Make United States NY Gun License Photo Online

NY Gun License Photo Requirements

Photo Specs

Color, taken within 6 months
Size: 1.5 × 1.5 in (38 × 38 mm)
Head size: 0.75 – 1 in (19 - 25 mm) chin to crown
Plain white or off-white background

File Standards

High resolution (300 ppi)
File size: 600 KB – 5 MB
Formats: JPG, JPEG, PDF, TIF, BMP, PNG, GIF

Appearance

Face fully visible, centered, chest-up view
Neutral expression or slight natural smile, eyes open
No glasses (unless medically required with doctor’s note)
No hats, caps, or head coverings (religious/medical allowed with signed statement; face must remain clear)
No uniforms, camouflage, headphones or devices
Jewelry/piercings are fine if they don’t block features

How to Take a New York Firearm-License Photo

Stand or sit in front of a plain, uncluttered background. Position the camera at eye level and look directly into the lens.

Use soft, even lighting so that your entire face is visible. The photograph should be sharp, reproduce natural skin tones accurately and contain no strong shadows on your face or behind your head.

Keep your facial features unobstructed. Avoid tinted glasses, large accessories, headphones and headwear unless the applicable licensing authority permits an exception.

Do not use beauty filters or editing tools that change your facial structure, skin texture or identifying characteristics.

Common Photo Mistakes

A licensing photo may need to be replaced when:

It was taken outside the permitted time period
It does not show a full frontal view
The face is blurry, dark or partially hidden
Strong shadows cover facial features
The image no longer reflects the applicant’s current appearance
The print does not match the local size requirement
The wrong number of copies was submitted
A digital file does not meet the portal’s upload limits
Filters or retouching altered the applicant’s appearance
The applicant followed another county’s requirements

FAQ

How recent must a New York pistol-permit photo be?

The current New York State PPB-3 form states that the applicant’s photograph must have been taken within the previous 30 days. Local application packets may contain additional instructions.

What size is a New York gun-license photo?

There is no single size that applies to every licensing authority. Erie County currently requests a 2 × 2-inch photograph, while older NYPD handgun instructions specified 1.5 × 1.5 inches. Applicants should follow their current local instructions.

Is a New York gun-license photo the same as a passport photo?

A passport-style photograph may be suitable when it meets the size, recency and composition rules set by the applicant’s licensing authority. Do not assume that a standard 2 × 2-inch passport photo is accepted by every county.

Do I need a printed or digital photo?

It depends on the licensing authority. New York City firearm applications are submitted online, while some county application processes require a printed photograph attached to the application.

Can I take the photo with a phone?

A phone can be used to take the source image. The final photograph must still be clear, recent, properly composed and prepared in the size or file format required by the applicable licensing office.

Does the background have to be white?

The current statewide PPB-3 form does not specify a mandatory background color. Use a plain, uncluttered background unless your local application instructions require a particular color.

Can I wear glasses?

Use an image in which your eyes and facial features are fully visible. Follow any specific accessory restrictions displayed by the NYPD portal or included in your county’s application packet.