How to Get an FFL 03 and COE (California Guide)

Quick answer: An 03 FFL is the ATF’s Collector of Curios and Relics license. You apply on ATF Form 7CR, the fee is $30 for three years, there are no fingerprints, photos or inspection, and ATF says processing takes about 60 days. On its own it’s a collector’s license; it doesn’t let you deal in guns. Californians pair it with a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) from the state DOJ ($71 to start, $22 a year to renew) because the two together exempt you from the state’s rule that ammo bought online must ship to a licensed vendor. With both, ammo can ship to your door.

03 FFL + COE at a Glance

Fees and timelines from ATF’s “Apply for a License” page, 27 CFR 478.42 and 478.49, and the California DOJ Certificate of Eligibility page, checked October 2026. Agencies change fees and processing times, so confirm before you apply.

What Is an 03 FFL (Curio and Relic License)?

The Type 03 Federal Firearms License lets a collector acquire firearms classified as curios or relics (C&R) for a personal collection, including having them shipped across state lines to the address on the license. Under federal rules, a firearm is a curio or relic if it was made at least 50 years ago (not a replica), if a museum curator certifies it as a curio or relic of museum interest, or if most of its value comes from being novel, rare or tied to a historical figure, period or event.

What it is not: it’s not a dealer’s license, and it doesn’t cover modern firearms. You also have to keep a bound record of the C&R firearms you acquire and dispose of under the license. Federal law doesn’t require any license to buy ammunition, so outside California the ammo benefit is mainly that some retailers offer discounts to license holders.

Why Californians Pair the 03 FFL With a COE

Since 2018, California law requires ammunition sales to go through a licensed ammunition vendor in a face-to-face transaction. You can still order ammo online, but it has to ship to a licensed vendor, who processes the sale and hands it over (California Penal Code 30312(a)–(b)).

Penal Code 30312(c)(6) exempts a federally licensed collector whose licensed premises are in California and who holds a current COE. That’s why the pair matters: with both, online ammo orders can ship directly to you instead of to a vendor.

The COE itself is the DOJ’s certificate that it checked its records and found you’re not prohibited from having firearms. It’s valid for one year and has to be renewed every year.

How to Get an 03 FFL: Step by Step

1. Check eligibility. Federal law requires applicants to be at least 21 and not prohibited from possessing firearms. You need a premises, normally your home, where you keep your collection.
2. Get ATF Form 7CR. It’s the collector’s version of the FFL application (ATF Form 7/7CR), available on ATF’s website.
3. Fill it out with your personal details and the address where your collection will be kept.
4. Notify your local chief law enforcement officer. Federal law requires applicants to send a copy of the notification to the local chief law enforcement officer, such as your police chief or sheriff. It’s a notice, not a request for permission.
5. Mail the form with the $30 fee to the ATF address on the form. ATF accepts check, money order or credit card, not cash.
6. Wait about 60 days. For Type 03, ATF doesn’t review fingerprints or photographs and doesn’t do an onsite inspection.

How to Get a California COE: Step by Step

1. Get fingerprinted by Live Scan. Take a completed Request for Live Scan Service form (BCIA 8016) to a Live Scan station. The $71 COE fee is collected there, and the station may charge its own rolling fee. You’ll get an ATI number.
2. Apply on CFARS. Create an account at the California Firearms Application Reporting System (cfars.doj.ca.gov) and submit the COE application with your ATI number. DOJ no longer accepts mailed COE applications.
3. Wait. DOJ says processing can take 6 to 8 weeks. Once approved, you can download your COE from CFARS.
4. Renew every year on CFARS for $22. You can renew up to 60 days before it expires; renewals don’t need new fingerprints. If you let it lapse more than 90 days, you have to apply from scratch.

Buying Ammo Online With an 03 FFL + COE in California

• Most online ammo retailers that ship to Californians ask for copies of both your 03 FFL and your current COE before they’ll ship to your home. Each has its own upload process, so check their California policy.
• The address on your license is where your collection is kept; read each retailer’s rules on where they’ll ship.
• Keep both documents current. An expired COE ends the exemption.
• Your county or city may have its own rules; check them before you order.

Other California Benefits for 03 + COE Holders

• No 10-day wait on curio or relic firearms bought from a dealer, if you’re a licensed collector with a current COE (Penal Code 26970). The dealer still reports the transaction to DOJ.
• Bringing in a C&R firearm you acquired out of state: a California-based licensed collector must report it to DOJ within five days of bringing it into the state (Penal Code 27565).

California firearm law changes often and is regularly in court, so check current law or ask a California firearms attorney before relying on any exemption.

Renewing and Moving

• 03 FFL: the license runs three years. Renew before it expires so you don’t have a gap; a lapsed license also ends your California ammo exemption.
• Moving: the license is tied to the address where your collection is kept, so contact ATF’s Federal Firearms Licensing Center before you move.
• COE: renew yearly on CFARS, up to 60 days before expiration.

Quick Answers

How much does an 03 FFL cost?
$30 for three years, which is $10 a year under federal regulations.

How long does an 03 FFL take?
ATF says about 60 days from receiving a properly completed application.

Does the 03 FFL application need fingerprints?
No. ATF reviews fingerprints and photographs for every license type except Type 03.

Do I need a COE to buy ammo online in California?
No, but without the 03 FFL + COE exemption, online ammo must ship to a licensed ammunition vendor who processes the sale. With both, it can ship directly to you.

How much is a COE in California?
$71 for the first application (collected at Live Scan) and $22 for each yearly renewal.

Can I sell guns with an 03 FFL?
No. It’s a collector’s license; dealing in firearms requires a dealer’s license.

Written by the Cloudster Pillow team. This is general information, not legal advice. Sources: ATF (“Apply for a License”; Form 7/7CR), 18 U.S.C. 923, 27 CFR 478.11, 478.42 and 478.49, California DOJ (Certificate of Eligibility), and California Penal Code 26970, 27565 and 30312, checked October 2026.

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