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Federal Firearm Rights Restoration

Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Final Decision and Next Steps

You will receive an email notification to retrieve your decision letter from the portal. It is your responsibility to make sure your email address is up-to-date and monitored. 

Grant

A grant means that the Attorney General (or designee) has reviewed your application and,  based on the information you provided and the investigation performed by PARDON, has determined that restoring your federal firearms rights is not likely to endanger the public such that it is consistent with the public interest.

What happens after a grant?

  • The FBI will update the NICS system. You may also be issued a special number called an RPIN that you can use when seeking to purchase a firearm.
  • A restoration of your federal firearms rights may not alleviate state prohibitions on firearms handling. The Federal Firearm Rights Restoration (FFRR) program cannot remove a state firearm rights prohibition. Contact law enforcement in your state to learn more. 
  • Your name and the date of the grant will be published in the Federal Register.

Denial

A denial means that the Attorney General (or designee) has reviewed your application and, based on the information you included and the investigation performed by PARDON, has been unable to determine that restoring your federal firearm rights is not likely to endanger the public such that is consistent with the public interest.  

What happens after a denial?

  • You may seek judicial review in the United States district court where you reside.
  • You can reapply, usually after a waiting period, for FFRR.
  • Based on the reason for denial, you might have a new presumptive disqualifier.

Indeterminate

Indeterminate means there was not enough information to grant or deny your application.

What happens after an indeterminate decision?

  • If you can obtain additional information to support your application, you can begin the FFRR application process again. Please note, applications submitted after an indeterminate finding should include enough additional information to avoid future indeterminate findings. 

No Action

No action means that your application was closed without a decision. This is an administrative action and may occur if you request to withdraw your application; if you die before a decision has been made; if you fail to respond to PARDON inquiries; or other administratively necessary reasons.

What happens after your application is closed for "no action?"

  • You can begin the FFRR application process again.


 

Updated August 17, 2026