Get your FBI NICS E-Check statuses through an API

What you can build on E-Check

• Check NTN statuses

  Build this

  Opens Check NTN Status and reads the list of E-Check transactions with their statuses, for all NTNs or the one you name.

  Takes

  NTN (optional)

  Returns

  NTN, last name, first name, created date, submitted user, status

• Query your NTN history

  Build this

  Runs NTN History Query by created dates and, if you give one, an FFL RDS Key or NTN, and reads the results list, one row per NTN.

  Takes

  Created from, created to, FFL RDS Key (optional), NTN (optional)

  Returns

  NTN, FFL RDS Key, created date, status

• Run a Stolen Gun Query

  Build this

  Runs the Stolen Gun Query for one firearm serial number and reads each exact-match hit with its Make and Gun Type.

  Takes

  Serial number

  Returns

  Serial number, number of hits, make, gun type for each hit

• Submit a search request

  Build this

  Fills the Application page with the subject data from an ATF Form 4473 and the transaction purpose, selects Finish and reads the Immediate Search Response.

  Takes

  Subject data from the Form 4473, transaction purpose, FFL RDS Key

  Returns

  NTN, last name, first name, created date, submitted user

Automate E-Check with a workflow

A workflow runs your methods as one process, with nobody at the screen. A schedule or a call from your own system starts it, the steps run in order, and the result arrives in your inbox or in the systems you already use.

• Morning recheck of Delayed NTNs

  Build this

  Starts

  Every weekday at 8:00

  Step 1

  Query NTN History for the NTNs created in the last 30 days.

  Step 2

  Keep the NTNs in Delayed or Researching, then check their NTN statuses.

  Step 3

  Keep the ones whose status changed since the last run.

  Step 4

  Email you each NTN with its last name, created date and new status.

• Stolen Gun Query on every trade-in

  Build this

  Starts

  When your system calls the workflow's webhook with a firearm serial number

  Step 1

  Run a Stolen Gun Query for the serial number.

  Step 2

  Post the serial number, number of hits and each hit's make and gun type to your webhook.

• Weekly NTN log for your records system

  Build this

  Starts

  Every Monday at 7:00

  Step 1

  Query NTN History for the NTNs created in the previous 7 days.

  Step 2

  Post each NTN with its FFL RDS Key, created date and status to your webhook.

You can run a workflow by hand on every plan, Free included. Schedules and webhook triggers come with the paid plans, from $29 a month.

Once built, one call from your code

Once you have built a method, it is one POST to /v1/runs from your backend, or a tool an AI agent calls over MCP. This is what “Check NTN statuses” would look like.

curl https://api.fous.com/v1/runs \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $FOUS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "method": "nicsezcheckfbi.gov/check_ntn_statuses",
    "input": {
      "ntn": "1A2B3C4D5"
    }
  }'

{
  "status": "completed",
  "data": {
    "transactions": [
      {
        "ntn": "1A2B3C4D5",
        "last_name": "Northwind",
        "first_name": "Alex",
        "created_date": "2026-11-09",
        "submitted_user": "acme_counter2",
        "status": "Delayed"
      }
    ]
  }
}

An example with invented data, not a ready-made endpoint. The method exists in your organization once you build it, and its name, inputs and fields follow your request.

E-Check’s own options

The E-Check site and its user manual describe no API or file exchange for dealers. Each check is keyed into the Application page, a final status triggers an email notification, and NTN History Query results have an Excel output. Enrollment starts with a printed form mailed to the NICS Section.

Read on November 12, 2026: NICS E-Check User Manual (PDF), E-Check enrollment, E-Check welcome page.

Signing in to E-Check

E-Check offers two log-ons: a username and password, or Multi-Factor Authentication, which adds a one-time password sent by email or text message and then prompts you to register a passkey. With Fous you sign in once with your own account through E-Check's own log-on, and on the password log-on the product signs back in when a session expires. Your login is sealed with AES-256 and never shown to code or AI agents.

Worth knowing

Personal data needs the MFA log-on

NTN History Query shows personal information only to a user who logged on with Multi-Factor Authentication. Creating FFL users and maintaining accounts also require it.

Users with several FFLs pick an RDS Key

A user linked to more than one FFL selects an Access Number (RDS Key). The RDS Key is the first 3 and last 5 characters of the FFL number.

Delayed NTNs and expired checks

A Delayed status means NICS is researching the transaction within three business days. An Expired NTN needs a new check before transfer.

Retrieving some statuses asks for more

Retrieving a Delayed or Denied status asks for the buyer's residential information. After the Brady Transfer Date, it also asks whether the firearm was transferred.

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