To get a GMRS license, you register for an FCC account to obtain an FCC Registration Number, file a short application through the Universal Licensing System, and pay a $35 fee. There is no exam. The whole process takes about 15 minutes online, and once granted the license is good for ten years and covers your entire immediate family under a single call sign.
Who Qualifies
You must be at least 18 years old and cannot be a representative of a foreign government.1eCFR. 47 CFR Part 95 Subpart E — General Mobile Radio Service U.S. citizenship is not required, and no radio experience or testing is involved.
The license covers a broad set of relatives operating under your call sign: spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws.1eCFR. 47 CFR Part 95 Subpart E — General Mobile Radio Service Friends, coworkers, and other non-family users are not covered and need their own licenses.
Step 1: Get an FCC Registration Number
The FCC identifies every applicant by a 10-digit FCC Registration Number (FRN).2Federal Communications Commission. Commission Registration System (CORES) – FCC Registration Home If you have dealt with the FCC before and already have one, skip ahead.
Otherwise, go to the Commission Registration System (CORES) at apps.fcc.gov/cores/publicHome.do. Create an account with an email address and password, then choose the option to register for a new FRN. You’ll be asked for your Social Security Number or another Taxpayer Identification Number. The system assigns your FRN immediately on submission.3Federal Communications Commission. Register for a New FRN Save it — you need it for the next step.
Step 2: File the Application in ULS
Log into the Universal Licensing System at wireless.fcc.gov/ULS using the FRN and password from CORES. On the left side, click “Apply for a New License,” then choose “ZA – General Mobile Radio (GMRS)” from the radio service dropdown.4Federal Communications Commission. Applying for a New License in the Universal Licensing System (ULS)
The form asks for your name, address, phone number, and email. Fill it out carefully; errors delay processing.
One question can catch applicants off guard: the FCC asks whether you have ever been convicted of a felony. A “yes” answer does not automatically disqualify you, but it triggers additional review. You must submit a written explanation of the circumstances and argue why granting the license would still serve the public interest, and that explanation is due within 14 days of the application being assigned a file number, or the FCC will dismiss it.5Federal Communications Commission. Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Announces Addition of Felony Question to FCC Form 605
When every screen is complete, sign the application electronically by typing your name and clicking submit.
Step 3: Pay the $35 Fee
The GMRS application fee is $35, and the same amount applies to new applications, renewals, and modifications.6Federal Communications Commission. Personal Service and Amateur Application Fees After you submit the application, the FCC emails a payment link. You have 10 calendar days from the date your application is assigned a file number to pay. Miss that window and the FCC dismisses the application — you have to start over.
Step 4: Get Your License and Call Sign
The FCC no longer mails paper licenses. When processing is complete, you receive an email notification with your official authorization, and you can log back into ULS and download the license from the License Manager. Processing usually takes a few business days, though timing varies.
Your license comes with a unique FCC-assigned call sign, formatted something like WRXX123. That call sign identifies you on the air and stays with you for the life of the license.
Renewing After Ten Years
A GMRS license is valid for ten years from the date it was granted or last renewed.7eCFR. 47 CFR 95.1705 — Individual Licenses Required; Eligibility; Who May Operate; Cooperative Use File the renewal through ULS before the expiration date. The renewal fee is $35.6Federal Communications Commission. Personal Service and Amateur Application Fees
File a few weeks early so processing delays don’t leave you with a lapsed license. If yours does expire, the FCC allows a grace period for late renewals, but the license is not valid during that gap. You cannot legally transmit until the renewal is processed.
What Happens If You Skip the License
Transmitting on GMRS frequencies without a valid license is a federal violation. The FCC can fine unlicensed operators up to $10,000 per violation, with continuing violations capped at $75,000 for a single act.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 47 USC 503 – Forfeitures The agency can also seize the equipment.9Federal Communications Commission. Personal Radio Services In practice, the FCC often opens with a warning citation before pursuing fines, but enforcement has increased in recent years, particularly around interference complaints. At $35 for a decade of family coverage, the license is cheap insurance against that risk.