FFL License Types (2026): Which Federal Firearms License Do You Need?
Dealer, manufacturer, importer, collector—pick the wrong FFL type and you’re building your business on quicksand.
Here’s the clean breakdown of every active FFL type, what it allows, what it doesn’t, and how to choose.
Educational resource only. Your business model + state/local law + zoning + compliance history matters. If you want a decision you can defend, ask us.
On This Page
How many FFL license types are there?
ATF recognizes nine active Federal Firearms License (FFL) types used across the firearms industry: 01, 02, 03, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11.
Think of an FFL as your “permissions slip” for what kind of firearms activity you’re allowed to conduct under the Gun Control Act: dealing, pawn brokering, manufacturing, importing, or collecting.
FFL Categories
Dealer FFLs
Types: 01, 02, 09
Built for selling (and in some cases gunsmithing or pawn activity).
Manufacturer FFLs
Types: 06, 07, 10
Built for making. Type 07/10 also support sales consistent with license scope.
Importer FFLs
Types: 08, 11
Built for bringing product into the U.S. (within scope).
Collector FFL
Type: 03
Collecting only—does not authorize “engaging in the business.”
FFL License Types at a Glance
Quick Reality Check
An FFL is not a carry permit, and it’s not a “get guns wholesale” hack. It’s a regulated business license with recordkeeping, inspections, and real consequences.
Dealers
Any person engaged in the business of selling firearms at wholesale or retail; repairing firearms or fitting barrels, stocks, or trigger mechanisms to firearms (gunsmiths); or a pawnbroker (taking or receiving firearms by pledge or pawn as security for the payment or repayment of money). Reference 27 CFR 478.11.
Note: No license is required for dealing ammunition only.
Type
Name
With This License, You Can:
Type 01
Dealer in Firearms Other than Destructive Devices (Includes Gunsmiths)
- Sell firearms at wholesale or retail.
- Repair firearms or make or fit special barrels, stocks, or trigger mechanisms to firearms.
- Occasionally import firearms. Reference 27 CFR 478.113.
Application Fee: $200
Renewal (Every Three Years): $90
Type 02
Pawnbroker in Firearms Other than Destructive Devices
- Take or receive, by way of pledge or pawn, firearms as security for the payment or repayment of money. Reference 27 CFR 478.113.
- Occasionally import firearms.
Application Fee: $200
Renewal (Every Three Years): $90
Type 09
Dealer in Destructive Devices
- Sell firearms, including destructive devices, at wholesale or retail.
- Occasionally import firearms. Reference 27 CFR 478.113.
Application Fee: $3,000
Renewal (Every Three Years): $3,000
Manufacturers
Any person engaged in the business of manufacturing firearms or ammunition by devoting time, attention, and labor to manufacturing firearms or ammunition as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of livelihood and profit through the sale or distribution of the firearms or ammunition manufactured. Reference 27 CFR 478.11
Note: A licensed firearms manufacturer is not required to also obtain a Type 06 ammunition manufacturer’s license to manufacture ammunition at the licensed premises, nor a Type 01 dealer’s license to sell the same type of firearms authorized by the manufacturer’s license at the licensed premises. A manufacturer of firearms may not, however, import firearms, except for occasional importation as provided in 27 CFR 478.113.
Type
Name
With This License, You Can:
Type 06
Manufacturer of Ammunition for Firearms Other than Ammunition for Destructive Devices or Armor Piercing Ammunition
- Manufacture ammunition for firearms other than destructive devices or armor piercing ammunition.
Application Fee: $30
Renewal (Every Three Years): $30
Type 07
Manufacturer of Firearms Other than Destructive Devices or Armor Piercing Ammunition
- Manufacture firearms other than destructive devices, and ammunition for firearms other than destructive devices.
- Sell firearms other than destructive devices at wholesale or retail.
- Occasionally import firearms. Reference 27 CFR 478.113.
Application Fee: $150
Renewal (Every Three Years): $150
Type 10
Manufacturer of Destructive Devices, Ammunition for Destructive Devices or Armor Piercing Ammunition
- Manufacture firearms, including destructive devices.
- Manufacture ammunition for firearms, including destructive devices, as well as armor piercing ammunition.
- Sell firearms, including destructive devices, ammunition for destructive devices, and armor piercing ammunition.
- Occasionally import firearms. Reference 27 CFR 478.113.
Application Fee: $3,000
Renewal (Every Three Years): $3,000
Importers
Any person engaged in the business of importing or bringing firearms or ammunition into the United States for sale or distribution. Reference 27 CFR 478.11.
Note: A licensed firearms importer is not required to also apply for a license as a dealer in firearms to sell the same type of firearms authorized to be imported by the importer’s license. However, an importer may not manufacture firearms without obtaining a separate manufacturer’s license.
Type
Name
With This License, You Can:
Type 08
Importer of Firearms Other than Destructive Devices or Ammunition for Firearms Other than Destructive Devices, or Ammunition Other than Armor Piercing Ammunition
- Import firearms other than destructive devices and ammunition other than for destructive devices, and non-armor piercing ammunition.
- Sell the same type of firearms and ammunition authorized to be imported at wholesale or retail.
Application Fee: $150
Renewal (Every Three Years): $150
Type 11
Importer of Destructive Devices, Ammunition for Destructive Devices or Armor Piercing Ammunition
- Import firearms, including destructive devices, and ammunition, including ammunition for destructive devices and armor piercing ammunition.
- Sell firearms, including destructive devices, and ammunition, including ammunition for destructive devices and armor piercing ammunition at wholesale or retail.
Application Fee: $3,000
Renewal (Every Three Years): $3,000
Collectors
Any person who acquires, holds or disposes of firearms as curios or relics. Reference 27 CFR 478.11.
Note: This license allows you to acquire curio and relic firearms in interstate commerce; to transfer, sell, or deliver curio and relic firearms to another licensee who is a resident of any state; and to transfer curio and relic firearms to another licensee at a qualifying gun show or event in a state other than the collector’s state of residence. A collector’s license does not authorize a collector to engage in the business of dealing in firearms, even when those firearms are curios and relics.
Type
Name
With This License, You Can:
Type 03
Collector of Curios and Relics
- Acquire curios and relics in any state and transport or bring those curios and relics back to the collector’s state of residence.
- Sell, trade, or transfer curios and relics to residents of the collector’s state, as well as a licensee who does not reside in the collector’s state of residence.
Application Fee: $30
Renewal (Every Three Years): $30
FFL + SOT: When NFA Enters the Chat
Want to deal in, manufacture, or import NFA items? The FFL is step one.
The next layer is becoming a Special Occupational Taxpayer (SOT) for the activity you’re doing.
That’s why “Class 3 license” is sloppy shorthand—it’s a tax status layered on top of the right FFL.
SOT Classes in Plain Terms
- Class 1: Importer
- Class 2: Manufacturer
- Class 3: Dealer
FFLGuard Tip
The “right” structure is about more than forms—your premises, zoning, responsible persons, and workflows must match the license you’re requesting.
FFL Fees & Renewal
Most FFLs are issued for a 3-year term and must be renewed. Below are the fees ATF publishes by license type.
Type
Application Fee
Renewal Fee
Type 01
$200
$90
Type 02
$200
$90
Type 03
$30
$30
Type 06
$30
$30
Type 07
$150
$150
Type 08
$150
$150
Type 09
$3,000
$3,000
Type 10
$3,000
$3,000
Type 11
$3,000
$3,000
License type descriptions reflect ATF’s published FFL information.
FFL Type Details
Application fee: $200
Renewal (Every three years): $90
With this license, you can:
- Sell firearms at wholesale or retail.
- Repair firearms or make or fit special barrels, stocks, or trigger mechanisms to firearms.
- Occasionally import firearms. Reference 27 CFR 478.113.
Note: No license is required for dealing ammunition only.
Application fee: $200
Renewal (Every three years): $90
With this license, you can:
- Take or receive, by way of pledge or pawn, firearms as security for the payment or repayment of money. Reference 27 CFR 478.113.
- Occasionally import firearms.
Note: No license is required for dealing ammunition only.
Application fee: $30
Renewal (Every three years): $30
With this license, you can:
- Acquire curios and relics in any state and transport or bring those curios and relics back to the collector’s state of residence.
- Sell, trade, or transfer curios and relics to residents of the collector’s state, as well as a licensee who does not reside in the collector’s state of residence.
Note: This license allows you to acquire curio and relic firearms in interstate commerce; to transfer, sell, or deliver curio and relic firearms to another licensee who is a resident of any state; and to transfer curio and relic firearms to another licensee at a qualifying gun show or event in a state other than the collector’s state of residence. A collector’s license does not authorize a collector to engage in the business of dealing in firearms, even when those firearms are curios and relics.
Any person who acquires, holds or disposes of firearms as curios or relics. Reference 27 CFR 478.11.
Application fee: $30
Renewal (Every three years): $30
With this license, you can:
- Manufacture ammunition for firearms other than destructive devices or armor piercing ammunition.
Note: A licensed firearms manufacturer is not required to also obtain a Type 06 ammunition manufacturer’s license to manufacture ammunition at the licensed premises, nor a Type 01 dealer’s license to sell the same type of firearms authorized by the manufacturer’s license at the licensed premises. A manufacturer of firearms may not, however, import firearms, except for occasional importation as provided in 27 CFR 478.113.
Application fee: $150
Renewal (Every three years): $150
With this license, you can:
- Manufacture firearms other than destructive devices, and ammunition for firearms other than destructive devices.
- Sell firearms other than destructive devices at wholesale or retail.
- Occasionally import firearms. Reference 27 CFR 478.113.
Note: A licensed firearms manufacturer is not required to also obtain a Type 06 ammunition manufacturer’s license to manufacture ammunition at the licensed premises, nor a Type 01 dealer’s license to sell the same type of firearms authorized by the manufacturer’s license at the licensed premises. A manufacturer of firearms may not, however, import firearms, except for occasional importation as provided in 27 CFR 478.113.
Application fee: $150
Renewal (Every three years): $150
With this license, you can:
- Import firearms other than destructive devices and ammunition other than for destructive devices, and non-armor piercing ammunition.
- Sell the same type of firearms and ammunition authorized to be imported at wholesale or retail.
Note: A licensed firearms importer is not required to also apply for a license as a dealer in firearms to sell the same type of firearms authorized to be imported by the importer’s license. However, an importer may not manufacture firearms without obtaining a separate manufacturer’s license.
Application fee: $3,000
Renewal (Every three years): $3,000
With this license, you can:
- Sell firearms, including destructive devices, at wholesale or retail.
- Occasionally import firearms. Reference 27 CFR 478.113.
Note: No license is required for dealing ammunition only.
Application fee: $3,000
Renewal (Every three years): $3,000
With this license, you can:
- Manufacture firearms, including destructive devices.
- Manufacture ammunition for firearms, including destructive devices, as well as armor piercing ammunition.
- Sell firearms, including destructive devices, ammunition for destructive devices, and armor piercing ammunition.
- Occasionally import firearms. Reference 27 CFR 478.113.
Note: A licensed firearms manufacturer is not required to also obtain a Type 06 ammunition manufacturer’s license to manufacture ammunition at the licensed premises, nor a Type 01 dealer’s license to sell the same type of firearms authorized by the manufacturer’s license at the licensed premises. A manufacturer of firearms may not, however, import firearms, except for occasional importation as provided in 27 CFR 478.113.
Application fee: $3,000
Renewal (Every three years): $3,000
With this license, you can:
- Import firearms, including destructive devices, and ammunition, including ammunition for destructive devices and armor piercing ammunition.
- Sell firearms, including destructive devices, and ammunition, including ammunition for destructive devices and armor piercing ammunition at wholesale or retail.
Note: A licensed firearms importer is not required to also apply for a license as a dealer in firearms to sell the same type of firearms authorized to be imported by the importer’s license. However, an importer may not manufacture firearms without obtaining a separate manufacturer’s license.
FAQs
No. An FFL is a federal license for specific firearms activities.
Generally every 3 years, depending on type.
If you’re dealing in, manufacturing, or importing NFA items as a licensee, you generally need the appropriate SOT status.
No—ATF explains it doesn’t authorize engaging in the business of dealing.
2026 Active FFL Counts (By Type + Top States)
As of January 12, 2026, ATF’s “Report of Active Firearms Licenses” shows 127,077 active firearms licenses nationwide.
Active FFLs by Type
Type
Count
Type 01
45,474
Type 02
5,887
Type 03
49,881
Type 06
1,706
Type 07
21,500
Type 08
1,661
Type 09
140
Type 10
526
Type 11
302
Top States by Total Active FFLs (Jan 12, 2026)
State
Count
California
12,077
Texas
10,399
Florida
7,011
Pennsylvania
5,826
Illinois
3,941
Massachusetts
3,808
Virginia
3,683
Missouri
3,638
Michigan
3,590
Arizona
3,431