NJ CCW Permit Information & Qualification Process
Basic steps required to obtain a New Jersey Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) permit:
1.) Identification and Citizenship; New Jersey Firearms ID (FID) Card
You must supply proof of identification and citizenship (driver's license and birth certificate / passport / naturalization paperwork / green card).
Your driver's license address MUST match your FID card address.
2.) Pistol Ownership
You must use a pistol owned by you and be able to provide proof of ownership in your name to qualify. Ownership can be a purchase receipt or permit to purchase or a notarized letter of ownership listing the make, model, and serial number of the handgun(s).
We do not recommend more than three guns (per session) and they must be the ones you are planning to carry. These firearms will be listed on your qualification form with serial numbers and those are the only specific firearms you can legally carry once your permit is approved by the New Jersey State Police (you may qualify with additional handguns later and add them to your permit on file with the State Police).
3.) Fingerprinting
All applicants must be fingerprinted for initial and renewal applications. Applicants can visit IdentoGO to schedule an appointment. When scheduling, the applicant must provide the investigating agencies ORI# (contact your local PD for a number), a fingerprint service code, and a contributors case number (Use the applicants last name, month, day, and year of application).
Fingerprint results MUST be received within ninety (90) days of application.
4.) NJ CCW Qualification
The Heritage Guild provides the NJ Retired Officers Qualification, which has met this training condition for over a decade. We recommend this qualification for the NJ CCW Permit.
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In the range, you will be required to demonstrate safety, familiarity, and accuracy of firearms. It is pass or fail. Upon successful completion, you will be given a letter to submit with your application.
- No holster needed.
- All shooting from the ready position.
- Standard FBI-Q Target.
- For a total of 50 rounds per firearm. Must hit at least 40 rounds out of 50 (80%). Firing is in five round strings from 1 to 25 yards (most rounds fired at 7 yards).
Qualification MUST be within six (6) months of application and MUST also be obtained from a certified firearms instructor. The written certification MUST include the instructor's name and certification number, make, model, caliber, and serial number of handgun(s).
5.) Complete the NJ Permit to Carry application and submit with qualifications and certifications.
These are the State of NJ PDF files and the forms can be filled out on your computer:
Residents that have a local police department MUST apply there. Submit the entire completed carry package to your town's PD in one batch.
You MUST renew your NJ CCW every two years.
Federal law prohibits anyone with a medicinal or recreational marijuana card from applying for a NJ CCW permit.
ATTORNEY GENERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT DIRECTIVE NO. 2022-07
I. Implementation of New Jersey Carry Permit Requirements:
A. Review of Applications. In reviewing an individual's application for a permit to carry, the applicable law enforcement agency shall continue to ensure that the applicant satisfies all of the criteria of N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4d and N.J.A.C. 13:54-2.4, except that the applicant need not submit a written certification of justifiable need to carry a handgun.
1. Statutory Prohibitions. The agency shall not approve a permit if the applicant is subject to any of the disabilities set forth at N.J.S.A. 2C:58-3(c)(1)-(11) that would prevent them from obtaining a permit to purchase a handgun or a firearms purchaser identification card.
2. Background Checks. The agency shall not approve a permit unless it confirms that the applicant is qualified to carry. The application must, among other things, "be endorsed by three reputable persons who have known the applicant for at least three years preceding the date of application, and who shall also certify thereon that the applicant is a person of good moral character and behavior."
3. Firearms Familiarity. The agency shall not approve a permit unless the applicant demonstrates "that he is thoroughly familiar with the safe handling and use of handguns," in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:54-2.4(b).
B. New Jersey State Policy Regulations. State law assigns to the Superintendent of the State Police the authority to implement the statutory requirements for carry permits. See N.J.S.A. Page 3 2C:58-4. All law enforcement agencies reviewing applications for carry permits shall continue to abide by the regulations issued by the New Jersey State Police, including any amendments adopted on an expedited basis pursuant to N.J.S.A. 52:14B-4(b).
Full Text of the NJ AG DIRECTIVE