⁠NYC (NYPD) Special Carry Guide

A concealed carry license from a New York county (for example Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland or Orange) is good for the whole State of New York except New York City. New York law says a county license is not valid in the city unless the NYPD Police Commissioner issues a special permit (Penal Law § 400.00(6)). That permit is the NYPD Special Carry License.

The Special Carry is a second license on top of your county license. It is a full NYPD application with its own documents, fees, fingerprinting and interview. It is valid only while your county carry license is valid: if the county license is revoked, suspended or cancelled, the Special Carry is void and must be returned to the NYPD right away.

NYPD portal notice: The NYPD licensing portal says applications left "In Progress" had to be submitted by Oct 16, 2026. Submitted applications and active licenses are not affected. New applications can start once the new system is available. The steps below describe the previous portal and may change.

Checked Nov 2, 2026 from the official pages: NYPD new application instructions, the ⁠NYPD Required Documents Checklist (PDF), the ⁠NYC rule 38 RCNY Chapter 5, as amended December 2022 (PDF) and the New York State gun safety FAQ.

Scan everything before you start, so it is ready to upload. This list is from the ⁠NYPD Required Documents Checklist (PDF). You must bring the originals to the NYPD when you are called in.

For all applicants:

• Photo ID: state driver's license, non-driver ID or passport.

• Proof of date of birth: birth certificate, U.S. passport or U.S. military record.

• Social Security card.

• Proof of citizenship or lawful U.S. residence (passport, naturalization documents or green card).

• Proof of residence: a current utility bill (electric, gas, landline or cable/internet), or a current lease or co-op/condo ownership papers with a signed New York State income tax return at the same address.

• DMV Lifetime Abstract (NYS DMV driving record abstract). The NYC (NYPD) Concealed Carry Guide shows how to get it.

• Affidavit of Co-Habitant, notarized, one for every person over 18 who lives with you.

• Acknowledgment of Person Agreeing to Safeguard Firearms, completed by that person, with a copy of their photo ID.

• Affirmation of Understanding of NYS Penal Law Article 35, Article 265 and Article 400.

• Proof of name change, if any. All other firearm licenses you hold (including your county license).

• If they apply to you: papers for every arrest or summons (certificate of disposition and a written statement), domestic incident statements, orders of protection, and military discharge papers (DD 214).

Added for the Special Carry:

• Proof of completing the state-approved concealed carry training, taught by a duly authorized instructor (the checklist says "16-hr"; the state course is 16 hours of classroom plus 2 hours of live fire).

• Two additional notarized character reference letters, for four in total.

• The front and back of your active New York State county license.

The NYC rule asks for one recent color photo (square, 600x600 to 1200x1200 pixels, chest up). The NYPD forms are on the portal, and blank copies with a reference letter to copy are in the NYC (NYPD) Concealed Carry Guide and its Reference Letter Sample.

1. Go to the NYPD licensing portal and register an account with your email address.

2. Choose Special Carry as the type of license.

3. Complete the application and upload your documents in the fields the portal shows. Documents without their own field can be added after you submit: click "Submitted", then your application number.

4. Pay the $340 application fee. Use a desktop or laptop computer for the payment page; it may not work on a phone or tablet.

5. Click "Finalize and Submit". After that you can only upload more documents.

The NYC (NYPD) Concealed Carry Guide walks through the application screens and the questions that need a statement. If you have, or ever had, a license from the NYPD License Division, the NYPD asks you to call 646-610-5551 before registering.

• Once your application is submitted, your confirmation email includes a link to schedule your fingerprinting appointment, with instructions.

• Bring the originals of every document you uploaded, and your county license.

• All visits to the License Division are by appointment only, and only the applicant is let in.

• Details of the appointment are in the NYC (NYPD) Concealed Carry Guide, Step 4: Fingerprinting.

NYC rule 38 RCNY 5-03 requires carry and Special license applicants to meet in person with a licensing officer. The NYPD schedules the interview after your application and documents have been reviewed, and tells you then if anything else is needed. See the NYC (NYPD) Concealed Carry Guide, Step 5: The Interview for the interview questionnaire.

• The NYPD says you will receive a letter about approval within about six months of receiving your complete application.

• Once approved, carry both licenses, your county license and the Special Carry, whenever you carry a handgun under it (38 RCNY 5-01(d)).

• The Special Carry stays valid only while your county carry license is valid. If the county license is revoked, suspended, cancelled or surrendered, the Special Carry is void and must be returned to the License Division immediately.

• The NYPD license term is three years. The NYPD sends renewal instructions by letter; see the NYC (NYPD) Concealed Carry Renewal Guide.

• Waiting more than six months? See Stalled Application? A Letter That Works.

A Special Carry does not let you carry in New York's sensitive locations (Penal Law § 265.01-e), which include Times Square and public transit, including the subway, among many others. See Sensitive Locations in New York.

These rules, and the rule that a county license is not valid in New York City, are challenged in Frey v. City of New York (formerly Frey v. Nigrelli). On September 19, 2025, the Second Circuit declined to block them while the case goes on (NY Attorney General statement on the decision), so they are still the law today.

2A613 offers White Glove Services for the NYPD Special Carry License: we prepare your documents and application with you and guide you step by step. ⁠Request White Glove Services.

NYPD License Division
One Police Plaza, Room 110A, New York, NY
Handgun Section: 646-610-5560
Visits by appointment only.

For more information click here⁠

Don't have a county license yet? See our county guides: Nassau County, NY, Rockland County, NY and Orange County, NY. Live in New York City? See the NYC (NYPD) Concealed Carry Guide. Live outside New York State? See the NYC (NYPD) Concealed Carry Guide (Live Outside New York?).