How to Get a Press Card in New York City

Do you need a press card to report in New York City?

A Press Card is not required to work as a journalist in New York City or to engage in newsgathering activity. (source: nyc.gov)

What the press card is for

The card lets you cross police and fire lines or other City-set barriers at emergency, spot, or breaking news events and non-emergency public events, and attend City-sponsored events that are open to members of the press. (source: nyc.gov)

Who can get a press card in New York City

A “member of the press”: an individual who gathers and reports the news by publishing, broadcasting, or cablecasting articles, commentaries, books, photographs, video, film, or audio by electronic, print, or digital media. This includes an employee of a newsgathering organization and a self-employed newsperson. (source: nyc.gov)

Freelancers and self-employed journalists can apply for a standard press card. (source: nyc.gov)

You must be at least 18 to apply for a Standard Press Card, and a Reserve Press Card can only be used by someone at least 18. Applicants under 18 who want a Single Event Press Card need written permission from a parent or legal guardian. (source: nyc.gov)

Eligibility requirements

• Be at least 18 years old to apply for a Standard Press Card.
• Submit 6 or more articles, commentaries, books, photographs, videos, films, or audios that were published, broadcast, or cablecast within the 24 months before your application.
• Your submissions must show you covered, in person, events on separate days in one of the five boroughs of New York City: emergency, spot, or breaking news events or public events with police or fire lines or other City barriers in place, or events sponsored by New York City that are open to members of the press.

(source: nyc.gov)

Examples the issuer says do not count

• Private events (Knicks game, the Met Gala, New York Comic-Con, etc.)
• Events that occurred outside of the five boroughs of New York City
• Pre-arranged one-on-one interviews with elected officials (including the Mayor)

(source: nyc.gov)

Types of press card

• Standard Press Card: for individual members of the press, including independents, freelancers, and full-time employees of a newsgathering organization. It shows your picture, name, employment, and expiration date.
• Reserve Press Card: issued to a newsgathering organization for employees who are not eligible for a Standard Press Card. It carries the company name and expiration date and has no photo.
• Single Event Press Card: for one specific covered event, valid for the duration of the event or 24 hours, whichever is shorter. It requires pre-registration first.

(source: nyc.gov)

How to apply

1. Gather 6 or more published or broadcast works from the last 24 months that show you covered qualifying events in person, on separate days, in the five boroughs. (source: nyc.gov)
2. Submit your application on the Press Credentials Portal. Use the name on your valid government-issued photo ID: you may not apply with a nickname or pseudonym. (source: nyc.gov)
3. Wait for the decision. The office must grant or deny a complete Standard or Reserve application within 30 days of submission, and a denial is sent in writing. (source: nyc.gov)
4. If approved, you are notified and book an appointment from the link in your approval notice. Cards are issued by appointment only. (source: nyc.gov)
5. Bring a valid, government-issued photo ID (and your expired Press Card, if you have one) to the appointment. (source: nyc.gov)

Apply on the official site: official press card application. (source: nyc.gov)

Guidance from the issuing office: the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) Press Credentials Office. (source: nyc.gov)

Cost, timeline, and how long it lasts

• Cost: There is no fee required for a Press Card. (source: nyc.gov)
• Decision time: For Standard and Reserve Press Cards, the office must grant or deny a complete application no later than 30 days after it was submitted. For a Single Event Press Card applied for two or more weeks before the event, the decision comes no later than two business days before the event. (source: nyc.gov)
• How long it lasts: Standard and Reserve Press Cards are valid for two years and expire on January 15 of every odd year. New applicants who apply on or after July 6, 2026 are not required to submit a renewal application and, subject to administrative review, will have an expiration date of January 15, 2029. (source: nyc.gov)

Picking up and wearing your press card

• Pickup: Cards are picked up in person, by appointment only, at 1 Centre Street, Room 370, Manhattan. The office does not accept walk-ins. (source: nyc.gov)
• Display: Wear the Press Card fully exposed at all times when seeking access to a location or event and once access has been granted. Do not leave it on the dashboard of your vehicle. (source: nyc.gov)

What the press card does not do

• Parking: A Press Card is NOT a parking permit and does not entitle a Press Card holder to parking privileges. (source: nyc.gov)
• Access limits: Access is subject to space limitations, safety concerns, and evidence preservation concerns, so it may be denied or restricted. The guidelines say you will not be granted access to interior crime scenes or areas frozen for security reasons. (source: nyc.gov)

If your application is denied

You may reapply without appealing, with no limit on how many times you resubmit. If you choose to appeal, you can request a hearing at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) through the Press Credentials Portal. (source: nyc.gov)

Contact the issuing office

• Email: presscredential@media.nyc.gov
• Phone: 212-602-7408
• Address: Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, Press Credentials Office, 1 Centre Street, Room 370, New York, NY
• Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding holidays. No walk-ins.

(source: nyc.gov)

What the sources say, and where they differ

Official pages do not always agree with each other. Where we found a difference, we say which source this guide follows.