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FIREARMS APPLICATIONS

Firearms Unit

The Firearms Investigation Unit is charged with administering the state firearms control laws and is required to promulgate standards and qualifications for the manufacture and sale of firearms. The unit develops forms for distribution to firearms dealers, police departments and superior courts while acting as a central repository of firearms information relating to the acquisition of firearms in New Jersey.

 

The Firearms Investigation Unit has absolute responsibility to investigate applicants for a New Jersey license to retail, wholesale and manufacture firearms and to investigate employees who will actively engage in the sale or purchase of firearms. Each dealer, by statute, is required to keep a record of the acquisition and disposition of firearms. Unit detectives periodically inspect these records to assure that the dealer is complying with existing statutes, as well as regulations promulgated pursuant to these statutes.

FIREARMS PURCHASES

All firearms applications for residents of Palisades Park are handled through the Police Department Records Bureau.  In order to obtain a firearm, you must meet eligibility requirements and comply with the statutes which govern firearms purchases in the state of New Jersey.

 

~Additional firearms information is available at the NJ State Police website.

APPLICATION PROCESS CHANGES

The New Jersey State Police (NJSP) has made major changes to the process for applying for a Permit to Carry, Firearms Identification Card, and Permits to Purchase over the past several years.  The NJSP has migrated all FID/Permit to Purchase applicants from paper to the Firearms Application and Registration System (FARS) electronic portal after October 1, 2020, and for all Permits to Carry as of August 1, 2023.

 

~Anyone that has applied after the implantation of FARS will be issued documents via their email that can be printed out.  Applicants will only need to come to police headquarters to provide payment for the type of firearms documents they are applying for unless otherwise requested.  

 

~The previously issued yellow Firearms Purchaser Identification Cards are still valid and are still accepted at all NJ Licensed Firearms Dealers and do not have to be replaced at this time.

FIREARMS PURCHASER IDENTIFICATION CARD (e-fid)

Applicants that apply for an Initial Card, a Replacement Card (Lost, Stolen, Mutilated), Change of Address, Change of Name, or Change of Sex will receive an email from NJ Firearms System-NJ Portal (NJ State Police) advising that your application was approved.  In the email will be a link to download the E-FID and an Access Key that allows you to download the E-FID Card.  The Electronic Firearms Purchaser Identification Card will be available to download for one year from the date of issue.  Please ensure that you print and save a copy for your records.  If you do not download the E-FID card within the year you will need to apply for a replacement ID Card which will result in additional application fees on the FARS Site and an additional background investigation by the Palisades Park Police as required by NJ State Law.

PERMIT TO PURCHASE A HANDGUN (e-permit)

When an application is approved, the applicant will receive an email from NJ Firearms System-NJ Portal (NJ State Police) advising of the approval of the Permits to Purchase Handguns.  The email will not contain the actual E-PERMIT.  It just advises the applicant that the E-PERMIT has been approved.  The actual E-PERMIT is contained on the NJ State Police FARS Site and can be activated by any NJ Licensed Firearms Dealer at time of purchase.  E-PERMITS have the same expiration period as the former paper permits (90 days from date of approval, with a renewal period of an additional 90 days).  Once 180 days have passed since the E-PERMIT was issued, the E-PERMIT is no longer valid and cannot be renewed.

PERMIT TO CARRY a Handgun

As of August 1, 2023 all PERMITS TO CARRY will be handled through the FARS portal.  The applicant will follow the directions of the portal to complete and submit the necessary documents required by law.  Upon approval the applicant will receive an email from NJ Firearms System-NJ Portal (NJ State Police) advising that your application was approved.  The email will also contain a link to download the Permit to Carry and an Access Key that allows you to download it.  The Permit to Carry ID will be available to download for one year from the date of issue.  Please ensure that you print and save a copy for your records.  If you do not download the Permit to Carry ID within the year you will need to apply for a replacement ID Card which will result in additional application fees on the FARS Site and an additional background investigation by the Palisades Park Police as required by NJ State Law.

Important
Notes:

  • Please advise your references that the FARS system will e-mail them the reference questions to be answered. Your references can complete the questions using a smartphone, mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer. Please advise them to complete the questions immediately to progress your background investigation.

  • The online application is applicant-driven. Please ensure that you have entered the best phone numbers and e-mail addresses for yourself and your references. Although your Social Security number is not mandatory, the application process will be delayed without it.

  • If you have resided outside of NJ in the past 10 years, you must complete Form 66, Consent for Mental Health Records Search.

  • NOTE: The Firearms Application process is ever changing and it is the responsibility of the applicant to keep up to date on the laws.

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If you need guidance with the application process or have questions, please contact Ptl. Michael Debartolo at MDebartolo90@pppdnj.org

If you need guidance with the online F.A.R.S. system, contact the New Jersey e-Government

Services Help Desk Phone: 609-586-2600.
Contact the Palisades Park Police Firearms Unit: Firearms@pppdnj.org

Unit Head: Patrolman Michael DeBartolo #90 MDebartolo90@pppdnj.org

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