All Handgun Carry Licenses are handled through the Indiana State Police

Follow the instructions here:

New Indiana Gun Permit Laws Effective 07/01/2022

On July 1, 2022, the State of Indiana will no longer require a handgun permit to legally carry, conceal or transport a handgun within the state. This law DOES NOT allow everyone to carry a handgun as Indiana law contains certain criteria which must be met for a person to legally carry within the state.

A person MUST NOT be a PROHIBITED PERSON as defined by IC 35-47-2-1.5. These include:

• A person who has been Convicted of a State or Federal offense Punishable By A Term Of Imprisonment Exceeding One (1) Year;
• A person who has been Convicted of a Crime of Domestic Violence (IC 35-31.5-2-78), Domestic Battery (IC 35-42-2-1.3) or Criminal Stalking (IC 35-45-10-5) (and Firearms Rights NOT Restored);
• A person Restrained by an Order of Protection issued under IC 34-26-5 (does not include Workplace Violence Orders);
• A Fugitive From Justice;
• A person under Indictment (felony charges filed by a prosecutor);
• A person who has been adjudicated dangerous under IC 35-47-14-6;
• A person who has been adjudicated a mental defective;
• A person who has been committed to a mental institution;
• A person dishonorably discharged from military service or the National Guard;
• A person who renounces the person’s United States citizenship in the manner described in 8 U.S.C. 1481;
• A person who is less than eighteen (18) years of age, unless authorized under IC 35-47-10;
• A person who is less than twenty-three (23) years of age and has an adjudication as a delinquent child for an act described by IC 35-47-4-5, unless authorized under IC 35-47-10;
• An Alien.

If you are considering carrying a handgun and are not certain as to whether you fall under one of the above-mentioned categories, the Indiana State Police recommends you apply for a state-issued handgun permit:

• The permit process is free.
• ISP will conduct the necessary background checks to help ensure compliance with IC 35-47-2-1.5 & IC 35-47-1-7.
• The online application can be found at this link ISP Firearms Licensing.
• It may be necessary to have a license to carry if you travel to another state which requires a handgun permit to legally carry and/or transport.

If you are considering carrying a handgun and are not certain as to whether you fall under one of the above-mentioned categories, and you do not wish to apply for a free handgun permit, please note that:

• Law enforcement is not able to verify your compliance with IC 35-47-2-1.5
• It is recommended that you speak to an attorney to determine your personal compliance with IC 35-47-2-1.5 prior to carrying a handgun under this new law.

Local Agency Process

• When you visit your local law enforcement agency (either your city’s municipal police department or with the Sheriff’s Office if you live outside city limits), they handle the localized background check, identity verification, and data transmission required to forward your application to the Indiana State Police (ISP).
• Because Indiana eliminated both state and local application fees for a License to Carry a Handgun (LTCH) in 2021, this step focuses purely on background screening and administrative approval.
• The local processing involves several key administrative steps:
  • Identity Verification: A clerk will review your government-issued photo ID (such as an Indiana Driver’s License) to verify your name, date of birth, and residency. The address on your ID must match the address on your online ISP application precisely, or the local agency may reject it.
  • Application Retrieval: You will need to provide the 9-digit application number or tracking number generated when you completed Step 1 on the ISP portal. The agency uses this to pull up your digital file.
  • Local Background Screening: While the state runs your fingerprints through automated federal and state databases, the local agency conducts an independent check of its own local records management systems. They look for local calls for service, domestic incidents, or local arrests that might not yet appear on a national NCIC (National Crime Information Center) report.
• The “Proper Person” Determination: Under Indiana Code § 35-47-2-3, the local chief of police or county sheriff must evaluate whether you meet the statutory definition of a “proper person” to carry a firearm (e.g., verifying you have no history of violent behavior, substance abuse, or emotional instability that would disqualify you under state law).
• Electronic Transmission: Once the local background check clears, the local agency then electronically transmits the completed file back to the Indiana State Police Firearms Licensing Unit for final review and permit issuance.