Indiana License to Carry a Handgun
Forms, resources, and step-by-step instructions for obtaining,
renewing, replacing or updating your Indiana License to Carry
Table of Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Section 1: General policies and information .................................................................................................... 3
Section 2: Eligibility ................................................................................................................................................... 4
Section 3: Safety and training ............................................................................................................................... 5
Section 4: The application process and fees .................................................................................................... 6
Section 5: Reciprocity ............................................................................................................................................... 7
Section 6: Renewing an expiring license ........................................................................................................... 8
Section 7: Replacing or updating a license ...................................................................................................... 8
Section 8: Carry location restrictions .................................................................................................................. 9
Section 9: Reminders for safe concealment ..................................................................................................... 9
Quick Links and Sources ......................................................................................................................................... 12
Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is not legal advice, but general information on concealed carry
application procedures. Ours is an application assistance service that centralizes information and resources to
streamline and simplify the application process. We are not affiliated with any state or government agency.
Introduction
While there are federal gun regulations, each state has its own set of laws that regulate the
sale, possession and use of firearms, including the carrying of those firearms, whether
concealed or otherwise. These laws can be complicated, and navigating them can be difficult.
However, it is important to take the time to familiarize yourself
with the laws in your state to avoid breaking them, particularly
when it comes to carrying and using your weapon(s).
What follows in this packet is a brief outline of license to carry
policies, as well as detailed instructions for obtaining,
renewing, replacing or updating your license to carry. To
Helpful tips are included
throughout this packet in grey
boxes like this one. Please read
and pay close attention to each
of them.
simplify and streamline your efforts, we will walk you through
each process in a step-by-step fashion, linking where applicable to official sites, sources,
application forms, etc. Our aim is to save you time and effort by making it very clear what you
should expect and what you need to do.
Section 1: General policies and information
Since 1980, Indiana has been a “shall-issue” state that grants carry licenses to all eligible
applicants. For detailed eligibility requirements, refer to Section 2. Applications are processed
and approved by the Indiana State Police, and licenses are issued by the state under the
applicable state laws. Please note that licenses are issued to both residents and non-residents,
although to qualify for a non-resident license you must have a regular place of business within
the state in order to qualify. There are currently 33 other states that honor the Indiana license
to carry. For more on reciprocity, see Section 5.
A complete walk-through of the application process and
required fees can be found in Section 4. However, we suggest
that you review this packet in its entirety prior to applying for,
or making changes to, your license to carry. Please also review
Indiana gun laws in their entirety. It is important to know and
understand the laws surrounding the use of a concealed
firearm or weapon.
Indiana offers four-year and
lifetime licenses for residents.
Non-residents are not eligible
for the lifetime license.
For your reference, an example of an Indiana license to carry a handgun is pictured below in
Figure 1.
FIGURE 1 - EXAMPLE OF AN INDIANA LICENSE TO CARRY
Section 2: Eligibility
Before proceeding, it is important to determine whether or not
you are eligible for a license to carry in Indiana. Applicants who
do not meet certain requirements will be denied, so you can
save yourself some trouble by reviewing the eligibility
requirements before you apply. Among other things, you must
be a person of good character and reputation, you must be a
citizen, and you must have a proper reason to carry a handgun.
We strongly suggest reviewing
the full list of eligibility
requirements prior to
completing or submitting your
application.
According to state law, a license to carry will not be issued to
anyone who:
(1) has been convicted of a felony;
(2) has had a license to carry a handgun suspended, unless the person's license has been
reinstated;
(3) is under eighteen (18) years of age;
(4) is under twenty-three (23) years of age if the person has been adjudicated a delinquent
child for an act that would be a felony if committed by an adult; or
(5) has been arrested for a Class A or Class B felony, or any other felony that was
committed while armed with a deadly weapon or that involved the use of violence, if a court
has found probable cause to believe that the person committed the offense charged.
Section 3: Safety and Training
Unlike some other states, Indiana does not currently require a proof of firearm competency in
order to obtain a LTCF. However, it may be highly advantageous to consider one of the
following training options if you do not have familiarity with using a firearm:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Complete any National Rifle Association firearms
Training is not required in
safety or training course. NRA Training courses are
Indiana at this time, but it is
posted online, or you may request a list of Training
still a good idea to take a class
Counselors in your geographic area by contacting the
NRA Training Department at 1-800-672-3888.
to improve your proficiency.
Complete a firearms safety course in your local
jurisdiction. Some counties do offer their own firearm
safety courses. You should check with your local Sheriff’s Office to see if it applies in
your county.
Complete any firearms safety or training course or class available to the general
public offered by a law-enforcement agency, junior college, college, or private or
public institution or organization or firearms training school utilizing instructors
certified by the National Rifle Association or the Department of Criminal Justice
Services;
Complete any firearms training or safety course or class, including an electronic,
video, or on-line course, conducted by a state-certified or National Rifle Associationcertified firearms instructor.
Section 4: The application process and fees
Now that you’ve determined your eligibility, it’s time to walk through the application process.
Each step is outlined in detail below. Please be sure to follow these steps in their proper order.
1. Complete and submit the official online application. Please note that you must have a
valid e-mail address to complete your online application. At the end of the online
application, you will be issued an Application Number. You will also receive instructions
for paying the state’s portion of the application fee. For four-year licenses, the state’s fee
is $30.00. For lifetime licenses, the state’s fee is $75.00. You can view a full fee schedule
here.
2. Next, you’ll need to schedule your electronic
Due to increased applicant
fingerprinting. State Law requires fingerprinting in
order to obtain a license to carry. You can begin the
volume, background check
process by visiting the MorphoTrust website. From
results may be delayed and take
this site, you can choose the most convenient location
a minimum of 15 business days.
for you to visit to be fingerprinted, schedule an
appointment, or find any additional forms or links you
might need to complete the fingerprint and background check process. There is an
$11.95 fee for using the MorphoTrust fingerprinting system.
3. Take your Application Number to your local police department or law enforcement
agency and submit it for approval. You’ll be required to pay the local portion of the
application fee at this time. The local fee for a four-year license is $10.00, and the local
fee for a lifetime license is $50. The total cost (state and local) for a four year license is
$40.00 and the total cost for a lifetime license is $125.00.
4. The Indiana State Police Superintendent will review your application and it will be either
approved or denied. The timeframe for approval depends on your circumstances. If you
have no criminal history, and you submitted your fingerprints electronically, you should
expect to receive a license in the U.S. Mail within 60 days from the time you submitted
your Application Number to your local law enforcement agency. If your application is
rejected, you will receive a notice in the mail, and you will have the option to appeal.
At any time, you may go here to sign in and check the status of your online application.
Section 5: Reciprocity
Reciprocity with regard to carry licenses means that two states have an agreement to honor
the license issued by the other. It is important to read the information below very carefully as
some states allow Indiana license holders to carry in their state, and others are simply states
which are honored by Indiana.
The official position of the State of Indiana regarding reciprocity is that, due to ongoing
changes in reciprocity agreements, they do not publically report the information. The official
FAQ sheet on the State of Indiana website states:
“Indiana honors all other states handgun licenses. Not all other states honor Indiana’s license.
Websites and organizations such as the NRA do attempt to track this information. Each state
regulates this area differently and there is no obligation for one state to notify another state of
any change in their law; therefore, the department does not attempt to track this information.”
Therefore, it is always recommended that you contact a state prior to carrying your weapon so
as to avoid any misunderstanding or unknowingly breaking the law.
We have included a graphic of a reciprocity map for Indiana below in Figure 2 for your
reference. The blue states honor Indiana’s license to carry.
Figure 2 – Reciprocity Map
Section 6: Renewing an expiring license
Lifetime licenses do not expire. All other licenses are valid for a period of four years before they
must be renewed. You must renew your permit prior to its expiration date in order to continue
carrying your firearm.
Some counties issue renewal notices. We suggest asking about this at the time of your original
application, so you know what to expect when the time comes for you to renew. You may also
contact your local Sheriff’s office at any time to ask about their specific renewal procedures.
To process your renewal, complete the ‘Renew License to Carry’ process using the official
renewal application form. You will need to complete the online form, have your fingerprints
taken again, and submit final paperwork to your local Sheriff’s office. You will be required to
pay the same fees and follow the same instructions for fingerprinting and final submission to
your local law enforcement agency outlined in Section 4 above.
Note: You must wait until you are within 365 days of your current license’s expiration date
before you can re-apply for a renewal license.
Contact your local Police Department or county Sheriff’s Department directly if you have
additional questions regarding your license renewal.
Section 7: Replacing or updating a license
If your license to carry has been lost, stolen or destroyed, you may request a duplicate through
the online portal. You must complete the ‘Duplicate License to Carry’ form by logging in to
your account. The fee for a duplicate or updated license is $20.00.
If you would like to update your license with your new name or address, you will need to
complete the ‘Change Name/ Address’ form here.
Important note: If you already have a license and want to upgrade to the new plastic version,
please click here and sign in to request a duplicate license in the new card format. There will
be a $20.00 processing fee for the request. You will also be subject to a new criminal history
background check, which could delay the issuance of your new license. However, you will not
be required to take new fingerprints. If you do not have your login information to complete this
process, you will need to contact your local law enforcement agency for assistance.
Section 8: Carry Location Restrictions
There are a number of prohibited areas where you are not permitted to carry your weapon,
whether you are an Indiana license to carry holder or an outIf you have an encounter with law
of-state resident with a reciprocal license. Concealed
enforcement, you should
weapons are not permitted in:
consider informing them that you
1. K-12 Schools
have a license to carry and be
2. Casinos (including Riverboat Casinos)
prepared to show them your
3. DNR State Parks and Reservoir properties (managed
by the US Army Corps of Engineers)
license and ID.
4. Port areas or port property
5. Any children’s home overseen by Child Welfare Services
6. The Falls at the Ohio State Park
7. The State Fair
8. Controlled Access Areas in Airports or on an Aircraft
9. The State Capital Building
10. U.S. Federal Buildings
11. Any private property, including businesses, where the property owner or tenant has
placed signs or placards denoting that guns are forbidden
For more details on these laws and how they apply to you, please refer to the Indiana state gun
laws. Wikipedia also has a page on Indiana gun laws that contains relevant, helpful information
on carry restrictions.
Section 9: Reminders for safe concealment
In order to safely and legally carry your weapon, it’s important to consider these four
reminders:
1. Remember that you are carrying a concealed weapon to protect life.
Whether the life is your own, or that of complete stranger, the only reason you are
permitted to use a concealed weapon is to protect life.
The purpose is not to bully, harass, or otherwise intimidate those who do not
demonstrate an immediate and deadly threat. The purpose is not to show off or feel
good about one’s self. The sole purpose is protection of life.
2. Know when it is appropriate to use your weapon.
Generally speaking, in order to use your weapon, your attacker must have:
a. THE ABILITY – the attacker is armed, or appears to be armed;
b. THE OPPORTUNITY – the attacker is positioned in a manner which allows him
easy access to inflict harm; or,
c. THE INTENT – the attacker is hostile or using words or body language to
suggest that he intends to harm you.
If all three criteria are not met, then you should think twice (and then think again) before
using your weapon. For example, if the attacker has the opportunity and intent to harm,
but lacks the ability (he is unarmed, or not equal is size/stature), then your claim of selfdefense might not hold water. Or, if your adversary appears to be armed and is in a
position to harm you, but shows no signs of malicious, hostile intent, then a court of law
would seriously question your motive for drawing and using your weapon.
3. Don’t be led by emotions.
Choosing to carry a weapon is a decision that comes with a great deal of responsibility.
When you are armed, you have forfeited your right to initiate any confrontation which
could escalate or become violent. In short, you must be able to keep your cool! This
means you cannot shout at the driver who cuts you off as you pass by him with windows
down. You must ignore the men who are looking your girlfriend up and down as you
leave the movie theater. If someone attempts to start a fight with you, you must
respond with a smile and walk away. By carrying a concealed weapon, you have a legal
and moral responsibility to de-escalate any potentially volatile situation.
4. Do not display you weapon in public (unless you don’t mind jail time).
Having a license to conceal means that the weapon must be CONCEALED at ALL TIMES.
You should expect to be arrested at gunpoint should someone report that they saw
your weapon in public, no matter how unintentional it was. It is important that your
method of carry be as discreet and secure as possible. For example, it would not be a
good idea to tuck your gun into the back of your jeans under your skin tight shirt and
then walk into the movie theater. You have no control over how a stranger will react to
seeing it, and they could potentially call the police and report you as a man or woman
with a gun. Even though you have legal permission to be carrying said gun, you
obviously missed the “concealed” portion of the license name if someone was able to
report you, so don’t expect sympathy from the police.
It is typically not a good idea to let too many people know that you carry a gun or
weapon. You never know how they will react, especially if they are opposed to guns. It’s
best to keep that information to immediate family or close friends who share your views
on concealed weapons.
Quick Links and Sources
-
Gun Laws in Indiana
-
State Police website
-
NRA State Gun Laws Section
-
Reciprocity Map