Georgia (United States) - Obtain Firearms License

ProcedureEdit

You may apply to obtain a Firearms License at a probate court.
At the probate court, you will need to present an official form of identification, your payment and a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
Submit your application along with your fingerprints.
For both applications to obtain a firearms license and requests for license renewals, the judge of the probate court shall within 5 days following the receipt of the application or request shall direct the law enforcement agency to request a fingerprint based criminal history records check from the Georgia Crime Information Center and Federal Bureau of Investigation for purposes of determining the suitability of the applicant and return an appropriate report to the judge of the probate court. The judge of the probate court shall also within 5 five days following the receipt of the application or request will direct the law enforcement agency to conduct a background check using the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Instant Criminal Background Check System and return an appropriate report to the probate judge.
The law enforcement agency shall report to the judge of the probate court within 30 days, by telephone and in writing, any findings relating to the applicant which may affect his/her eligibility to obtain a firearms license or renew their license. When no derogatory information is found on the applicant bearing on his or her eligibility to obtain a license or renewal license, a report shall not be required. The law enforcement agency shall return the application and the blank license form with the fingerprint thereon directly to the judge of the probate court within such time period. Not later than ten days after the judge of the probate court receives the report from the law enforcement agency concerning the suitability of the applicant for a license, the judge of the probate court shall issue such applicant a license or renewal license to carry any weapon unless facts establishing ineligibility have been reported or unless the judge determines such applicant has not met all the qualifications, is not of good moral character, or has failed to comply with any of the requirements contained in this Code section. The judge of the probate court shall date stamp the report from the law enforcement agency to show the date on which the report was received by the judge of the probate court.

Notes:

County probate judges may restrict state residents with criminal records from getting licenses.
For applicants who have been in a mental hospital or a drug treatment center within the last five years, must ask their county probate court judge to approve their license application. The judge will seek a recommendation from the superintendent of the applicant's hospital or treatment center, and then determine whether it's safe for the applicant to carry a gun.

Temporary renewal of licenses

Holders of Firearms License may renew their license temporarily if less than 90 days remain before expiration of the license or the previous license has expired within the last 30 days.

Applications for Temporary renewal of licenses are submitted at the Local County Probate Court.

Unless the judge of the probate court knows or is made aware of any fact which would make the applicant ineligible for a five-year renewal license, the judge shall at the time of application shall issue a temporary renewal license to the applicant.

Required DocumentsEdit

To obtain a firearms license:

Georgia driver's license, Georgia State ID card, or voter's registration card with current address; Foreign nationals must have INS resident card. If you are a naturalized US citizen, you should bring your naturalization papers
Payment for the issuance of the license, please contact your local probate court for accepted forms of payment and the amounts.
A self-addressed, stamped envelope.

To apply for temporary renewal of the license:

Georgia driver's license, Georgia State ID card, or voter's registration card with current address; Foreign nationals must have INS resident card. If you are a naturalized US citizen, you should bring your naturalization papers
Payment for the issuance of the license, please contact your local probate court for accepted forms of payment and the amounts
A self-addressed, stamped enveloped.

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

Search For Your County Probate Court

EligibilityEdit

Firearms Licenses are issued to state residents aged 21 and older.

No weapons carry license shall be issued to:

(A) Any person under 21 years of age;

(B) Any person who has been convicted of a felony by a court of this state or any other state; by a court of the United States including its territories, possessions, and dominions; or by a court of any foreign nation and has not been pardoned for such felony by the President of the United States, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, or the person or agency empowered to grant pardons under the constitution or laws of such state or nation;

(C) Any person against whom proceedings are pending for any felony;

(D) Any person who is a fugitive from justice;

(E) Any person who is prohibited from possessing or shipping a firearm in interstate commerce pursuant to subsections (g) and (n) of 18 U.S.C. Section 922;

(F) Any person who has been convicted of an offense arising out of the unlawful manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance or other dangerous drug;

(G)Any person who has had his or her weapons carry license revoked pursuant to subsection (e) of this Code section;

(H) Any person who has been convicted of any of the following:

Pointing a gun or a pistol at another in violation of Code Section 16-11-102;
Carrying a weapon without a weapons carry license in violation of Code Section 16-11-126; or
Carrying a weapon or long gun in an unauthorized location in violation of Code Section 16-11-127 and has not been free of all restraint or supervision in connection therewith and free of any other conviction for at least five years immediately preceding the date of the application;

(I) Any person who has been convicted of any misdemeanor involving the use or possession of a controlled substance and has not been free of all restraint or supervision in connection therewith or free of:

A second conviction of any misdemeanor involving the use or possession of a controlled substance; or
Any conviction under sub paragraphs (E) through (G) of this paragraph for at least five years immediately preceding the date of the application; or

(J) Any person who has been hospitalized as an inpatient in any mental hospital or alcohol or drug treatment center within the five years immediately preceding the application. The judge of the probate court may require any applicant to sign a waiver authorizing any mental hospital or treatment center to inform the judge whether or not the applicant has been an inpatient in any such facility in the last five years and authorizing the superintendent of such facility to make to the judge a recommendation regarding whether the applicant is a threat to the safety of others and whether a license to carry a weapon should be issued. When such a waiver is required by the judge, the applicant shall pay a fee of $3.00 for reimbursement of the cost of making such a report by the mental health hospital, alcohol or drug treatment center, or the Department of Behavioural Health and Developmental Disabilities, which the judge shall remit to the hospital, center, or department. The judge shall keep any such hospitalization or treatment information confidential. It shall be at the discretion of the judge, considering the circumstances surrounding the hospitalization and the recommendation of the superintendent of the hospital or treatment center where the individual was a patient, to issue the weapons carry license or renewal license.

FeesEdit

Average fee for licensing and fingerprinting: $75.00

Note: Costs may vary depending on the county where the application was submitted. Please contact your local probate court for more details.

ValidityEdit

A Firearms License is valid for 5 years.

Note: At least two months before your license expires, you should go to court to apply for renewal.

Documents to UseEdit

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Sample DocumentsEdit

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Processing TimeEdit

It will take about 30 days for the law enforcement to finish its background check and determine whether you can receive a license or not.

InstructionsEdit

Firearms Licenses are issued by the County probate courts.

Required InformationEdit

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e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the DocumentEdit

Following are procedures on how you can obtain a Firearms License in the state of Georgia.

Information which might helpEdit

Georgia share firearms license reciprocity with the following states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi,

External LinksEdit

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OthersEdit

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