Processing Times for Original Permit Applications
Ready to apply for a TTB permit or registration? Or waiting to hear about an application you submitted?
Check our Original Permit Processing Times to see how long you can expect to wait. The time necessary to process an application will vary depending on application type and submission volume. We include the most recent three months of processing time information to help you estimate when your application is likely to be processed.
Our customer service standard is 75 days to approve your permit or registration.
Learn more about reading the chart.
Days to Process Permit Applications (in Calendar Days)
| Application Type | February 2023 | March 2023 | April 2023 | |||
| ALCOHOL | ||||||
| Alcohol Applications/Registrations Received Year-to-Date (2938 as of 4/30/2023) | ||||||
| Bonded Winery | 42 | 47 | 45 | |||
| Bonded Wine Cellar | 44 | 57 | 87 | |||
| Brewery | 32 | 36 | 40 | |||
| Distilled Spirits Plant | 51 | 55 | 76 | |||
| Importer (Alcohol) | 11 | 21 | 21 | |||
| Wholesaler (Alcohol) | 10 | 22 | 14 | |||
| Alcohol Fuel Plant | 19 | 23 | N/A | |||
| Specially Denatured Spirits | 7 | 18 | 16 | |||
| Tax Free Alcohol | 23 | 16 | 27 | |||
| TOBACCO | ||||||
| Tobacco Applications Received Year-to-Date (84 as of 4/30/2023) | ||||||
| Importer (Tobacco) | 133 | 125 | 143 | |||
| Manufacturer of Tobacco Products | N/A | N/A | N/A | |||
| Manufacturer of Processed Tobacco | N/A | 51 | N/A | |||
| FIREARMS | ||||||
| Firearms Registrations Received Year-to-Date (54 as of 4/30/2023) | ||||||
| Firearms Tax Free | 52 | 39 | 7 | |||
Days to Process reflects the median processing times for all paper and electronic original permit applications that are approved (excludes denied, withdrawn, or abandoned applications).
Need a Status Check?
- If you filed through Permits Online, log into your Permits Online account – available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – to check on the status of your application.
- Remember: The time necessary to process an application varies. Typically, applications to operate a production or manufacturing plant take longer to review. We suggest that you only contact us to inquire about the status of your application if we have exceeded the posted application processing times.
Reading the Chart
- Application Type: Displays processing times for all original permit application types, grouped by industry – Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms – and includes the total number of applications received for the calendar year. If we did not receive any applications for a particular permit type, it will say N/A.
- Days to Process Permit Application (in Calendar Days): Defined as median number of days to process an application – from the time we receive it until we approve it (excludes denied, withdrawn, and abandoned applications). This includes any time spent:
- ✓ Evaluating the application for accuracy and completeness, and any back and forth for
additional information and/or corrections, - ✓ Background checks,
- ✓ Field investigations,
- ✓ Examination of equipment and premises, and
- ✓ Legal analysis of proposed operations.
- ✓ Evaluating the application for accuracy and completeness, and any back and forth for
Ready to Apply?
- Permits Online makes it easy for you to electronically apply for and update the permit or registration you need to operate a TTB-regulated business.
- Once you have registered to use Permits Online, just log in and follow the instructions and prompts for submitting your application package. There is no fee to apply.