Federal Firearm Rights Restoration Services

For years, federal law has permanently barred certain people from possessing firearms with almost no path back. That changed in August 2026, when the U.S. Department of Justice launched Federal Firearm Rights Restoration (FFRR). 

It’s a new nationwide process under 18 U.S.C. 925(c) that lets eligible people petition the Attorney General to restore their federal firearm rights.

What Is Federal Firearm Rights Restoration?

FFRR is a new application process run by the DOJ’s Office of the Pardon Attorney. It allows people federally prohibited from possessing firearms under 18 U.S.C. 922(g) to apply for restoration of those rights. 

The program is rolling out in stages throughout 2026:

• An initial invitation period
• Public application windows that gradually expand the number of people who can apply

A $30 application fee applies once the later stages begin.

Does FFRR Restore State or Tribal Firearm Rights?

FFRR restores your federal firearm rights. Depending on where you live, it may restore your state rights too. Residents in the following states may see their state firearm rights automatically restored alongside a successful federal petition:

• Arkansas
• Iowa
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Oregon
• Vermont
• Washington
• Wisconsin

FFRR doesn’t restore tribal firearm rights. If a tribal disability applies to you, you’ll need to check with the relevant tribal authority separately.

Illinois residents don’t get that same automatic effect. You’ll likely still need a separate FOID card or concealed carry appeal, even after a successful federal petition.

Who Can Apply for FFRR?

You may be eligible for FFRR if you’re federally prohibited from possessing firearms for one or more of these reasons:

• Felony conviction
• Fugitive status
• Unlawful drug use
• Certain mental health-related adjudications or commitments
• Certain immigration statuses
• Dishonorable military discharge
• Renunciation of U.S. citizenship
• Qualifying domestic violence court order
• Misdemeanor domestic violence conviction

A single conviction or status on this list doesn’t disqualify you from applying. However, it may affect your odds, depending on how recent or severe it was.

About Presumptive Disqualifiers and FFRR

Not every FFRR applicant will get their firearm rights back. The DOJ has identified categories of prior convictions and statuses that create a presumption of denial unless you can show extraordinary circumstances.

These presumptive disqualifiers fall into five categories:

• Current status. You’re currently incarcerated, awaiting sentences, a fugitive, an unlawful drug user, unlawfully in the country or subject to a similar ongoing disqualifying condition.
• Permanent. You’ve been convicted of a serious violent felony, such as one involving death, sexual assault, kidnapping or terrorism. Alternatively, you’ve been convicted of any felony where you used or fired a gun or used an explosive.
• 10-year. You were convicted of or served a sentence for certain other felonies (including drug trafficking or firearm-related offenses) or a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction within the past 10 years.
• 5-year. You were convicted of or served a sentence for any other felony or a qualifying violent misdemeanor within the past 5 years.
• Reapplication. Your prior FFRR application was denied based on a permanent disqualifier or for another reason within the past 5 years.

You must disclose every qualifying conviction or status, even ones that courts later expunged, pardoned or set aside. Experienced counsel is crucial to understanding whether a presumptive disqualifier applies to your case and what counts as an extraordinary circumstance.

How the FFRR Application Process Works

The FFRR process runs in three stages:

1. Prepare to apply. Confirm you’re eligible. Check whether any presumptive disqualifiers apply to your history, and gather the documents your application needs. These include court records or mental health documentation, depending on your case.
2. Complete the application. Submit the online application, along with the $30 fee. Once you start, you’ll have 30 days to finish it, or you’ll need to start over; have everything ready beforehand. You must complete electronic fingerprints and provide character references.
3. Wait for a decision. Restoration specialists may follow up with additional questions while your application is under review. Responding quickly and completely is paramount because incomplete responses can delay or jeopardize your case.

A presumptive disqualifier you didn’t catch, a document you submitted incorrectly or a follow-up request you answered in the wrong way can all sink an otherwise-strong application. 

Work with an attorney who’s handled these types of cases before. They’ll help you avoid missteps from the start.

Why Work With Williams & Nickl?

Fred Nickl and Bill Cisar bring more than 41 years of combined experience handling Illinois firearm rights appeals. That includes FOID card denials and concealed carry license disputes.

We know how disqualifying convictions, mental health history and administrative procedure intersect. Those are the same factors that drive your FFRR eligibility.

As this federal path becomes available, we’re fully prepared to help clients across the country navigate it.

Ready To Restore Your Federal Firearm Rights?

Contact Williams & Nickl online or call 312-335-9470 to schedule a free, confidential 1-hour consultation. We’ll examine your unique situation, guide you through the FFRR application process and offer sound counsel.

Browse our testimonials and case results to see how we’ve helped clients like you regain their Second Amendment rights.