The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 (LEOSA), exempts a “qualified retired law enforcement officer” carrying a LEOSA photographic identification, such as CBP LEOSA Identification or CBP retired/separated LEO credentials, along with an annual state firearms test certification, from most state and local laws prohibiting the carriage of concealed firearms.
How to Apply
Qualified retired or separated CBP law enforcement officers may apply for an optional LEOSA Photographic Identification by completing the application linked below.
Note: If you are emailing your completed CBP LEOSA application package, you must password protect all documents containing personally identifiable information (PII), and send your password via a separate email.
For LEOSA Photographic Identification questions, contact CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, Security Management Division at cbp_LEOSA@cbp.dhs.gov.
The CBP LEOSA application can be obtained through the CBP LEOSA website or by emailing a request to CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, Security Management Division. Completed CBP LEOSA Photographic Identification application packages may be emailed to CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, Security Management Division or mailed to: Office of Professional Responsibility, Security Management Division, c/o LEOSA, 90 K Street N.E., Mailstop 1175, Washington, DC 20229. If emailing, ensure to password protect documents containing Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or Sensitive PII (SPII), and send the password in a separate email. NOTE: CBP LEOSA Photographic Identifications will only be mailed to residential addresses; CBP LEOSA Photographic Identifications will not be mailed to P.O. Box addresses.
Yes. Email completed CBP LEOSA Photographic Identification application packages may be emailed to CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, Security Management Division. Ensure to password protect documents containing PII/SPII, and send the password in a separate email.
CBP LEOSA Photographic Identification applications can be submitted to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), Security Management Division (SMD) within 90 calendar days of the anticipated retirement/separation date (from the CBP Law Enforcement position).
No. Incomplete packets will not be processed. OPR/SMD will notify the Applicant, and the incomplete packet will be returned to the Applicant via mail upon request.
No. The Applicant will need to submit a recent photo meeting the passport photo requirements with a white or cream background. The photo must be clear, focused, and without a glare. Selfies, a picture of the picture, and photos taken in official uniforms are not acceptable photos.
When emailing the CBP LEOSA Photographic Identification application packet, the most common image file formats for the digital photo are JPG, TIF, PNG, and GIF. See photo example below:
For information on passport photo requirements, please feel free to visit the U.S. Department of State.
No. A passport is not required in order to obtain a photo meeting the passport photo requirements.
The Applicant will need to submit a recent photo meeting the passport photo requirements with a white or cream background. The photo must be clear, focused, and without a glare. Selfies, a picture of the picture, and photos taken in official uniforms are not acceptable photos.
When emailing the CBP LEOSA Photographic Identification application packet, the most common image file formats for the digital photo are JPG, TIF, PNG, and GIF. See photo example below:
“DHS Components may allow law enforcement officers who are retiring or separating from a law enforcement position in good standing to retain their credentials (containing their photograph, name, signature and position title or other indication that the individual was employed as a law enforcement officer) stamped or perforated, such as with the word "Retired" or “Separated.”
For information on passport photo requirements, please feel free to visit the U.S. Department of State.
No. The Applicant will need to submit a recent photo meeting the passport photo requirements with a white or cream background. The photo must be clear, focused, and without a glare. Selfies, a picture of the picture, and photos taken in official uniforms are not acceptable photos.
When emailing the CBP LEOSA Photographic Identification application packet, the most common image file formats for the digital photo are JPG, TIF, PNG, and GIF. See photo example below:
For information on passport photo requirements, please feel free to visit the U.S. Department of State.
Only one photo meeting passport requirements is necessary.
Yes. The digital photo meeting the passport requirements along with the completed CBP LEOSA Photographic Identification application packet can be emailed to CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility, Security Management Division.
The photo must meet the passport photo requirements with a white or cream background, clear, focused, and without a glare. Selfies, a picture of the picture, and photos taken in official uniforms are not acceptable photos.
The most common image file formats for the digital photo are JPG, TIF, PNG, and GIF. See photo example below:
For information on passport photo requirements, please feel free to visit the U.S. Department of State.
The processing time for completed CBP LEOSA applications is approximately 90 calendar days from the date of receipt by OPR/SMD. However, the length of processing time may vary based on individual application circumstances. NOTE: Some cases may require extensive review and the processing time may exceed 90 calendar days.
No. To be eligible for a CBP LEOSA photographic identification, the Applicant must have served in a CBP law enforcement position for an aggregate of 10+ years (law enforcement service can be a combination of CBP and other law enforcement entities); or separated from service with CBP, after completing any applicable probationary period of such service, due to a service-connected disability, as determined by CBP. NOTE: The last dates of aggregate law enforcement service must have occurred while being actively employed with CBP.
• If the Applicant’s 10+ years of law enforcement service was all with CBP (i.e., from 2003 to Present), the Applicant is not required to submit SF-50s or other supporting documentation.
• If the Applicant retired/separated prior to 2003 from a predecessor agency whose functions were merged into CBP, the Applicant must submit copies of his/her SF-50s for each year of Federal law enforcement service (totaling at least 10 years of law enforcement service) with the predecessor agency. If the Applicant does not have copies of his/her SF-50s, the Applicant can request them through the National Archives. The Applicant (Former Federal Civilian Employees, the person of record) may obtain copies of their most recent civilian and personnel medical records on file at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), including copies of their SF-50s.
• If the Applicant’s aggregate 10+ years of law enforcement service was a combination of law enforcement service with CBP and Military law enforcement, the Applicant must provide documentation (e.g., Military Police DD-214) evidencing his/her law enforcement service outside of CBP.
• If the Applicant’s aggregate 10+ years of law enforcement service was a combination of law enforcement service with CBP and other Federal agencies or law enforcement entities, the Applicant must submit a letter from the other Federal agency or law enforcement entity on agency/departmental letterhead stating the Applicant’s law enforcement title or position, appointment start and end date, and attesting that the Applicant separated in good standing as a law enforcement.
No, unless if the Applicant separated from the CBP law enforcement position due to a service-connected disability (as determined by CBP) after completing any applicable probationary period of such service.
• If the Applicant’s 10+ years of law enforcement service was all with CBP (i.e., from 2003 to Present), the Applicant is not required to submit SF-50s or other supporting documentation.
• If the Applicant retired/separated prior to 2003 from a predecessor agency whose functions were merged into CBP, the Applicant must submit copies of his/her SF-50s for each year of Federal law enforcement service (totaling at least 10 years of law enforcement service) with the predecessor agency. If the Applicant does not have copies of his/her SF-50s, the Applicant can request them through the National Archives. The Applicant (Former Federal Civilian Employees, the person of record) may obtain copies of their most recent civilian and personnel medical records on file at the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), including copies of their SF-50s.
• If the Applicant’s aggregate 10+ years of law enforcement service was a combination of law enforcement service with CBP and Military law enforcement, the Applicant must provide documentation (e.g., Military Police DD-214) evidencing his/her law enforcement service outside of CBP.
• If the Applicant’s aggregate 10+ years of law enforcement service was a combination of law enforcement service with CBP and other Federal agencies or law enforcement entities, the Applicant must submit a letter from the other Federal agency or law enforcement entity on agency/departmental letterhead stating the Applicant’s law enforcement title or position, appointment start and end date, and attesting that the Applicant separated in good standing as a law enforcement.
The Applicant can submit copies of his/her DD-214 evidencing their military law enforcement service dates.
No. A letter from the Applicant’s supervisor is not required for Applicants whose law enforcement service was all with CBP or from a predecessor agency whose functions were merged into CBP.
No. The self-obtained FBI IHSC is only required for Applicants who have separated from CBP with 1+ days break in service.
Yes. The self-obtained FBI IHSC is required if the Applicant has 1+ days break in service.
No. The Applicant’s self-obtained FBI IHSC must be obtained within 60 calendar days prior to application submission and submitted together with all other required documentation. Applications will be rejected if the self-obtained FBI IHSC was processed in excess of 60 calendar days.
The FBI offers the following three options for requesting an IHSC:
• Option 1: Electronically Submit Your Request Directly to the FBI
• Option 2: Submit Your Request Directly to the FBI via the Mail
• Option 3: Submit Your Request to an FBI-Approved Channeler
For additional information, visit the FBI Services.
No. CBP cannot perform or assist with annual firearms testing certification for retirees or separated CBP employees for the purpose of LEOSA. In accordance with 18 U.S. Code § 926C “Carrying of concealed firearms by qualified retired law enforcement officers”, section (d)(2)(B), the applicant must obtain “a certification issued by the State in which the individual resides or by a certified firearms instructor that is qualified to conduct a firearms qualification test for active duty officers within that State that indicates that the individual has, not less than 1 year before the date the individual is carrying the concealed firearm, been tested or otherwise found by the State or a certified firearms instructor that is qualified to conduct a firearms qualification test for active duty officers within that State to have met.”