A Fresnel joint transform correlator (FnJTC) is presented, here the Fourier transform in the joint (Fourier) transform correlator (JTC) is replaced by the Fresnel transform . The mathematical derivations for FnJTC are given, together with the computer simulation verifications. Compared with JTC, FnJTC is a space-variant system, output of which depends on the similarity of the two joint patterns in shape, the position of the reference pattern relative to the target pattern and the phase modulation of the reference pattern or the target pattern. The relation between FnJTC and fractional JTC has been described briefly.