How to Get a Permit to Carry a Concealed Weapon in Illinois

Illinois has the greatest restrictions on firearms of any state. There are no provisions for the open or concealed carry of firearms by residents of the state. The following steps will show how you can carry a concealed firearm in Illinois.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Be over 21. You will need to provide your Illinois Identification Card number or Illinois driver's license number on the application.
2. Apply for a Firearm Owners Identification Card (FOID) which is issued on a "shall issue" basis. See www.isp.state.il.us for more information on how to apply. The application form is available at the same website. The FOID card will allow you to possess (not carry) firearms.
3. Send the completed FOID application, along with the processing fee and your photograph to the Illinois State Police, Firearm Owner's Identification Unit, Post Office Box 19233, Springfield, IL 62794-9233. The fee is non-refundable and your application will be processed within 30 days.
4. Sign the FOID card. This card must be renewed every five years.
5. Become a mayor, alderman, president, trustee, marshal, deputy marshal or policeman. Pass a training course given by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board. This will make you a "conservator of the peace" as defined in the Illinois Municipal Code, Article 3.1, Division 15, Paragraph 25.
6. Comply with the following laws regarding firearms: The Firearm Owners Identification Card Act (430 ILCS 65), the Unlawful Use of Weapons Law (720 ILCS 5/24) and the Wildlife Code (520 ILCS 5).