To get a California Firearm Shipment Approval Letter, the shipping federally licensed firearms dealer enrolls in the California Firearms Licensee Check (CFLC) system and requests a verification number from the Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms. The online portal returns the approval instantly, runs 24 hours a day, and charges no fees at any stage.
What the Letter Is and Why California Requires One
California Penal Code 27555 prohibits any FFL from shipping a firearm to a California-based FFL without first obtaining a verification approval number from the DOJ.1California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 27555 When the shipper requests a number, the DOJ checks whether the intended California recipient appears on one of three state-maintained centralized lists: licensed firearms dealers, exempted federal firearms licensees, or licensed firearms manufacturers. If the recipient checks out, the DOJ issues a Firearm Shipment Approval Letter with a unique verification number. If not, the DOJ returns a Do Not Ship response and the shipment cannot proceed.
Each transaction gets its own number, though a single number can cover multiple firearms in the same shipment.1California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 27555 The requirement applies to every FFL-to-FFL shipment into or within California, including transfers at gun shows.2State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. California Firearms Licensee Check System
Who Has to Get the Approval
The obligation falls on the FFL doing the shipping. Not the California dealer receiving the firearm, and not the individual buyer. It applies to interstate shipments from out-of-state dealers, transfers between two California FFLs, returns after manufacturer repairs, and any other scenario where one FFL sends a firearm to another in California.3State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. California Firearms Licensee Check Program Frequently Asked Questions
Type 03 (curio and relic collector) and Type 06 (ammunition dealer) FFLs are exempt from the CFLC verification requirement and cannot enroll in the system.3State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. California Firearms Licensee Check Program Frequently Asked Questions Every other FFL type has to go through it.
If you are not an FFL, you do not use the CFLC system yourself. Federal law generally requires non-licensees to use an FFL to ship firearms across state lines, and once you arrange for a dealer to handle the shipment, that dealer bears responsibility for obtaining the California verification number before sending the firearm.3State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. California Firearms Licensee Check Program Frequently Asked Questions
Step 1: Enroll in the CFLC System
Before requesting a single number, the shipping FFL has to enroll in the CFLC program. You cannot submit a request or use the online portal without completing enrollment first.2State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. California Firearms Licensee Check System
The fastest path is online. Visit the CFLC portal, select the enrollment link, and fill in your business name, FFL number and expiration date, address, contact information, and a primary contact person. The system validates your FFL number, then you confirm your details, accept the program terms, and create a password.4California Department of Justice. CFLC User Manual FFLs without internet access can enroll by mailing or faxing a CFLC Enrollment Application; after approval, the DOJ sends a letter with a dedicated phone and fax number for future requests.3State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. California Firearms Licensee Check Program Frequently Asked Questions Enrollment is free, and there are no recurring fees for using the system.
Step 2: Gather the Information You’ll Need
Whether you go online or use the paper form (BOF 08-300), the request needs the same core information:5California Department of Justice. California Firearms Licensee Check (CFLC) Firearms Shipment Approval Letter Request Form
- Your CFLC logon ID and password from enrollment.
- The recipient’s five-digit Centralized List number. Every authorized California FFL has one. If you don’t have it, ask the receiving dealer directly before starting.
- The number of handguns and long guns in the shipment.
- Your invoice number, for tracking.
- Your FFL number and contact information.
All fields are mandatory, and an incomplete submission will not be processed.5California Department of Justice. California Firearms Licensee Check (CFLC) Firearms Shipment Approval Letter Request Form The most common trip-up is entering the wrong Centralized List number, which triggers a Do Not Ship response even when the receiving dealer is perfectly legitimate.
Step 3: Submit the Request
You have two paths and the speed difference is significant.
The online CFLC portal runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and returns an instant response. Log in, enter the shipment details, and the system checks the recipient against the DOJ’s centralized lists immediately. If approved, you can print the Firearm Shipment Approval Letter on the spot.2State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. California Firearms Licensee Check System
If you cannot use the online system, submit the BOF 08-300 form by mail, fax, or email to the Bureau of Firearms Centralized List Unit, or call (916) 210-2750. These methods are processed only during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time.2State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. California Firearms Licensee Check System The DOJ faxes or emails the approval letter back. The statute provides these alternate methods for out-of-state FFLs without internet access and for situations where the online system is having technical problems.1California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 27555
What the DOJ Sends Back
You get one of two responses. If the intended recipient is on one of the three authorized centralized lists, the DOJ issues a Firearm Shipment Approval Letter containing the unique verification number. If the recipient is not found or not authorized, you receive a Do Not Ship notice. Don’t send the firearms. Contact the intended recipient to verify you have the correct Centralized List number, and resubmit.4California Department of Justice. CFLC User Manual
A wrong Centralized List number is by far the most common cause of a Do Not Ship result. Double-check that five-digit number before assuming the receiving dealer has a problem.
Step 4: Ship With the Letter Included
Print the approval letter, put one copy in the shipment box with the firearm, and keep a copy for your records.4California Department of Justice. CFLC User Manual The statute requires the shipping FFL to provide the unique verification number to the recipient along with the firearm upon delivery.1California Legislative Information. California Penal Code 27555 The receiving California FFL needs it as part of their transaction records.
What the Letter Does Not Do
The approval letter gets the firearm into the hands of the California dealer. It does not complete the transfer to the individual buyer. The receiving FFL still has to process a Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) for the final recipient, which starts the mandatory 10-day waiting period and triggers a background check through the DOJ.6State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Firearms Dealer FAQs The person picking up the firearm also needs a valid Firearm Safety Certificate unless they qualify for one of the statutory exemptions.7State of California – Department of Justice – Office of the Attorney General. Firearm Safety Certificate Frequently Asked Questions If you are arranging a shipment for an eventual purchase, plan for the 10-day wait on top of shipping time.