The applicant must:

• Be at least 21 years of age (this rule does not apply if the applicant has been honorably discharged from the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, or the National Guard of New York.)
• Be of good moral character
• Have no prior conviction for a felony or other serious offense, as defined in Section 265 of Penal Law
• Not be a fugitive
• Not be an unlawful user or addicted to any controlled substance defined in section 21 U.S.C. 802
• Not be illegally or unlawfully residing in the United States.
• Not admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa, subject to the exception in 18 U.S.C. 922(y)(2)
• Not have been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions
• Not have renounced their United States Citizenship
• Disclose any history of mental illness
• Be free from any mental disorders, defects, or diseases that would impair their ability to safely possess or use a firearm.
• Not have been involuntarily committed to a facility under the jurisdiction of an office of the Department of Mental Hygiene pursuant to article nine or fifteen of the Mental Hygiene Law, article seven hundred thirty or section 330.20 of the criminal procedure law, section four hundred two or five hundred eight of the correction law, section 322.2 or 353.4 of the Family Court Act, or has not been civilly confined in a secure treatment facility pursuant to article ten of the Mental Hygiene Law.
• Not have had a guardian appointed to them, based on a determination that is a result of marked subnormal intelligence, mental illness, incapacity, condition or disease, or lacks the mental capacity to contract or manage their affairs.
• Not have had a license revoked, be under suspension, or ineligiblity order issued pursuant to the provisions of section 530.14 of the criminal procedure law or section 542-A of the Family Court Act.
• Maintains a residence or principal place of business within Suffolk County
• Not have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
• Disclose whether he or she has been the subject or recipient of an Order of Protection or a Temporary Order of Protection
• Be a person whom no good cause exists to deny a license.

Nassau County requires the above, as well as:

• Reside within the confines of Nassau County
• Complete the notarized form letter which states all persons 18 years or older who reside with the applicant are aware the applicant will be securing a firearm(s) in the residence.
• Demonstrate the existence of proper cause or legitimate business necessity for the issuance of a license other than Target/Hunting or Retired Officer; Note: The NCPD may alter a licensee’s classification at any time upon a finding that proper cause/legitimate business necessity no longer exists. Proper cause, like any license requirement stated herein, must be demonstrated each time the license is renewed and at any time upon request by NCPD Pistol License Section personnel. If proper cause is not proven, the license will be modified accordingly to reflect the appropriate classification.