Permit to Purchase Portal (P2P)
The Permit to Purchase portal is coming soon. In the meantime, please review the information below.
Permit to Purchase Requirements
Washington law establishes the Permit to Purchase requirements and the firearm safety training standards that apply to permit applicants.
Permit to Purchase (P2P) Law
RCW 9.41.121WSP Certified Firearm Safety Training
RCW 43.43.575Training Requirements for P2P
RCW 9.41.1132(1)A person applying for a permit to purchase firearms must provide a certificate of completion of a certified firearm safety training program within the last five years that, at a minimum, includes instruction on:
- Basic firearms safety rules;
- Firearms and children, including secure gun storage and talking to children about gun safety;
- Firearms and suicide prevention;
- Secure gun storage to prevent unauthorized access and use;
- Safe handling of firearms;
- State and federal firearms laws, including prohibited firearms transfers and locations where firearms are prohibited;
- State laws pertaining to the use of deadly force for self-defense;
- Techniques for avoiding a criminal attack and how to manage a violent confrontation, including conflict resolution; and
- Live-fire shooting exercises on a firing range that include a demonstration by the applicant of the safe handling of, and shooting proficiency with, firearms.
Firearm Safety Training
A certified safety course is one of the steps to getting your permit — and you can take it whenever works for you, even before you apply.
Application Fees
The fees required to submit your firearm purchase permit application.
Includes $90.00 permit application and $36.00 fingerprint processing fee. NOTE: The agency conducting the fingerprinting may charge a nominal fee for taking prints.
Includes $90.00 permit application and $36.00 fingerprint processing fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Select a question to view the answer.
1. What is the Permit to Purchase?
Starting May 1, 2027, you will be required to obtain a permit to purchase or transfer a firearm in Washington State under RCW 9.41.121. The Permit to Purchase application will require a fingerprint-based background check and completion of a Washington State Patrol-certified firearms training safety course, unless the individual is exempt from the training requirement.
2. Is a separate Permit to Purchase required for each firearm transfer?
No, a Permit to Purchase is valid for 5 years and can be used for an unlimited number of firearms.
3. Where will I get the Permit to Purchase?
Once the system is ready, you will be able to apply for a Permit to Purchase via GetaPermitWA.org or mobile application. The Permit to Purchase application portal is currently in development. This webpage will update as soon as the portal becomes available. After submitting your application, you must pay the fee and visit your local law enforcement agency to be fingerprinted.
4. How long will it take to obtain a Permit to Purchase?
RCW 9.41.121(6) requires: The Washington state patrol firearms background check program shall issue a permit to purchase firearms to an eligible applicant, or deny the completed application, within 30 days of the date the completed application was filed, or within 60 days of when the completed application was filed if the applicant does not have a valid permanent Washington driver's license or Washington state identification card or has not been a resident of the state for the previous consecutive 90 days, unless additional time is necessary in order to obtain all required information and records needed for determining the applicant's eligibility for the permit.
5. Where are citizens expected to obtain fingerprints, and at what cost?
RCW 9.41.121(2)(b) requires applicants to submit a complete set of fingerprints taken by the local law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the applicant resides. Fees charged for fingerprint collection are established by the agency providing that service and may vary. WSP does not establish or control those fees (RCW 9.41.071).
6. What format is the permit card to be issued in?
The permit is planned to be available in a digital format through a mobile application (iOS and Android). Applicants will also have the option to print a paper copy.
7. How much will the Permit to Purchase cost?
An initial Permit to Purchase application will cost $126 ($90 permit fee and a $36 fingerprint processing fee). The law enforcement agency that takes the fingerprints may charge an additional fee.
Renewal of a Permit to Purchase will be $90.00 if renewed prior to expiration. Renewals submitted up to 90 days after expiration will incur an additional $25 late fee.
8. If I am denied, can I get a refund?
No, the Permit to Purchase application fee is not refundable for denials.
9. What are the different training requirements for Concealed Pistol License and Permit to Purchase applications? How long are they good for?
The training programs for both a Permit to Purchase and a concealed pistol license must be certified by the Washington State Patrol Firearms Background Division under RCW 43.43.575. The Concealed Pistol License safety training requires at least 50 rounds of live fire training and is valid for 5 years.
The Permit to Purchase safety training is also valid for 5 years and requires live fire training every 10 years.
RCW 9.41.1132 and 9.41.070(5)(a) outlines the specific requirements of the firearm safety training for Concealed Pistol Licenses and Permits to Purchase.
10. Will the Concealed Pistol License safety training requirement only be for new licenses issued after May 1st, 2027?
No. After May 1st, 2027, the completion of a Washington State Patrol certified firearms safety training program will be required for both new applications and renewals of existing Concealed Pistol Licenses.
11. Will training I’ve already taken be accepted for a CPL or a Permit to Purchase?
No. Starting May 1st, 2027, the training must be certified by WSP to be accepted for CPLs or Permits to Purchase.
12. Is it possible for one safety training curriculum to cover the requirements for both Concealed Pistol License and Permit to Purchase applications?
Yes. Concealed Pistol License training requirements, which include a minimum of 50 rounds of live fire, will always meet the requirements for Permit to Purchase. The safety training for a Concealed Pistol License just has a more specific number of live fire rounds.
13. Where do I go to complete my training?
The Washington State Patrol Firearms Background Division will provide a list of training providers with certified training on GetaPermitWA.org, including which level(s) of training these providers have available (coming soon).
14. What are the different levels of firearms safety training?
• Level 1: This meets the requirements under RCW 9.41.1132 and includes 50 rounds of live fire. Level 1 will meet the requirements for both Concealed Pistol Licenses and Permits to Purchase.
• Level 2: Meets the requirements of RCW 9.41.1132 and includes more than 1 and less than 50 rounds of live fire. Level 2 will meet the requirements for the Permit to Purchase only.
• Level 3: Meets the requirements of RCW 9.41.1132 but does not include live fire training. Level 3 will meet the requirements for the Permit to Purchase renewals only when live fire training has been completed within the past ten years.
15. Is anyone exempt from the certified safety training requirement?
Those exempt from the safety training after providing proper identification include:
- A general authority, limited authority, or specially commissioned Washington peace officer who carries a firearm as part of their normal duties
- Tribal Police Officers
- A federal peace officer who carries a firearm as part of their normal duties
- An active-duty member of the armed forces, National Guard or Army Reserves, who has completed satisfactory firearms training within the past 5 years
- Qualifying armed security guards licensed pursuant to RCW 18.170
- Qualifying armed private investigators licensed pursuant to RCW 18.165
16. Will those exempt from the training requirements for the Permit to Purchase also be exempt from the concealed pistol license training requirement?
Yes, those exempt from the training requirement for a Permit to Purchase are also exempt from the training requirements for a concealed pistol license as well.
17. Are law enforcement officers and others who are exempt from the safety training requirement still required to get a Permit to Purchase?
Yes, they are still required to get a Permit to Purchase if they wish to purchase off-duty firearms in Washington State. The exemption is only for the safety training requirement. They are still required to pay the application fee and get fingerprinted.
27 CFR 478.134 allows exemptions for law enforcement officers when the firearm is for duty use and they provide the firearm dealer with a certification on agency letterhead.
18. Why are separate background checks needed for a concealed pistol license, a Permit to Purchase, and firearm transfers?
The different background checks all serve different purposes.
- RCW 9.41.121 requires the Permit to Purchase application process to include a firearm background check
- RCW 9.41.113 requires a firearm background check to be completed at point of purchase or transfer with a licensed dealer. This is the current process today and is not replaced by a Permit to Purchase firearm background check
- RCW 9.41.070 requires firearm background checks to be conducted by your local law enforcement agency
19. What do you look at in my background?
As required by RCW 9.41.090(2) and 43.43.580(2)(b) we check federal and state criminal record systems including the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), Health Care Authority (HCA) records, Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) records, Law Enforcement Information Exchange (LInX- NW), and utilize other resources as appropriate.
20. What are the grounds for revoking someone's Permit to Purchase?
A Permit to Purchase will be revoked at any time that the permit holder becomes ineligible to possess firearms under state and/or federal law.
21. Will fingerprints be required for the renewal of your Permit to Purchase?
No, fingerprints will only be required for the initial application of a Permit.
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