Federal Gun Rights Restoration
The DOJ’s federal gun rights restoration program is open again after more than 30 years. We guide you through preparing and filing your own federal application under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) — correctly, completely, and without paying a law firm thousands of dollars.
What Is Federal Gun Rights Restoration?
Federal gun rights restoration is the legal process of asking the U.S. Department of Justice to lift a federal firearms prohibition under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) — commonly called “relief from disabilities.” For more than three decades, this program existed on paper but could not actually be used, because Congress blocked the ATF from spending any money to process applications. In 2025 and 2026, the Department of Justice rebuilt the program from the ground up and reopened it directly under the Attorney General.
If you lost your right to own a firearm because of a felony conviction, certain misdemeanors, a past mental health commitment, a dishonorable military discharge, or renouncing U.S. citizenship, federal gun rights restoration may be the only way to legally own a firearm again under federal law — even if your state has already restored your rights.
How the DOJ Federal Gun Rights Restoration Program Works
Unlike a state pardon or expungement, this is a direct federal petition. Here is what the Department of Justice actually looks at, and how the rollout is working:
- Discretionary relief, not automatic. You must show the Attorney General you are not likely to act in a way dangerous to public safety, and that restoring your rights is not contrary to the public interest.
- Staged rollout. DOJ is opening the program in phases: inviting early candidates first, then opening the online application to the public, with a modest filing fee (around $30, waivable for financial hardship) once the program reaches full capacity.
- Waiting periods apply. Most non-violent cases face a presumed 5-year wait after completing your sentence; convictions involving violence generally require 10 years of a clean record after supervision ends.
- Heavy documentation. DOJ expects certified court records, a criminal history report from every state you have lived in since age 18 (or the last 25 years), three sworn character references, and — depending on your case — military, mental health, or immigration records.
One Mistake Can Get Your Application Rejected
DOJ gives you 30 days to fix an incomplete application before it is treated as abandoned — not denied, just gone, with no refund and no guarantee of your place in line. The most common reasons applications stall are not complicated legal arguments. They are missing certified records, incomplete criminal history reports, character references who do not meet DOJ’s requirements, or forms filled out for the wrong type of prohibition. That is exactly what our package is built to prevent.
Your Federal Gun Rights Restoration Package
You do not need to spend thousands of dollars on an attorney to file a straightforward federal application correctly. Our Restoration Package walks you through the entire DOJ process step by step, built specifically around the 2026 rules.
- A plain-English, step-by-step walkthrough of the entire 925(c) application
- Your personalized document checklist, based on your specific type of prohibition
- State-by-state instructions for pulling your criminal history records
- Ready-to-use character reference letter templates that meet DOJ’s requirements
- A pre-submission review checklist so you catch problems before DOJ does
- Guidance on what to do if DOJ flags your application as incomplete
Complex case, or a conviction on DOJ’s presumptive-denial list? We can refer those to an independent, licensed attorney who handles federal relief cases on a separate track — see below.
Do You Qualify for Federal Gun Rights Restoration?
You may be a good fit for self-filing if:
- Non-violent felony conviction, sentence fully completed
- A past mental health commitment that has been resolved, with current documentation
- A dishonorable military discharge
- Renounced U.S. citizenship
- Certain misdemeanor convictions
Your case likely needs an attorney if:
- Your conviction involved violence, a sexual offense, domestic violence, or trafficking
- You are currently on probation, parole, or supervised release
- DOJ has denied a previous application of yours
- You are a fugitive or have an active protective order against you
Package or Attorney? Here’s the Honest Answer
Most federal gun rights restoration cases are paperwork problems, not legal arguments — which is exactly what our package is designed to solve, at a fraction of attorney pricing. If DOJ’s rules put your conviction in a presumptive-denial category, or you have already been denied once, that is a different situation, and we can refer you to an independent, licensed attorney who handles federal relief cases specifically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Federal gun rights restoration is the process of petitioning the U.S. Department of Justice under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) to remove a federal firearms prohibition. It is separate from any state-level restoration, pardon, or expungement.
Yes. After being unfunded for more than 30 years, DOJ reopened the federal relief-from-disabilities program in 2026. It is rolling out in stages, starting with invited candidates, then a public online application.
DOJ’s own filing fee is modest, expected to be around $30, with a waiver available for financial hardship. That is separate from the cost of preparing your application correctly, which is what our package helps with.
It depends on your conviction. Most non-violent cases face a presumed 5-year wait after completing your sentence; violence-related convictions generally require 10 years of a clean record after supervision ends. DOJ has not published a standard decision timeline once an application is submitted.
Not automatically. Federal restoration lifts the federal prohibition only. If your state has its own separate firearms restriction, you would still need to resolve that under state law.
DOJ will notify you of what is missing, and you generally have 30 days to fix it. If you do not, the application is treated as abandoned rather than denied, which is why getting it right the first time matters.
Not necessarily. Many applicants have straightforward, non-violent cases that do not require legal representation, just careful, correct paperwork, which is exactly what our package walks you through. More complex cases, including anything on DOJ’s presumptive-denial list, are better handled with an attorney, and we can connect you with one.
Most people prohibited from owning a firearm under federal law can apply, including those with a non-violent federal or state felony conviction, certain misdemeanors, a resolved past mental health commitment, or a dishonorable military discharge. Cases involving violence, an active supervised release, or a prior denial generally need an attorney rather than self-filing.
State restoration (like a pardon, expungement, or a state-level program such as Florida’s RCRF) only affects your state-law firearm rights. Federal restoration under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) is a separate petition to the DOJ that addresses the federal prohibition, and clearing one does not automatically clear the other.
Start Your Federal Gun Rights Restoration Today
Get instant access to your complete restoration package, or talk to us first about your specific situation.
This site is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Our restoration package provides educational, self-help materials to guide you through the DOJ’s federal application process. Outcomes are determined solely by the Department of Justice and are never guaranteed. For complex cases, we can refer you to an independent, licensed attorney. Read our Privacy Policy for details on how we handle your information.