Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA)

Only current or former CBP employees may apply who meet the following criteria:

1. Served as a qualified law enforcement officer for an aggregate of 10 or more years. Service must include CBP and may also incorporate other law enforcement agencies; or
2. Separated from service with such agency, after completing any applicable probationary period of such service, due to a service-connected disability, as determined by such agency.
3. Retired, separated, resigned, or transferred from a law enforcement officer (LEO) position to a non-LEO position.
4. Separated in “Good Standing”, is defined by CBP when the following conditions are met:
   • Not the subject of any disciplinary action by the agency which could result in suspension or loss of law enforcement powers; and
   • Separation from law enforcement service was "other than for reasons of mental instability," as specified in 18 U.S.C. § 926C; and
   • Other conditions as stated in the CBP LEOSA Application Form 79.

Yes, you may be eligible to apply under the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA) if you meet all eligibility requirements outlined in 18 U.S.C. § 926C, “(b) separated from service with such agency, after completing any applicable probationary period of such service, due to a service-connected disability, as determined by such agency;”

Proof of your service-connected disability must be provided with additional documents as stated in the CBP LEOSA Application Form 79.

No. CBP LEOSA Photographic Identification Cards are exclusively issued to former CBP law enforcement officers who meet the eligibility criteria under the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA) and 18 U.S.C. § 926B or § 926C.

If you have never been employed by CBP in a law enforcement capacity, you are not eligible to apply for this identification card.

If you retired or separated and your CBP law enforcement service includes time prior to 2003 with a predecessor agency whose functions were merged into CBP (e.g., U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service, U.S. Customs Service), you must provide the following:

• SF-50 Documentation: Submit copies of your SF-50 forms for each year of federal law enforcement service, totaling at least 10 years of law enforcement service with the predecessor agency.
• FBI Identity History Summary Check (IHSC): Provide a self-obtained FBI Identity History Summary Check obtained within 60 calendar days prior to application submission.

Additional Notes:

• If you do not have copies of your SF-50 forms, you can request them through the National Archives. You may also obtain copies of your most recent civilian and personnel medical records from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).
• If your aggregate 10+ years of law enforcement service includes time with other federal, state, or local law enforcement entities in addition to CBP, you must submit a letter from those entities on official letterhead. The letter must include:
  • Your law enforcement title or position.
  • Appointment start and end dates.
  • An attestation that you separated in good standing as a law enforcement officer.
• For current CBP Law Enforcement Officers, if your service was entirely with CBP or a predecessor agency whose functions were merged into CBP, a letter from your CBP supervisor is not required.

Within 30 calendar days of the identified retirement or separation date from the CBP Law Enforcement position. You may also apply anytime after you have retired or separated from CBP.

The preferred method is to email your CBP LEOSA application directly to CBP_LEOSA@cbp.dhs.gov. The CBP LEOSA application (CBP Form 79) can be obtained through the CBP LEOSA webpage or by emailing a request to CBP_LEOSA@cbp.dhs.gov.

When emailing your CBP LEOSA application, ensure to password protect documents containing Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or Sensitive PII (SPII). Then, send the password in a second separate email.

Note: CBP LEOSA Photographic Identification Cards will only be mailed to residential addresses. CBP LEOSA Photographic Identification Cards will not be mailed to P.O. Box addresses.

If you are unable to email your application, you may send the application to:

US Customs and Border Protection
Office of Professional Responsibility
Security Management Division, c/o LEOSA
90 K Street N.E., Mailstop 1175
Washington, DC 20229

Yes. Please ensure your handwritten applications are legible.

When applying for a CBP LEOSA Photographic Identification Card, the required documents depend on whether you are applying before or after separating from CBP: No earlier than 30-days prior to separation from CBP, please provide:

• A completed CBP Form 79.
• A recent photo of yourself that meets passport photo requirements.

After Separation from CBP (with a break in service of 1 or more days), you must include:

• A completed CBP Form 79.
• A recent photo of yourself that meets passport photo requirements.
• Most recent SF-50, DD-214, and/or other law enforcement agency documents (if applicable).
• A self-obtained FBI Identity History Summary Check (IHSC).
• When applicable, proof of service-connected disability.

The digital photo you submit will be used on your LEOSA card. Only one digital photo is necessary, meeting the typical passport photo requirements:

• The photo must be clear, focused, and without a glare.
• Do not change the photo using computer software, phone apps or filters, or artificial intelligence.
• Directly face the camera without tilting your head.
• Take off your eyeglasses for your photo.
• Use a white or off-white background without shadows, texture, or lines.
• No photos in uniform.

Save your digital photo in JPG, TIF, PNG, or GIF format and include the photo as an attachment with your CBP LEOSA application.

For an example of passport photo requirements, please visit the U.S. Department of State.

Witness signature must be the applicant's current CBP supervisor or signed by a Notary Public and stamped with their official seal.

No. The self-obtained FBI IHSC is only required if you have separated from CBP with a break in service of 1 or more 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 by mail
• Option 3: Submit your request to an FBI-Approved Channeler

Your self-obtained FBI IHSC must be obtained within 60 calendar days prior to application submission and submitted together with all other required documentation.

For additional information, visit FBI Services.

No. CBP does not provide annual firearms certification services for retired or separated employees seeking qualification under the Law Enforcement Officer Safety Act (LEOSA).

In accordance with 18 U.S.C. § 926C, 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.”

Approximately 30 calendar days from the date of receipt. However, the length of processing time may extend beyond 30 days based on individual application circumstances and extensive reviews.

For questions concerning your application, please email us at: CBP_LEOSA@cbp.dhs.gov.