frequently asked questions

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 U.S. citizens or permanent residents over the age of 21 who have not been otherwise federally prohibited from purchasing, possessing, owning, or transferring firearms. You must maintain a residence or place of business in the State of New York and must apply in the county in which you reside. 

 Eligible applicants must complete an approved Handgun Safety Course and fill out the state and county application forms. With the forms, you must provide 4 character references, a recent 2”x2” photo, copies of a government-issued ID and social security card, certificates of disposition resulting from any and all police interaction, a course completion certificate, and fingerprints. the state application form must also be sworn by a Notary Public.

When the application is submitted, both you and your references will undergo background investigations and interviews at the local, state, and federal level. Upon completion of the investigation and interviews, The county licensing officer will approve or deny your application, and you will be notified by mail or email.

 The Approval Process will follow these 6 basic steps, which will represent the email alerts you will get if you provide a valid email address on your application:

• The application is recorded and pending the Police agency investigation. (Prepared for Police)
• The application is with the Police agency for investigation. (Under Investigation)
• The application is with the Erie County Clerk's Office.  (Investigation Completed)
• The application is with the Licensing Officer for review.  (Under Review)
• The application is with the Erie County Clerk's Office for processing.  (Review Completed)
• The approval/denial letter gets created and sent.  (Application Completed)

 Here is a breakdown of the fees and expenses you can expect to incur throughout your application process:

• DCJ PERMITS Pistol Permit Course: $300
• Fingerprints: $102
• Application Processing Fee: $20
• Photographs: $10-$20
• Certificates of Disposition: $5/each
• You may also incur fees for copying documents, notarizing documents, etc.

 The entire process generally takes 6-10 months from taking the safety course to receiving approval. This timeframe can be reduced by completing your application forms a gathering all required paperwork In a timely manner, as well as choosing reliable and responsive character references. It is recommended that fingerprinting is completed as the last step before submission of the application, because they are only valid for 30 days. 

Fingerprints must be submitted at an IdentoGo location. You can make an appointment on their website - https://uenroll.identogo.com/workflows/151Z1G  or by calling 1-877-472-6915 (Service Code 151Z1G).

Failure to use this code will result in the applicant needing to be re-fingerprinted under the correct service code.

 In Erie County, your character references must reside in the county, may not be members of your family or intimate partners, and may not be employees of the County Sheriff’s Office. 

In Amherst and East Aurora, at least 2 of your 4 references must live in those towns. Other counties may have different restrictions.

It is advisable to choose references of good moral character, who will be responsive to calls from investigators. References with criminal history may delay your application. Your references do not need to be permit holders, although it is recommended if possible.

Complete and current application packets are provided in class. Should you need to print another packet, they can be found by visiting https://www4.erie.gov/clerk/pistol-permit-application-process

 I provide everything that’s required for the class. I only ask that you remain attentive and ask any questions you have regarding firearms. 

 Visit: https://gunsafety.ny.gov/