Crafter License

Crafter’s License

The Department of the Navy is proud to offer a program that benefits crafters. A crafter is defined as an individual producing domestic handcrafted items with the Navy trademarks out of their home. 

Under the crafter licensing, sales must be conducted  to individual consumers and any retail sales, commercial manufacturing, wholesale or third party print on demand/distribution sales are not allowed. Sales can be conducted at the following:

• Personal website or crafter websites such as Etsy
• Craft shows
• Festivals
• Farmers Markets
• Flea Markets
• Fairs

What products do not qualify?

• Apparel - shirts, hoodies, etc.
•  Drinkware
•  Ball caps
•  Repurposing unlicensed products – (such as unlicensed fabric, challenge coins, medallions, etc.) is not authorized
• Consumable products
•  Alcohol products
• Tobacco and other smoking-related products
• Drug paraphernalia
•  Products related to gambling or lotteries
• Firearms
• Sexually-themed products
• Products containing profanity, harsh or hateful language
• Products deemed defective or of poor manufacturing quality

Navy trademarks will not be licensed for use in a manner that creates a perception of endorsement of any non-federal entity or its products and services, or for any purpose intended to promote ideological movements, socio-political change, religious beliefs (including non-belief), and specific interpretations of morality or legislative/statutory change.

If you are submitting a crafter application of any products that do not qualify, the application will be denied.

For new applicants and renewals, the following applies:

Flat licensing fee of $200 (two-year agreement) for 100% hand-made products made from your home.

If anticipated sales exceed $10,000 in one year, please refer to our Standard License Application.

The crafter is required to bear all risk in respect of the articles and hold the United States Navy harmless. The crafter may wish to purchase product liability insurance.

Licenses are valid for a determined period and may be renewed at the sole discretion of the United States Navy. It is the responsibility of the licensee to renew once the term has expired.

The application should be completed and submitted together with an image or sample of the proposed product by uploading on the page of the electronic application. 

An applicant can also send a hard copy of their application along with a product sample to the following address:

Office of Naval Research
875 North Randolph Street
ATTN: Navy Trademark Licensing Office – 5^th floor
Arlington, VA 22203

Once the samples have been reviewed and approved, a Crafter’s License Agreement will be emailed to the crafter for review and signature. Once the agreement is finalized, an invoice with instructions on how to process the payments will be sent.

Upon execution of a license and receipt of the licensing fee, an Officially Licensed Navy Crafter certificate will be provided for display by the crafter. Crafter’s are not required to purchase holograms, but are encouraged to do so. Please indicate on your application that you would like to include hologram stickers on your handmade products.

To check the status of your application, please email: usn.pentagon.cnr-arlington-va.mbx.navylicensing@us.navy.mil or call (703) 696-4002 

Crafter Licensing Application

(for new applicants and renewals)

Download the PDF then email usn.pentagon.cnr-arlington-va.mbx.navylicensing@us.navy.mil the application

Link to Application