The Justice Department plans to revise the form people use to ask for a federal pardon. In a notice published in the Federal Register on October 21, 2026, the Office of the Pardon Attorney said it is asking the Office of Management and Budget to approve a "revision" of the Application for Pardon After Completion of Sentence.

What the notice says

The notice says the office is sending the request to the Office of Management and Budget for review and approval under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. It is a "60-day notice." Comments will be accepted until 60 days after it was published on October 21, 2026.

The notice covers OMB Number 1123-0016. It does not list the specific questions that will change. It says:

  • The application has no agency form number
  • It is used by people seeking a pardon from the President
  • The information is used to verify identity and to investigate the applicant's background, criminal record and conduct since the conviction
  • It is also used to notify the FBI, U.S. Attorneys' Offices, U.S. Probation Offices and federal courts if clemency is granted
  • The office expects 500 to 1,000 applicants each year
  • It estimates an average of 180 minutes, or 3 hours, for each applicant to respond

What it does not change

The notice does not change who can apply. The Justice Department's rules still say a pardon petition should generally wait at least 5 years after release from prison, or 5 years after conviction if there was no prison term. People still on probation, parole or supervised release generally should not apply (28 C.F.R. § 1.2).

The notice also does not change the President's power. Only the President can grant a pardon for a federal offense (U.S. Const. art. II, § 2, cl. 1). The Justice Department's clemency rules are advisory and do not limit that power (28 C.F.R. § 1.11).

What this means for you

If you are getting ready to apply, keep going. Until a revised form is approved and posted, use the current form on the Office of the Pardon Attorney's website. Check that site again right before you file, because the version you downloaded earlier may be replaced.

If you already filed, the Pardon Attorney says you do not need to submit a new application while yours is pending. You can send updated information at any time (Pardon Attorney FAQ). You can check whether your case is still open with the clemency case status search.

Our step-by-step guide to the pardon application explains what the current form asks and how to answer it.

Your next step

Gather your judgment, proof that your sentence is complete, and your records since then. Book a consultation and tell us what happened.