Getting a CCW in Indiana (2026)

Requirements, costs, and steps for a Indiana concealed carry permit · Updated October 18, 2026 · Not legal advice

This guide is general legal information, not individualized legal advice. Rules change; verify every step with the Indiana State Police (ISP) before you apply. Prepared 2026-10-16.

Quick facts

Drawn from the site's live reciprocity data (ccw.workmanfirearms.com/data/reciprocity.json, retrieved 2026-10-16):

• Permit type: Optional License to Carry a Handgun (LTCH) under IC 35-47-2-3, issued by the Indiana State Police (applications via local law enforcement).
• Constitutional carry: Yes — since July 1, 2022 (HEA 1296), an eligible person 18+ may carry a handgun without a license (IC 35-47-2-1). The LTCH remains valuable for reciprocity and NICS-exempt purchases.
• Minimum age: 18 for permitless carry under state law (IC 35-47-2-1); 21 to buy a handgun from an FFL under federal law. LTCH: 18 — the sole statutory age floor (IC 35-47-2-3(a), (i)(3)) — for both the 5-year and lifetime licenses.
• Duty to inform: No proactive duty. Present the license (and ID) if asked by law enforcement (no statutory penalty for politely refusing to volunteer).
• Open carry: Legal without a permit (subject to prohibited places and private-property rules).

Who can apply

Under IC 35-47-2-3 (accessed 2026-10-16), ISP shall issue (or deny) to an applicant who:

• Is a U.S. citizen (or lawfully present permanent resident per statute) and an Indiana resident (or 18+ U.S. citizen — see statute for residency exceptions);
• Is a "proper person" under IC 35-47-1-7 and not disqualified under IC 35-47-2-3 — the statutory disqualifiers: felonies, domestic violence misdemeanors (2-year look-back), certain drug offenses, mental-health commitments, protective orders, dishonorable discharge, etc.;
• Is 18 years of age or older — the only age limit in the statute (IC 35-47-2-3(a), (i)(3) bars issuance to a person under 18); it applies to the 5-year and lifetime licenses alike. Federal law separately requires 21 to buy a handgun from an FFL.

Step-by-step application process

Issuing authority: Indiana State Police (applications are filed online; fingerprints at an IdentoGo enrollment center).

1. Apply online through the ISP firearms portal — select the 5-year or lifetime license type.
2. Pay the fee online.
3. Schedule electronic fingerprinting at an approved IdentoGo vendor (fingerprint fee paid to the vendor, ~$12.38).
4. ISP runs state and federal background checks and issues or denies (denial reasons provided; appealable).
5. Receive the license by mail.

Costs

Indiana's LTCH is fee-exempt at the state level (IC 35-47-2-4 — the 5-year license became fee-exempt July 1, 2020, and the lifetime license July 1, 2021; ISP). What you still pay (accessed 2026-10-16):

• State fee: $0 (exempt).
• Local fee: your sheriff or police department may charge a local fee (varies).
• Electronic fingerprint fee: ~$12.38 (paid to the IdentoGo/ibtfingerprint vendor).
• Training: none required — Indiana has no training prerequisite for an LTCH.

Training requirement

None. Indiana has no training or live-fire requirement for a License to Carry a Handgun (IC 35-47-2-3 contains no training provision).

Timeline & renewal

• Processing: complete the final application step within 90 days of starting (Benton County/ISP); ISP issues or denies after the background check (denials include reasons and appeal rights).
• Validity: 5-year license or lifetime license (no expiration); the two may be held concurrently.
• Renewal: apply for renewal (or a lifetime upgrade) online before expiration; the state fee is exempt.

Where to apply

• Indiana State Police — Firearms Licensing (LTCH): https://www.in.gov/isp/firearms/
• Online application: https://firearmsportal.in.gov/ (ISP firearms portal)
• Statute text: IC 35-47-2 — https://iga.in.gov/laws/2025/ic/title-35/article-47/chapter-2/

Sources

• IC 35-47-2-1 (permitless carry, HEA 1296/2022), IC 35-47-2-3 (LTCH eligibility/fees), IC 35-47-1-7 ("proper person" definition) — Indiana General Assembly, https://iga.in.gov/ (accessed 2026-10-16)
• Indiana State Police — License to Carry a Handgun — https://www.in.gov/isp/firearms/ (accessed 2026-10-16)
• Site reciprocity data — ccw.workmanfirearms.com/data/reciprocity.json (retrieved 2026-10-16)