How To Get A License To Carry In Texas

Texas issues a license to carry firearms for the possession of guns and other similar weapons in the state.

To apply, you have to comply with all requirements provided by Texas pistol permit license law.

Texas Gun Permit Summary

Texas is a shall-issue state for the application of gun license, and the Department of public safety is in charge of the processing.

The state does not issue purchase permits.

Recommended Reading: Texas Gun Laws

How To Get A Gun Permit In Texas?

Texas issues permit to residents and non-residents of the state that are twenty-one years old or more, without a prohibition for the possession of firearms.

The license is for both open and concealed carry.

Texas Gun Permit Laws

You can open carry in Texas if you have the state pistol permit or anyone from a jurisdiction that it recognizes.

However, open carry in Texas is not legal in every location of the state. It is prohibited to open carry in places like schools, or buildings that have posts forbidding the possession of firearms on their premises.

Texas prohibits the manufacturing, selling, repair, or possession of assault weapons lie machine guns except those that have the firearms federally registered.

Also, armor-piercing ammunition is unlawful in the state.

Texas Pistol Permit Requirements

The requirements to apply for pistol permits in Texas, provided by gun laws of the state include the following:

You must reside legally in Texas for at least six months, or if you are a new resident, you must establish residency in the state.
You must be at least twenty-one years old or eighteen years old if you are a member of the United States Armed Forces. Out of service, officers must also be honorably discharged from duty.
You must not be a felon.
You must not be guilty of any class A or class B misdemeanor charge, or under any form of an indictment.
You must not be a fugitive or have an arrest warrant in your name.
You must not be intoxicant dependent.
You must be knowledgeable on how to handle a firearm and the proper storage of firearms.
You must not be a convict for any misdemeanor charge five years before the permit application.
You must meet all federal and state qualifications to possess firearms.
According to an attorney general in the state, if required, must agree to pay the necessary fee for child support.
You must be a taxpayer in Texas, or pay any other comptroller fee levied by the state, a municipality or a county.
You must not have any restriction or a protective order from the court that has to do with spousal relationship, and also a restraining order for properties.
All documents you submit for processing a license to carry must be original without any forgery or misinterpretation.
You must meet all federal law requirements for applying for a permit.

Different Types Of Gun Permits In Texas

A summary of firearms permits issued in Texas includes the following:

State permit to purchase long guns: Texas does not issue a state permit to purchase long guns.
State permits to purchase handguns: Texas does not issue a state permit to purchase handguns.
State permit to open carry: Texas is a licensed open carry state.
State permits to conceal carry long guns: Texa does not issue a state permit to conceal long guns.
State permits to conceal carry handguns: Texas issues a pistol permit to conceal carry handguns in the state.

How Much Does It Cost To Get A Gun License In Texas?

The initial and renewal permit application costs forty dollars in Texas. However, for military veterans that are honorably discharged from duty, the cost is twenty-five dollars for both permits.

Gun Permits Application And Renewal Law In Texas

The processes to apply for gun permits Texas are:

Complete Firearm Training

You must first enroll for a Texas firearm training. This is an essential criterion for application.

Also, the training must meet all the requirements for concealed carry in the state.

In Texas, you will also sit for a proficiency exam online and demonstrate your firearm expertise physically.

Download Application

Download the application from an online portal and complete it.

Take Fingerprint

Have your fingerprint taken, and note that you must submit this via L-1 Enrollment Services. This may carry extra charges.

Submit The Application

Submit your application together with your firearm training certificate to the Department of Public Safety.

You can also mail the application to them.

Receive Mail Notification

You will get a notification about your approved application after the processing period.

For the permit renewal process, you will receive a notification reminding you about the application at least six months before the expiry date. You can apply anytime within this period.

Also, you have the grace of one year after the expiry date to renew the application.

If this period elapses, you can no longer renew, and your permit will become invalid. You have to apply for a new one.

Gun Permit Reciprocity In Texas

Texas has requirements for permits they accept, and it will only accept permits from states that meet these requirements.

Other aspects of its reciprocity include the following:

States That Texas Will Accept Their Pistol Permits

You can possess firearms in Texas if you are a resident of any of these states. Texas recognizes these states because they meet some of its gun licenses.

States That Will Recognize Pistol Permits From Texas

You can use a Texas gun license in these states, but you may only possess firearms according to their gun laws. The states are:

Alabama
Delaware
Georgia
Indiana
Iowa
Louisiana
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Mexico
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Tennessee
Utah
Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Puerto Rico

States That Have Restricted Reciprocity With Texas

These states will honor your Texas pistol license. However, you must meet other individual requirements before you can open or conceal carry according to the state's gun law. They include the following:

Colorado
Florida
Michigan
Pennsylvania
South Carolina

States That Do Not Require Permits For The Possession Of Firearms

These are constitutional carry states with permitless policies for the possession of firearms within their territory. They include the following:

Arizona
Alaska
Arkansas
Idaho
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Mississippi
Missouri
New Hampshire
Oklahoma
South Dakota
Vermont
West Virginia

FAQs About Gun Permits In Texas

Some of the most frequently asked questions about pistol permit application in Texas, its renewal, and other important information includes the following:

Do I Need A Permit To Conceal Carry Firearms In Texas?

Yes, it is a prohibition to conceal carry without a Texas gun license except in vehicles.

For How Long Is Texas Gun Permit Valid?

The gun permit is valid for five years, after which you have to submit a renewal.

Can Non-Residents Apply For Texas Gun Permits?

Yes, non-residents that want to apply for a pistol license in Texas must provide the following:

A colored copy of the front and back page of a driver's license or an identification card.

A certificate, not more than two years old, to prove that he or she completed a firearm training approved by the Texas Department of Safety.

Non-residents can apply either online or by mail.

How Can I Change The Name And Address On My Texas Gun License?

You can change your name, address, or any other relevant detail on your license online.

What Can I Do If I Lost My Texas Permit Or It Gets Stolen?

Request for a replacement license online. For security reasons, you will get a new license number too.

How Soon Can I Apply For Texas Gun Permit After Moving To The State?

New residents must live in Texas for at least six months before applying for a pistol license in the state.

Can I Make Use Of Texas Gun Permit After Moving To Another State In The Country?

Yes, provided you inform the Department of public safety about your change of residency. The license will be valid until its expiry date.

Do I Need A Texas Gun Permit To Open Carry In The State?

Yes, you can only open carry in Texas if you have a pistol permit. It is a licensed open carry state.

What Is The Minimum Age Requirement To Apply For Gun Permit In Texas?

To apply for a Texas license to carry, you must be twenty-one years old or more.

Do I need A Permit To Purchase Firearms In Texas?

No, Texas does not issue permits to buy firearms in the state.

Does My Firearm Permit Exempt Me From Completing A Criminal Record Background Check Before Buying Firearms In Texas?

Yes, if you are a licensee in Texas, you do not need to complete a criminal record check for the possession of firearms in the state.

Do I Need A Texas Pistol Permit To Possess Firearms In My Private Property?

No, there are no requirements to be a permit holder before possession of firearms in the state's personal premises, such as dwelling places or recreational vehicles.

Do I Need To Complete A Firearm Training Before Applying For Texas Pistol Permit?

Yes, it is mandatory to complete a firearm training with a duration of four to six hours, either in a classroom or online.

What Is The Processing Period For Firearm Permits In Texas?

The processing period for Texas pistol Permit is sixty days.

What Is The Age Requirement For The Possession Of Firearms In Texas?

You must be at least eighteen years old to possess firearms in Texas.

Relevant Gun Laws Permits And Legislature In Texas

Texas pistol permit requirements relating to the possession of firearms in the state include the following:

Possession Of Firearms In Private Vehicles Of The State

Yes, you can possess firearms in your vehicle, but there are different ways to do so with and without a permit.

With a license to carry, the firearms should be either in a holster on your belt or shoulder.

However, if you do not have a license, make sure that you conceal a firearm in the vehicle.

Note that those that are prohibited from the possession of firearms cannot carry it in a private vehicle.

[Tex. Pen. Code § 46.02(a-1)]

Possession Of Firearms In Roadside Areas

You can possess firearms in roadside areas of the state as long as you have a Texas gun license or anyone from a state that it reciprocates.

Possession Of Firearms In State Parks, Forests, And Wildlife Management Areas

You can possess firearms in these places if you have a texas pistol permit or anyone from a state that it recognizes.

The only exception to this is that there is a prohibition for the possession of firearms in the lower Colorado River and the Murvaul lake located in Panola County.

Other places where you cannot possess firearms include.

Riverbeds owned by the state in LaSalle county
Riverbeds owned by the state in McMullen County
Land and water areas in Bee County
Riverbeds owned by the state in Live Oak County

[Texas Parks and Wild. Code § 82.722];

[Texas Parks and Wild. Code § 82.732];

[Texas Parks and Wild. Code § 82.762].

Possession Of Firearms In Restaurants And Bar Areas Of The State

According to the gun law, [Tex. Pen. Code § 46.035(b)(1)], you can only conceal carry in the restaurant areas if you have a pistol permit, except there is a post prohibiting the possession of firearms.

However, it is a prohibition to possess firearms in bars or any place that sells alcohol.

Possession Of Firearms In Hotels

Texas gun laws, [Tex. Pen. Code §§ 30.06 and 30.07], allow private property and business owners in the state to be able to regulate the possession or handling of firearms within their premises. It is lawful to make use of signage for this purpose too.

Therefore, hotels can come up with gun laws for the regulation of firearms in their facilities, and you should visit their websites for more information on this.

Possession Of Firearms In Employee Parking Lots

It is unlawful for employers to prohibit a legal employee that can possess firearms from storing his or her gun in a vehicle parked in the garage, parking lot, or any other place designated for vehicles within the premises.

However, it is compulsory that the firearms are entirely out of sight in the vehicles.

The only exemption for this law is oil and gas refineries in the state.

[Tex. Labor code § 52.061]