NYPD Press Card Is Now the NYC Press Card, How to Apply
The NYPD press card no longer exists as a new application. Since January 20, 2022, New York City press cards have been issued by the Press Credentials Office at the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), under Local Law 46 of 20211. You apply online, there is no fee, and a Standard Press Card is valid for two years and expires on January 15 of every odd year2.
To qualify, you send six or more published pieces from the last 24 months that show you covered six or more eligible events in person, on separate days, in the five boroughs3. This guide explains who issues the card, what it does and doesn't do, the exact clip rules, the 2027 renewal windows, single event cards and what to do if you're denied.
Facts and prices checked November 13, 2026. See something wrong? Tell us.
Key takeaways
- NYC press cards moved from the NYPD to the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment on January 20, 20221.
- There is no fee, and Standard cards expire on January 15 of every odd year, so the current cycle ends January 15, 20272.
- You need six or more pieces from the last 24 months showing in-person coverage of six eligible NYC events on separate days3.
- Private events like a Knicks game or the Met Gala don't count as eligible clips3.
- A press card is not required to work as a journalist in New York City, only to cross City lines and attend City press events3.
Who issues the NYC press card now
For decades, reporters called it the NYPD press card because the police department issued it. That changed with Local Law 46 of 2021, which moved press credentialing from the NYPD to MOME and required the city to create a Press Credentials Office3. The office took over on January 20, 20221.
So if you search for an NYPD press pass today, the application you want is the City of New York Press Card from MOME's Press Credentials Office, or PCO. The PCO says it issues press cards so journalists and media outlets can pass NYPD and city official lines and attend City government sponsored events open to the press2.
The office sits at 1 Centre Street, Room 370, in Manhattan and is open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, excluding holidays2. It does not accept walk-ins2. You apply on the city's Press Credentials Portal and contact the office by email at presscredential@media.nyc.gov3.
The rules were updated again on March 13, 2025. Those changes added a minimum age for Standard and Reserve cards, parent or guardian consent for applicants under 18 seeking single event cards, and more grounds for denial3.
Rules checked in November 2026, so confirm on the issuer's page at nyc.gov before you apply.
What an NYC press card does and doesn't do
The card has a narrow job. Subject to space limits, safety concerns and evidence preservation concerns, it lets the holder cross police lines, fire lines and other City barriers at emergency, spot or breaking news events and at non-emergency public events, and attend City sponsored events open to the press3.
It is not a license to be a journalist. The PCO says plainly that a press card is not required to work as a journalist in New York City or to gather news3.
| Question | Answer from the PCO | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Do I need it to report in NYC? | No, it is not required to work as a journalist | FAQ3 |
| Is it a parking permit? | No, and don't leave it on your dashboard | Press card page2 |
| Do I still need other ID? | Yes, holders may be asked for identification | FAQ3 |
| Can police still deny entry? | Yes, for space, safety or evidence reasons | FAQ3 |
| Can someone seize my card on the spot? | No agency may seize a valid card before an OATH hearing | FAQ3 |
| Does the PCO book Mayor interviews? | No, it only issues press cards | Press card page2 |
You must wear the card fully exposed while you seek access to an event and after you get in3. An NYPD officer or a member of the NYPD's Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Public Information may still deny entry or remove a card holder for space, safety or evidence reasons3.
The three types of NYC press card
The PCO issues three cards, and each one fits a different situation2.
| Card | Who it is for | What it shows | How long it lasts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Press Card | Self-employed journalists, freelancers and full-time staff of a newsgathering organization | Your picture, name, employment and expiration date | Two years, expires January 15 of every odd year2 |
| Reserve Press Card | A newsgathering organization, for employees not eligible for a Standard card | Company name and expiration date, no photo | Two years, expires January 15 of every odd year2 |
| Single Event Press Card | Press without a Standard card or access to a Reserve card | Your picture, name, employment, expiration date and the event name | The event or 24 hours, whichever is shorter2 |
Notice that freelancers and self-employed journalists can hold a Standard card2. You don't need a staff job. What you need is the right kind of published work.
Age matters too. You must be at least 18 to apply for a Standard card, and a Reserve card can only be used by someone 18 or older3. Single event applicants under 18 need written permission from a parent or guardian with each application3.
The six clip rule and what counts as an eligible event
This is the part most applicants get wrong. To get a Standard card, you submit six or more articles, photos, videos, films, audio pieces, commentaries or books published or broadcast within the 24 months before you apply3. Together they must show that you covered, in person, six or more eligible events on separate days3.
An eligible event must take place in a public place in one of the five boroughs and fall into one of three groups3.
- Emergency, spot or breaking news where the City has set up barriers, such as crime scenes, fires, or a plane or train crash3.
- Non-emergency public events with City barriers, such as parades, demonstrations, protests, public vigils and funerals, and major court cases in NYC courts3.
- City sponsored events open to the press, such as the Mayor's in-person media availability, City Council hearings and community board meetings3.
| Counts | Does not count | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A fire in Queens you covered on scene | A Knicks game | Private events are ineligible3 |
| A City Council hearing you attended | The Met Gala or New York Comic Con | Private events are ineligible3 |
| A protest in Manhattan you photographed | A protest in Newark | Outside the five boroughs3 |
| A Mayor's in-person press availability | A pre-arranged one-on-one interview with the Mayor | Pre-arranged interviews are ineligible3 |
| A community board meeting | The Mayor speaking at a private fundraiser | Not sponsored by a City agency3 |
A strong application makes each of those six things easy to see. Pick clips where the date, the place and your byline or photo credit are clear.
If you don't have six in-person NYC clips yet
Many good journalists can't meet the rule on day one. Maybe you write analysis from your desk, cover events outside the city, or have published only a few on-scene pieces. The PCO's rule is about in-person coverage of eligible NYC events, so a long list of other bylines won't fill the gap3.
The honest path is to build the record. Cover public meetings, hearings and parades, publish the work under your name, and keep a dated log with links. Community board meetings and City Council hearings are listed by the PCO as eligible events, and they're open to the press3. When you reach six on separate days within 24 months, apply.
Until then, you can still report. The PCO says a press card is not required to work as a journalist in New York City3. For events run by private organizers, the organizer decides who gets in, and they usually ask for clips or an assignment letter. Our guide on media credentials for events covers that route.
Media List Press Pass
Get your published work checked
We check your bylines and your site, then you download print-ready pass designs with a QR code that opens your live verification page.
- At least 5 articles with your byline from the last 24 months
- Wallet card in 4 styles, lanyard badge, letter, certificate and placard
- Event Pass $49 one time, 24 months $149, 36 months $199, or 12 months $99 that renews every year until you cancel
- Full refund if you don't qualify
Media List reviews the information and links you submit and confirms whether they meet our published-work criteria as of the review date, and gives you design files that show that result. That's the whole service. NOT AN OFFICIAL OR GOVERNMENT ID. Not a legal credential, license, accreditation or proof of employment. Grants no access, rights or privileges. Based only on information the holder submitted to Media List as of the issue date. The holder is solely responsible for their actions and for following the law. Scan the QR code for current status. Press Pass Terms.
A summary of your published work doesn't replace the city's own process. Only the PCO issues the NYC press card, and only its rules decide who gets one.
How to apply for a Standard NYC press card
The process is fully online until pickup. Here are the steps, based on the PCO's own pages.
- Check your clips. Gather six or more published pieces from the last 24 months showing in-person coverage of six eligible NYC events on separate days3.
- Use your legal name. The card is a government issued card that must show your legal name, matching your driver's license or state ID. Nicknames and pen names are not accepted3.
- Register on the portal. Create an account on the Press Credentials Portal and submit the application there3. The PCO posts video tutorials on registering and applying2.
- Wait for a decision. The PCO must grant or deny a complete Standard or Reserve application within 30 days, and it tells you in writing if you're denied3.
- Book a pickup. Cards are picked up in person, by appointment only, at 1 Centre Street, Room 3703.
There is no application fee3. If you need language help, the PCO offers a free interpreter by phone, and it lists a disability services contact for applicants who need assistance3.
For a broader look at every route to a pass, see our guide on how to get a press pass.
Single event cards and the Times Square example
If you only need access to one event, the Single Event Press Card is the path. It takes two separate steps. First you pre-register by sending six or more published pieces from the last 24 months showing in-person coverage of six events on separate days. Then, once pre-registration is approved, you apply for the specific event3.
Timing matters. A single event application is timely if you send it at least 10 days before an event announced two or more weeks ahead, within 2 business days of the announcement for events scheduled less than two weeks out, or as soon as practicable for very short notice3.
A real deadline, New Year's Eve in Times Square
For the Times Square Ball Drop on December 31, 2025, the PCO set a deadline of Friday, December 19, 2025 for both pre-registration and the single event application4. It warned that pre-registration can take up to 30 days, so applicants should start as soon as possible4. The card expired at midnight on December 31, and holders had to return it in person by end of day on January 5, 20264.
The PCO also said Reserve cards and Times Square Alliance Media Street Access passes would not be accepted for that event4. Check the PCO site in late fall for each year's page.
Renewing before the January 15, 2027 expiration
Every Standard and Reserve card in the current cycle expires on January 15, 20275. The PCO began accepting renewals on July 6, 2026, with windows by the first letter of your last name25.
| Last name starts with | Renewal window | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A to C | July 6 to July 31, 2026 | 5 |
| D to H | Aug. 1 to Aug. 29, 2026 | 5 |
| I to L | Aug. 30 to Sept. 26, 2026 | 5 |
| M to P | Sept. 27 to Oct. 24, 2026 | 5 |
| Q to S | Oct. 25 to Nov. 21, 2026 | 5 |
| T to Z | Nov. 22 to Dec. 16, 2026 | 5 |
| Reserve cards | July 5 to Dec. 16, 2026 | 5 |
You may apply before or during your window. Renewals sent after your window or after December 15, 2026 are not guaranteed to be processed by January 15, 20275. Renewal cards go out in mid-January 2027, and you hand in the expired card when you get the new one5.
If you're a new applicant, there's good news. New applicants can apply at any time, and those who apply on or after July 6, 2026 don't need to renew. Subject to review, their expiration date is extended to January 15, 20292.
Denials, appeals and lost cards
If the PCO denies you, it must tell you in writing3. You then have two choices. You can simply reapply to MOME, with no limit on how many times you resubmit3. Or you can appeal through the portal and ask for a hearing at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings, known as OATH3. Local Law 46 also requires an OATH hearing before a card can be suspended or revoked1.
The most common fix after a denial is better clips. Check that each piece shows an eligible event, the date, a public place in the five boroughs and your name.
Lost or stolen cards
Report the loss at any NYPD precinct to get a Lost Property Report Number, open a replacement application on the portal using the Lost or Stolen button, and wait for an email to book pickup3.
Returning your card
You must return a Standard card in person by its expiration date, when you pick up a new one, or when you stop working as press, whichever comes first3. Single event cards go back within three business days, in person or by mail, courier or delivery service3.
Private events and other cities
The NYC press card covers City lines and City press events. It doesn't cover private events. The PCO lists a Knicks game, the Met Gala and New York Comic Con as private events3, and those organizers run their own media lists. For them you send what they ask for, usually recent clips and a letter of assignment signed by your editor.
Free template
Download our free press pass template
A blank wallet card, a 3 by 4 inch lanyard badge and a letter of assignment. Edit it in Word or Google Docs and print it.
- Standard ID card size, front and back
- Letter of assignment for your editor or client to sign
- Want your bylines checked and a QR verification page? See the Press Pass
A blank design you fill in yourself. Not an ID and not a credential, and nobody checks what you type. You're responsible for how you use it.
Other cities still run police press passes. In Los Angeles, the LAPD issues a Media Card. Its stated purpose is to let the holder pass through police or fire lines in the City of Los Angeles to cover news behind those lines6. The LAPD set the initial issuance fee at $144 for applications on or after May 4, 2026, with no fee for reissuance or renewal6.
Rules differ a lot from place to place. The Student Press Law Center advises journalists to find out ahead of time whether local police have press guidelines and what they say7. Check the rules in the city where you work, and follow officers' orders at scenes. For the basics of who issues what, read what a press pass is.
Keep your published work ready for every application
The NYC press card has a written, public clip rule. Even so, the habit it rewards is the same everywhere. Publish under your own name, keep dated links, and be ready to show them.
The Media List Press Pass is a verification of your published work, based on what you send us, plus print-ready design files. We check at least 5 articles with your name as the author from the last 24 months and proof the bylines are yours. You get a public verification page on medialist.com, a QR code on every file that opens it, a wallet card, a lanyard badge and a letter of verification you can attach when you ask a private organizer for access.
It is not the NYC press card and it does not replace it. It is not an official or government ID, it is not a credential, and it grants no access to police lines, City events or anywhere else. Only the PCO issues City of New York Press Cards, and organizers and officials make their own decisions. If you just want something to print and edit, our free press pass template is free and nobody checks it. If you buy the paid pass and don't qualify, you get a full refund. Details are on the Media List Press Pass page.
Media List Press Pass
Show your work when you ask for access
We check your bylines and your site, then you download print-ready pass designs with a QR code that opens your live verification page.
- At least 5 articles with your byline from the last 24 months
- Wallet card in 4 styles, lanyard badge, letter, certificate and placard
- Event Pass $49 one time, 24 months $149, 36 months $199, or 12 months $99 that renews every year until you cancel
- Full refund if you don't qualify
Media List reviews the information and links you submit and confirms whether they meet our published-work criteria as of the review date, and gives you design files that show that result. That's the whole service. NOT AN OFFICIAL OR GOVERNMENT ID. Not a legal credential, license, accreditation or proof of employment. Grants no access, rights or privileges. Based only on information the holder submitted to Media List as of the issue date. The holder is solely responsible for their actions and for following the law. Scan the QR code for current status. Press Pass Terms.
Questions, answered
Does the NYPD still issue press cards?
No. Under Local Law 46 of 2021, press credentialing moved from the NYPD to the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment on January 20, 20221. You now apply to MOME's Press Credentials Office.
How much does an NYC press card cost?
Nothing. The Press Credentials Office says there is no fee for a press card and no application fee23.
How many clips do I need for an NYC press card?
Six or more published pieces from the 24 months before you apply, showing in-person coverage of six or more eligible events on separate days in the five boroughs3.
Can freelancers get an NYC press card?
Yes. The Standard Press Card is issued to self-employed journalists and freelancers as well as full-time staff2. You still need to meet the six clip rule.
How long does an NYC press card take?
The PCO must grant or deny a complete Standard or Reserve application within 30 days3. Single event pre-registration can take up to 30 days, so start early4.
When does my NYC press card expire?
Standard and Reserve cards expire on January 15 of every odd year, so current cards expire January 15, 20272. New applicants who applied on or after July 6, 2026 get an expiration of January 15, 2029, subject to review2.
Do I need a press card to be a journalist in New York?
No. The PCO says a press card is not required to work as a journalist or gather news in New York City3. It is needed only to cross City lines and attend City press events.
Can I use a pen name on my NYC press card?
No. The card must show your legal name, matching your driver's license or state ID3.
Related guides
- What Is a Press Pass, Who Issues One and How It Works
- How to Get a Press Pass, Step by Step for Every Route
- Free Press Pass Template to Download and Edit in Word
- Media Credentials for Events and How to Apply Step by Step
- White House Press Pass and Capitol Hill Credentials Explained
Sources
- NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, MOME Expands Portfolio to Include Press Credentials Office (2022), checked 2026-11-13
- NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, Press Credentials Office, Press Card, checked 2026-11-13
- NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, Press Credentials Office Frequently Asked Questions (March 13, 2025), checked 2026-11-13
- NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, 2026 New Year's Eve Single Event Press Card, checked 2026-11-13
- NYC Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, How to Renew a Press Card, checked 2026-11-13
- Los Angeles Police Department, Amendment to LAPD Media Card (Press Pass) Fee (May 8, 2026), checked 2026-11-13
- Student Press Law Center, Student Media Guide to News Gathering, checked 2026-11-13
Show your published work when you ask for access
Media List Press Pass checks your bylines and gives you print-ready pass designs with a live QR verification page. From $49, full refund if you don't qualify.