Apply
A guided application that checks your eligibility, collects your documents, tracks references, and follows your status end to end.
For New Jersey permit holders
Know before
Know before
you go.
Apply for your New Jersey carry permit, keep it current, and check any place against a live, community-sourced map of where carry is restricted, posted, or permitted.
Free on iOS at launch — join the waitlist to be first in
Restricted
Posted
Permitted
One app, three jobs
Wherever you are in the process
From first-time applicant to everyday carrier — the Jersey Carry app follows the whole journey.
Renew
Reminders at 90, 30, and 7 days out, plus a two-year renewal flow that reuses everything already on file.
Carry
A crowd-sourced map of restricted, posted, and permitted locations — confirmed and kept current by permit holders like you.
First-time applicants
Read the full application guide
How to get a New Jersey permit to carry
New Jersey is now a "shall-issue" state: meet the objective requirements and you qualify. Here's the path, start to finish.
1
Get fingerprinted & establish your SBI number
If you've never applied for firearms in NJ, file an Initial Firearms ID application and get fingerprinted through IdentoGO. This assigns the SBI number the carry application requires.
2
Complete approved training
Take a state-recognized safe-handling, use-of-force, and live-fire qualification course. Your qualification must be current (within the last two years).
3
Line up four references
You'll need four reputable references who are not related to you, each with a valid email — the FARS system contacts them directly.
4
Apply online & pay
Submit through the NJSP Concealed Carry portal to the police department that covers your residence, upload your documents, and pay the state and municipal fees.
Cost & timeline
What it costs and how long it takes
Plan for the fees and the wait before you start — both vary by town.
~$200
Typical permit fees
($50 state + $150 town)
($50 state + $150 town)
60 days
Statutory decision
window after applying
window after applying
2 yrs
How long a permit
stays valid
stays valid
4
References required
(non-relatives)
(non-relatives)
Where the money goes
- Permit fee ~$200 — commonly $50 to the State via FARS and $150 to your municipality.
- Fingerprinting — a separate IdentoGO fee, first-time applicants only.
- Training course — priced by the range or instructor.
Fees and the liability-insurance requirement are being litigated, and some towns now rebate the municipal portion. Confirm current amounts with your police department.
A realistic timeline
- Week 1–2 — fingerprinting appointment and your training/qualification course.
- Week 2–3 — submit online; the state emails your four references.
- Up to 60 days — the law directs your chief of police or State Police to approve or deny.
Most applicants report roughly two to four months end to end, though it varies by department and time of year.
Sensitive places
A permit isn't a green light everywhere
Even with a valid permit, New Jersey bars carry in a long list of locations — and the list is changing in the courts.
Schools & school grounds
Courthouses & government buildings
Parks, beaches & playgrounds
Bars & places serving alcohol
Libraries & museums
Stadiums & entertainment venues
Health care facilities
Private property without consent
The list is in flux. New Jersey's sensitive-places rules (Chapter 131) are being challenged in Koons/Siegel v. Platkin. The Third Circuit vacated its September 2025 ruling and reheard the case en banc in 2026, so some categories may change. Always check the current status before you carry.
How the map stays accurate
Built by permit holders, for permit holders
Search a place
Look up any address or business to see its current carry status before you head out.
Confirm or dispute
Agree with a status or flag it when signage changes. The map updates from the crowd in real time.
Report new spots
Found a posted "no weapons" sign that isn't on the map? Add it in seconds for everyone.
Menlo Park Mall
Private property displaying a "no weapons" sign at each entrance.
Confirm · 38
Dispute · 2
Renewals
Never miss a renewal
New Jersey carry permits must be renewed every two years, filed through the same NJSP Concealed Carry portal with a current firearms qualification. Let the app watch the calendar for you.
- Reminders at 90, 30, and 7 days before expiry
- Alerts when your qualification is about to lapse
- A renewal flow that reuses your documents on file
Law-change alerts
The rules keep moving. We'll tell you when.
New Jersey's carry law is under active appeal. Get a short, plain-English email whenever a court ruling or statute changes what "sensitive places" means for permit holders.
Thanks — you're on the list. We'll email you when the law changes and when the app launches.
No spam. Only material legal changes. Unsubscribe anytime.
Questions
New Jersey carry permit FAQ
How do I get a permit to carry in New Jersey?
Get fingerprinted for firearms in NJ (this establishes your SBI number), complete a state-approved training and qualification course, line up four reputable non-relative references, then apply online through the NJSP Concealed Carry portal to the police department that covers your residence. Pay the state and municipal fees and complete the background check. See the full guide →
How long does a NJ carry permit take?
New Jersey law directs your chief of police or the State Police to approve or deny within 60 days of a completed application. In practice most applicants wait roughly two to four months once fingerprinting, training, and reference checks are included, and times vary by department.
How much does it cost?
The permit fee is set by statute — commonly about $200 total, typically $50 paid to the State through FARS and $150 to your municipality — plus a first-time IdentoGO fingerprinting fee and the cost of a training course. Some towns rebate the local portion, and parts of the fee are being litigated.
Where can't I carry, even with a permit?
New Jersey bars carry in a long list of "sensitive places" — schools, courthouses, government buildings, parks, beaches, playgrounds, libraries, museums, bars and places serving alcohol, casinos, stadiums, entertainment venues, health care facilities, and private property without the owner's consent. The exact list is being actively litigated. See the sensitive-places guide →
How often do I renew?
New Jersey carry permits must be renewed every two years, filed through the same NJSP Concealed Carry portal, and you'll need a current firearms qualification.
Does NJ honor other states' permits? Can I open carry?
No on both counts. New Jersey does not recognize carry permits from any other state, and open carry is not allowed — a permit authorizes concealed carry only. Non-residents may apply to New Jersey directly but must meet the same standards and training.
Carry with confidence.
Jersey Carry is coming to the App Store — apply, renew, and check the map, all in one place, built for New Jersey.
Thanks — you're on the list. We'll email you the day Jersey Carry launches.
Free to download at launch. No spam — one email when the app is live. Unsubscribe anytime.
Informational only. NJ Permit to Carry is not legal advice and the map is community-sourced. Laws change and signage varies — always confirm posted notices in person and follow current New Jersey law before you carry.