law **

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Step 3.  Two (2) color passport size photographs.

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Step 4.  Consent for Mental Health Search, form SP066.

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Step 5.  Written proof of ownership and qualification with the handgun(s) you intend on carrying.

• Proof of ownership can be a purchase receipt or purchase permit or a notarized letter of ownership listing make, model and serial number of handgun(s)

• Written qualification must be within six (6) months of application and must include Instructors Name and Certification Number, make, model, caliber and serial number of handgun(s) you intend to carry.

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Step 6.  Money Order in the amount of $50.00 payable to; "New Jersey State Police".

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Step 7.  Money Order made out to: "New Hanover Township Police Department" or Cash in the amount                 of $150.00

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Step 8.  All applications (initial & renewal) for permit to carry a handgun must be fingerprinted.  When                  you log on, you must enter the New Hanover Township Police Department’s

               ORI #: NJ0032600. The service code is 2F164B.

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** IF ANY OF THE PRECEDING IS NOT COMPLETE OR INCORRECT THE APPLICATION WILL BE RETURNED AND YOU WILL HAVE TO RE-APPLY.

 

** THE REQUIRED WRITTEN FIREARMS QUALIFICATION, lN ACCORDANCE WITH NJ.A.C. 13:54-2.4(8), CAN BE OBTAINED AT MOST FIREARM RANGES THROUGH OUT THE STATE. A LIST IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE, WWW.NJSP.ORG > PUBLIC INFORMATION> FIREARMS INFORMATION > NEW JERSEY>SHOOTING RANGES FOR RPO QUALIFICATION.

 

** ALL APPLICANTS (INITIAL AND RENEWAL) FOR PERMIT TO CARRY A HANDGUN MUST BE FINGERPRINTED. INSTRUCTIONS FOR FINGER PRINTING WILL BE PROVIDED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION OR YOU CAN VISIT WWW.IDENTOGO.COM TO SCHEDULE A FINGERPRINT APPOINTMENT.

 

**A NEW JERSEY PERMIT TO CARRY IS VALID FOR TWO (2) YEARS FROM TIME OF APPROVAL.