Wear & Carry Permit
Make sure you have a permit first
Submitting a Wear and Carry Permit application does not authorize you to carry a handgun. You must receive approval and have your permit card before you can legally wear, carry, or transport a handgun.
You must have a valid permit from the Maryland State Police (MDSP) to legally carry, wear, or transport a handgun. The permit process includes firearms training, a background check, and an application completed through the licensing portal.
Process changes/updates
September 2025 - Application question addition.
Qualifications
- Must be at least 21 years or older or an active member of the U.S. Armed Forces, the National Guard or uniformed services.
- No felony or misdemeanor convictions with an imposed sentence of imprisonment of more than 1 year; or convicted of a crime that is punishable by more than 2 years of imprisonment.
- No convictions of crimes involving possession, use, or distribution of controlled dangerous substances.
- Must not be an alcoholic or have a drug addiction or be a habitual user of controlled dangerous substances, unless under legitimate medical supervision.
- Has not exhibited a propensity for violence or instability that could pose a danger to the person or others.
- Unless exempt, has successfully completed an MSP approved firearms safety training course within 2 years prior to submitting the application.
Pre-application requirements
- Submit Livescan fingerprints to the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) and the FBI. Authorized LiveScan vendors can be found at Fingerprinting Services. Below is the information that you will need to provide to the LiveScan technician for fingerprinting:
Agency Authorization Number: 9400082484
Agency ORI Number: MDMSP6000
Reason Fingerprinted: MD Public Safety Article, Section 5-305
Applicants must sign and date the FBI Privacy Act Statement - PDF (pdf) before submitting their fingerprints.
- Have successfully completed the MSP approved 16 hour Firearms Safety Training Course provided by a Qualified Handgun Instructor.
- Have a color passport style photograph to be electronically uploaded into the application.
How to apply
- Create or log into your existing Licensing Portal account.
- Upload a copy of your LiveScan fingerprint receipt
- Upload your certified and signed MSP 29-14 Certified Qualification Score Sheet - PDF from the Firearms Safety Training Course, or provide documentation of an exemption.
- Upload your color passport style photograph.
- Complete all required sections of the wear and carry (handgun permit) application.
- Electronically submit the application with the required application fee.
- The Licensing Division will review your application, conduct a background investigation, and render a final disposition notification within 90 days.
- You’ll receive an email notification when a decision has been made
- If approved, you’ll receive an approval letter and the wear and carry permit card. Both will be mailed to the application address via U.S. Mail.
- If not approved, you will receive notification via email. You may request an informal review or file an appeal with the Office of Administrative Hearings within 10 days. Detailed instructions for these processes will be included in the final disposition notification.
Please allow 90 days for completion of the application process.
Renewing your permit
Your initial permit is valid until the last day of your birth month, 2 years after issuance. Renewals are issued for an additional 3 years. You are not required to submit LiveScan fingerprints or character references when renewing your permit.
- Start the renewal application process 90 days before expiration. Renewal reminders will be emailed starting 90 days prior to your current expiration.
- Complete an 8 hour Firearms Safety Training Course (unless exempt). You will be required to upload your completed and signed MSP 29-14 Certified Qualification Score Sheet.
- Log into your Licensing Portal account and select “START HGP”.
- Complete all required sections, upload all required documents and submit the renewal application with the required application fee.
- If your permit has expired, you’ll need to reapply as a new applicant. This includes retaking the 16 hour training and a new Livescan fingerprint submission.
- If you renew at least 14 days before expiration, you can continue to carry until your new permit arrives unless your application is disapproved.
Please allow 90 days for completion of the renewal application process.
Replacing a lost permit
If you have lost your permit and are in need of a replacement, you will be required to provide a notarized letter explaining the circumstances of the loss or theft of your permit.
- Log into your Licensing Portal account and select “START HGP”.
- Complete all required sections, upload all required documents, including the notarized statement explaining the circumstances for the loss or theft, and submit the replacement application with the required application fee.
Please allow 30 days for completion of the replacement application process.
Application fees
Acceptable methods of payment include Visa or MasterCard. Application fees are non-refundable.
All application fees are collected electronically in the Licensing Portal. Application fees do not include fingerprint fees.
Original/Initial application: $125.00
Renew application: $75.00
Replacement application: $20.00
Modification to application: $20.00
Active/Retired Law Enforcement Officers of this State or a County/Municipality of the State are exempt of the application fee in accordance with §5-304 of the Public Safety Article.
Application timeline
- Applicant: Once the above pre-application requirements have been satisfied, the application can be completed within 1.5-2 hours.
- Licensing Division Processing Time: Once the Licensing Division electronically receives the completed Wear and Carry Permit application and the required application fee, the applicant will be notified of the final disposition within 90 days.
- Incomplete Applications: Applications received by the Licensing Division will typically be reviewed for completeness within 1-5 business days. Applicants who submitted incomplete applications will be notified of the status of their application via email within 5 business days.
Wear and Carry permit FAQs
As long as the renewal application has been submitted in the Licensing Portal at least two (2) weeks prior to the expiration date of the current handgun permit, you are still allowed to carry on the expired permit until you receive your renewed permit. If the application is returned to you for incompleteness and you resubmit it after the two (2) weeks, you will not be allowed to carry your handgun.
You need to submit the same documentation as when you first applied.
Wear and Carry card “Replacement” requests are submitted in your online portal account. If you do not have an existing portal account, you will need to create one to submit this request. You must attach a notarized letter to your online request, explaining the circumstances of the loss/theft. There is a $10 fee, which is paid via credit card upon the submission of your request. If you are a security guard, private detective, armored car driver or special police officer, please attach an updated company sponsorship to your request.
No. The application must be completed and submitted online in the Licensing Division Portal.
No. The handgun instructor must be registered with the Maryland State Police on-line registration.
A list of Qualified Handgun Instructors is available online.
If you are any one of the below you are exempt.
- You are an active law enforcement officer with a law enforcement agency of the United States, the State or any local law enforcement agency in the State.
- You are a retired law enforcement officer with a law enforcement agency of the United States, the State or any local law enforcement agency in the State.
- You are an active, retired, or honorably discharged member of the armed forces of the United States or the National Guard.
- You are a Qualified Handgun Instructor registered with the Maryland State Police.
- You have successfully completed a firearms training course given by a Qualified Handgun Instructor.
No. Out-of-state providers are not approved by the Dept. of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
No. They must be approved by the Dept. of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
Search for a fingerprinting service provider.
Yes, under Title 18, Section 926A, of the United States Code, a person who is not prohibited from possessing, transporting, shipping, or receiving a firearm shall be entitled to transport a firearm for any lawful purpose from any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm to any place where he may lawfully possess and carry such firearm if, during such transportation the firearm is unloaded, neither the firearm nor any ammunition being transported is readily accessible or is directly accessible from the passenger compartment. In the case the vehicle does not have a compartment separate from the driver's compartment the firearm or ammunition shall be contained in a locked compartment other than the glove compartment or console.
Yes, however, Maryland and Federal laws require specific conditions be met while transporting a handgun. Please refer to Maryland Annotated Code, Criminal Law, Title 4, Section 203 for a detailed account of wearing, carrying, or transporting a handgun. You may access the Maryland General Assembly website. You can access the Federal requirements through the ATF and conduct a search for “27 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 178” and then look for “Transportation of Firearms.” The basic requirement during transport is the handgun must be unloaded and in an enclosed case or enclosed holster with the ammunition separate from the handgun AND you must be transporting the handgun to or from the locations listed in the statute.
No. Maryland does not recognize permits/CCWs from any other state.
No, a lower receiver of a banned assault long gun is a "firearm" in this State, not a "handgun." A HQL is only required when purchasing a handgun that isn't a curio or relic.
Statutes
Maryland wear and carry (handgun permit) laws can be found in §4–203 of the Criminal Law Article and Title 5, Subsection 3 of the Public Safety Article. The current version of any statute can be found at LexisNexis or the Maryland General Assembly's website.
Advisories, bulletins, and documents
Visit the archive section to download any prior Advisories and documents.