How to Apply for a Curios & Relics License (Type 03): Step by Step
A Type 03 Collector of Curios and Relics license costs $30 for three years and takes a few evenings of paperwork. This guide walks through the application as the ATF describes it, what happens after you mail it, and the mistakes that stall approvals. For what the license lets you buy, see our complete C&R license guide; for which guns qualify, see what counts as a curio or relic.
Reviewed against ATF.gov and 27 CFR Part 478 in October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Forms, fees and procedures change; confirm them with the ATF before you file.
Who can apply
Anyone who is legally allowed to possess firearms under federal law can apply. Federal law bars certain people, including felons, fugitives, unlawful drug users and people convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors, from holding a license, and the ATF runs a background check on you before it issues one. You must also be at least 21 years old. Check your state and local rules separately: a federal license does not override them, and a few jurisdictions restrict or prohibit the firearms a collector might want to acquire.
What the license does and does not allow
The Type 03 license applies only to acquiring, holding and disposing of firearms that qualify as curios or relics under 27 CFR 478.11. With it you can acquire qualifying curios and relics in any state and bring them back to your state of residence, including by shipment directly to you.
The ATF is explicit that a collector's license does not authorize you to engage in the business of dealing in firearms, even when the firearms are curios and relics. It also does not cover modern firearms: a gun that does not meet the definition is acquired the ordinary way, through a licensed dealer, with a Form 4473 and a background check. Treat the license as a collecting tool, not a way to buy and resell.
Step 1: Get the current form
The application is ATF Form 7/7CR, "Application for Federal Firearms License." Download it from ATF.gov rather than from a third-party site, because the form and its instructions are revised periodically and a superseded version can be rejected. Read the ATF's Form 7/7CR instructions before you fill anything in.
Step 2: Complete Part A and the responsible person questionnaire
For a personal collector's license you are the applicant and also the "responsible person." Part A covers who you are, the license type (Type 03, collector of curios and relics), and the address where you will keep and conduct your collecting activity. Part B is the responsible person questionnaire; each responsible person completes and signs their own.
The ATF's application instructions note that a photograph is not required for Type 03 applicants. Follow the current Form 7/7CR instructions for any other attachments, such as fingerprints, since they control over any summary written here.
Answer every question truthfully. A false statement on a federal firearms application is itself a federal offense, and an omission is a common reason for delay or denial.
Step 3: Pay the fee
The Type 03 fee is $30, and it covers a three-year license. Renewal is also $30 every three years. The ATF accepts payment by check, credit or debit card, or money order, and does not accept cash. If no license is issued, the fee is returned. An incorrect or missing fee delays issuance.
Step 4: Send the application to the ATF
Mail the completed application, fee and attachments to the address printed on the current form. Keep a complete copy of everything you send. The ATF's licensing center handles questions about pending applications at 1-866-662-2750 or FFLC@atf.gov.
Step 5: The ATF review and background check
After it receives your application, the ATF reviews it, conducts a background check on the responsible person, and may contact you for clarification. Processing times vary and the ATF publishes its own estimates, so use those rather than any figure quoted elsewhere. Do not buy a curio or relic as a licensee until you hold the license in hand.
Step 6: After you are licensed
When the license arrives, check that your name, address and license type are correct. Then:
- Give a copy of your license to the seller or shipper of each curio or relic you order, so they can ship to you under your license.
- Start your acquisition and disposition record before your first purchase. The rules are covered in our guide to C&R record-keeping, inspections and shipping.
- Keep track of your expiration date. Renew before the license lapses. A lapsed license means you are no longer authorized to acquire curios and relics as a licensee.
- Notify the ATF of an address change as its regulations require.
Mistakes that stall approvals
An incomplete form, a wrong fee, an outdated form version, a missing signature, and an address that does not match your other records account for most delays. If you recently moved, make sure the address on the application is one where you will actually keep and make available your records.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a C&R license? $30 for three years, with a $30 renewal, per the ATF.
Do I need a storefront? No. The Type 03 license is for personal collecting and does not authorize you to operate a business.
Can I buy any old gun with it? Only guns that qualify as curios or relics. Everything else goes through the normal dealer process.
Does it override my state's laws? No. State and local law still apply to what you can own and how you receive it.