Wait times · Updated Nov 6, 2026
eForm 4 wait times, November 2026
How long ATF takes to approve a Form 4, from the two sources buyers use most: ATF's own monthly averages and Silencer Shop's 30-day approval data. Figures are copied as published, with dates. We do not estimate or round them.
- 6 daysATF average, individual eForm 4, applications finalized in August 2026[1]
- 5 daysATF median, individual eForm 4, same month[1]
- 3 daysSilencer Shop median, individual eForm 4, approvals from the last 30 days as of Nov 6, 2026[2]
ATF's published processing times
Average days for applications finalized in August 2026, from ATF's current processing times page (last updated Oct 15, 2026)[1]. Average days. ATF counts approved, disapproved, withdrawn and returned-without-action applications, and says some forms take longer.
| Form | What it is for | eForm (avg days) | Paper (avg days) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form 4, individual | Transfer to a person (how most buyers file) | 6 | 28 |
| Form 4, trust | Transfer to a trust or other entity | 20 | 37 |
| Form 1 | Application to make and register | 21 | 79 |
| Form 3 | Dealer-to-dealer transfer (SOT) | 1 | 266 |
| Form 5 | Tax-exempt transfer | 1 | 6 |
| Form 20 | Interstate transport of certain NFA items | 2 | 11 |
ATF also reported a median of 5 days for individual eForm 4 applications that month.
Volume that month
- 266,897NFA applications received
- 130,969Form 4 silencer applications received
- 300,409NFA applications finalized
- 156,089Silencer Form 4 applications finalized
ATF's registry listed 6,905,213 silencers as of Sep 3, 2026[1].
Silencer Shop's 30-day approval data
Silencer Shop, a large online suppressor retailer, publishes the range and median of approvals its customers received in the last 30 days, updated daily. This table is from its page as updated Nov 6, 2026[2].
| Filing | Range | Median |
|---|---|---|
| eForm 4, individual | 1 to 23 days | 3 days |
| eForm 4, trust | 1 to 20 days | 3 days |
| eForm 4, corporate | 1 to 13 days | 3 days |
| eForm 3 (dealer to dealer) | 1 minute to 3 days | 6 hours |
| Paper Form 4 As published. This is far out of line with ATF's own paper average (28 days for an individual Form 4 in August 2026), so treat it with caution. | 72 to 73 months | 73 months |
Why the two sources differ
- Different windows. ATF's figures cover applications finalized in one calendar month (applications finalized in August 2026), published weeks later. Silencer Shop's cover the last 30 days.
- Different measures. ATF reports averages over every finalized application, including disapproved, withdrawn and returned ones. Silencer Shop reports the range and median of its own customers' approvals.
- Different clocks. Silencer Shop separates "approval time" (after the form is certified and submitted) from your total timeline, which also includes dealer paperwork before submission[2].
What can slow a filing down
Silencer Shop says individual files can take longer because of identity checks, name matches or manual review, and that an error-free eForm, with matching names, address and email across your dealer and ATF eForms profiles, is the best practical way to avoid delays[2]. Trust and other entity filings need documents for each responsible person under the federal regulation[6], which is one reason they have run longer in ATF's averages.
Both tables were re-read on Nov 6, 2026. We update them when the sources update.