Pennsylvania law directly references the federal firearm rights restoration process — which makes the Department of Justice’s newly reopened program under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) especially relevant here. This page explains how Pennsylvania’s own restoration statute works, where it connects to federal relief, and what to expect from the federal application.

How Pennsylvania’s own restoration process works — and where it points to federal law

Pennsylvania’s firearm disability statute (18 Pa.C.S. § 6105) bars possession for a list of disqualifying convictions — violent and weapons felonies, drug felonies carrying more than two years, repeat DUI, domestic violence offenses, and more. To get relief, you petition the court of common pleas in your county, and under § 6105(d), the court is only required to grant relief if one of three things is true:

1. the conviction was vacated, or
2. you received a full pardon from the Governor, or
3. you’ve already obtained federal relief under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c), and 10 years have passed since your most recent conviction (not counting time incarcerated).

Notably, Pennsylvania law has also allowed courts to waive that third requirement when the federal program wasn’t funded or operational — which was the case for over three decades. Now that DOJ has reopened the federal process, that waiver provision becomes less relevant, and the direct route — actually obtaining federal relief — is back on the table as a real, usable path for the first time in a generation.

How the federal relief process works

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney (not ATF, which handled this previously) now runs the federal program. Here’s the published process:

1. Start the online application — once submitted, you’ll get a QR code by email.
2. Get fingerprinted at a participating U.S. Post Office, but only after you have that QR code.
3. Complete the full application within 30 days of starting it, or you’ll have to start over.
4. Pay the $30 filing fee, plus separate fingerprinting and records fees that vary by location.

DOJ has said it will open applications to the first 5,000 people, first-come first-served, starting November 4, 2026, following an initial 500-application test of the payment system. Given more than 30 years of pent-up demand, those slots are expected to go fast — which is why preparing your documentation now, before the window opens, is worth doing.

Who this applies to in Pennsylvania

This federal process is open to anyone barred from firearm possession under the federal Gun Control Act — whether the disqualifying conviction is a Pennsylvania felony, a federal felony, or from another state. A few Pennsylvania-specific notes:

• If your disqualifying conviction is one of Pennsylvania’s three DUI-within-5-years cases, state law gives you an easier path — a straight 10-year lookback with no pardon or federal relief required — so check whether that simpler route applies before assuming you need the federal process.
• A full gubernatorial pardon can resolve your Pennsylvania-law issue on its own, but it doesn’t automatically resolve a separate federal disability if the underlying or another conviction is federal.
• Pennsylvania pardons only cover Pennsylvania convictions — if you have an out-of-state or federal conviction, the state pardon route isn’t available to you at all, which makes federal relief (or vacatur) your primary option.
• If your disqualification stems from a mental-health commitment rather than a conviction, DOJ generally wants state relief pursued first where it’s available.

What we help with

We help you figure out whether you’re likely eligible for federal relief, pull together the documentation DOJ will expect, and prepare a complete application — including, where relevant, the kind of record that will support a Pennsylvania § 6105(d) court petition once you have your federal grant in hand. For cases involving multiple convictions, an out-of-state or federal record, or anything that looks borderline, we can also point you to an attorney for a second opinion before you file.

Frequently asked questions

Does Pennsylvania’s “program not funded” waiver still apply now that DOJ has reopened it?
That waiver exists specifically for situations where the federal program isn’t operating. Now that applications are reopening, courts are likely to expect petitioners to actually pursue federal relief rather than rely on the waiver — so if you’re relying on § 6105(d)(3)(i), it’s worth having an attorney confirm how courts are currently applying it before you file.

I have a felony DUI — do I still need federal relief?
Possibly not. Pennsylvania’s three-DUI disability has its own simpler restoration path (a straight 10-year lookback) that doesn’t require a pardon or federal relief. Other disqualifying offenses under § 6105(c) generally do require one of the three routes above.

When does the federal application open?
DOJ’s published timeline is November 4, 2026, capped at the first 5,000 applicants, first-come first-served.

What’s the cost?
DOJ lists a $30 federal filing fee, plus separate fingerprinting and records fees that vary by jurisdiction.

This page is general information about a federal legal process, not legal advice. Pennsylvania and federal firearm law both involve fact-specific exceptions, so we recommend having your specific situation reviewed by a licensed attorney before relying on anything here or taking action.