Licensed to transmit. Not licensed to be interesting.
One GMRS license covers not just the licensee but their immediate family members as well. This makes GMRS uniquely practical for family communication - you don't need a separate license for every person. But the rules about who qualifies are specific, and the licensee carries responsibility for everyone operating under their callsign.
Per 95.1705(c)(2), the FCC defines "immediate family members" as the following, all of whom may operate under your license:
What the rule says: "Immediate family members are the licensee's spouse, children, grandchildren, stepchildren, parents, grandparents, stepparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in-laws." — 47 CFR 95.1705(c)(2)
This is a broader definition than many people expect. The FCC's list is explicit and exhaustive - it includes extended family like aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and all in-laws, not just the nuclear family.
Family coverage does not extend to:
Anyone outside the 95.1705(c)(2) definition who wants to use GMRS must obtain their own license. The one exception: per 95.1705(c)(3), anyone may operate your GMRS station if necessary to communicate an emergency message, regardless of family relationship or license status.
All family members operating under your license use your callsign when identifying. There's no separate callsign for each family member - everyone identifies as the same station.
Yes. Any eligible person 18 or older can apply for their own GMRS license and receive their own unique callsign. Spouses sometimes prefer this - each having their own license and callsign. It costs $35 each, but both licenses are good for 10 years, and each then covers their own immediate family. There's no rule against overlapping coverage: a husband and wife can both hold separate licenses, and their shared children are covered under both.
There is no minimum age to operate a GMRS radio under a family license. A child of any age can use a radio as long as a licensed family member has authorized it. However, per 95.1705(a)(1), the licensee themselves must be at least 18 years old.
The FCC does not require GMRS operators to carry a copy of their license while operating. However, it's good practice to have your license information accessible - particularly your callsign and the name on the license. Family members operating under your license should know your callsign and be able to provide it if asked. You can download and print your license from the FCC's Universal Licensing System (ULS) at wireless.fcc.gov. Saving a PDF copy on your phone is a practical modern approach.
Per 95.1705(b), as the licensee you are "responsible at all times for the proper operation of the stations in compliance with all applicable rules." This includes transmissions made by family members. If a family member violates FCC rules, the licensee is accountable. Make sure everyone who uses GMRS under your license understands the basics: proper etiquette, callsign identification, and which channels to use.
In most cases, one license per household is enough. If both spouses want to hold separate licenses (for example, to each have their own callsign), they can each apply individually. But it's not required - the $35 covers the whole immediate family for the full 10-year term.