Federal — no licence required
Country: United States · Minimum age 18 · No fee · Indefinite
Eligibility & requirements
Most adults can buy long guns from an FFL at 18 and handguns at 21 with a passing NICS background check. No permit is required at federal level. State permits-to-purchase apply in HI, IL, IA, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, RI.
- 18+ for long guns
- 21+ for handguns from a dealer
- No felony or domestic-violence convictions
- US citizen or qualifying resident alien
What you can own under this licence
| Firearm class | Status | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Handguns | Permitted | 21+ from a dealer; some states require permit-to-purchase |
| Rifles and shotguns | Permitted | 18+ from a dealer |
| Semi-automatic rifle | Permitted | where state permits |
| Suppressor | Permitted | $200 NFA tax stamp + ATF Form 4 wait |
| Fully-automatic firearm | Not permitted | |
| Ammunition | Permitted | 18+ rifle/shotgun, 21+ handgun ammo from a dealer |
Sources
General information only — confirm with your local firearms registry before applying.