Filling Out the Application
Determine if you're eligible to get an FFL. If you regularly and repetitively buy or sell guns, either full-time or part-time, with the objective of making a profit or livelihood, you need to be licensed. To receive your Federal Firearms License (FFL), you must be at least 21 years old. Check the website of the ATF for further eligibility criteria. There are some exceptions in which you don't need an FFL. For instance, you don't need a license if you are liquidating a personal collection. Check the ATF website for more examples of situations in which you do and don't need a license: https://www.atf.gov/file/100871/download.
Obtain ATF Form 7. It’s available online here: https://www.atf.gov/firearms/docs/form/form-7-7-cr-application-federal-firearms-license-atf-form-531012531016/download. You can also obtain the form by contacting the ATF Distribution Center at (703) 870-7526..
Fill out Part A of ATF Form 7. Provide information about your business, including the name, address, and activities for which the FFL is required. Choose from 9 different types of FFL, which are described on the form. Certify that your business will meet all local, state, and federal regulations. The most common license type is Type 1, for Dealers in Firearms Other than Destructive Devices.
Complete Part B of the form, the Responsible Person Questionnaire. Enter personal information, such as your name, age, address, SSN, and physical description. Answer a series of yes or no questions determining your eligibility for an FFL, including whether you've ever been convicted of a crime. Each responsible person must fill out and sign a separate Part B questionnaire. A responsible person is defined by the ATF as anybody with the power to direct the management and policies of the business that is being licensed. If you are the sole proprietor of your business, you are the only responsible person. Each partner in a partnership counts as a responsible person. In an LLC, all of the ‘managers’ of the company are listed as responsible persons.
Get fingerprinted. Each ATF Form 7 must be accompanied by a Fingerprint Identification Card (FD-258). Order this card from the ATF Distribution Center online or by phoning (703) 870-7526. Take it to your local law enforcement authority, where your fingerprints will be stamped on it in black ink. Each responsible person on the license application needs to be fingerprinted. List “WVATF1100 ATF-FFLC, MARTINSBURG, WV” in the ORI block of the card.
Include a photograph of yourself that is 2 by 2 inches (5.1 by 5.1 cm). The picture must have been taken within the last 6 months. Your whole face must be visible, in frontal view. Don’t wear a hat or head covering. On the back of the picture, print your full name, the last 4 digits of your SSN, and the address of your business. Every responsible person listed on the application must include a photograph.
Send the appropriate fee with your application. Pay by check, credit card, or money order. The ATF will not accept cash or post-dated checks. The different types of FFL license range in cost from $30 to $3000 for 3 years. Type 1, the most common license type, costs $200. Make a copy of your entire application.
Mail your application package to the ATF. Include your complete ATF Form 7, your Fingerprint Identification Card, your photograph, and your fee. Address the envelope to The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explosives, P.O. Box 409567, Atlanta, GA 30384-9567.
Submit a copy of your application to your local CLEO. The Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) is the Chief of Police, Sheriff, or the equivalent in the place where the business seeking to be licensed is located. Mail it or drop it off in person.
Interviewing for and Receiving Your License
Wait for your background check to clear. After receiving your application, the Federal Firearms License Center (FFLC) will record the information in it and check it for correctness. They will run a background check on every responsible person listed in the application. When the background check clears, your application goes to your local ATF field office.
Prepare for an in-person interview. An Industry Operations Investigator (IOI) will be assigned to interview you. The IOI will call you and arrange a time to meet that works with both of your schedules. Ensure that your application information is correct and current. Be knowledgeable about federal, state, and local laws and requirements for your business. Make sure that your business premises, even if that's simply your home, meet ATF security regulations. The ATF requires that there be a lock on the entrance to your premises and a lock on the storage location of your firearms. While a gun safe isn't strictly necessary, it's a good idea to invest in one to make your application stronger.
Attend the interview at your business premises. The IOI will discuss federal, state, and local regulations in detail with you. The two of you will go through your application together to make sure that all the information in it is correct and current. The IOI will also inspect the premises of your business to ensure you meet safety standards for gun storage. The longest portion of the interview will likely be spent going over relevant laws and regulations. The IOI will prepare a report and make a recommendation to approve or deny the application.
Receive your FFL in the mail. If your application is approved, the FFLC will send your FFL to the premises of your business. You should get your FFL approximately 60 days after the ATF receives your completed application, though the process can sometimes take longer. Call the ATF for more information if it's taking a longer than usual amount of time to receive your license.
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