Concealed Carry FAQs

• Kansas law requires ALL persons to be at least 18 years of age to become licensed to carry a concealed firearm. See K.S.A. 75-7c04.
• There are no exceptions to the age requirement for obtaining a Kansas concealed carry handgun license (CCHL).

• A person who applies for a Kansas CCHL must submit a money order, personal check, or cashier’s check in the amount of $32.50 payable to the sheriff’s office in the county where the applicant resides.
• Effective July 1^st, 2023, the application fee to the OAG was reduced to $0. 
• Additional application and licensure costs may include, but not be limited to:
  • The 8-hour training course costs an applicant approximately $100 – but that price will vary by instructor and is set at the instructor’s discretion. (See Training Information below)
  • The Department of Revenue (KDOR) no longer charges a fee for issuance of the physical CCHL card.

• Four (4) years from the date of approval unless surrendered, suspended, or revoked.

• Per K.S.A. 75-7c03, a Kansas CCHL is issued as a separate license card. The CCHL appears similar to a Kansas driver’s license or identification card (DL/ID), but has “Concealed Carry License” clearly printed at the top with an expiration date that may not match the DL/ID.
• Licenses for those aged 18-20 at the time of application will say “Provisional Concealed Carry License” until the license is renewed. K.S.A. 75-7c08.

• Selected KDOR driver’s license stations.
• Approved applicants will receive a “license approval notice” from the OAG. This notice must be taken to a participating KDOR driver’s license station in order to be photographed for the CCHL card.
• A paper version of the CCHL is issued by KDOR, just like obtaining a Kansas DL/ID. The physical CCHL card will then be mailed to the licensee within 45 days.

• NOTE: If the physical card has not arrived by mail within 45 days of receiving the temporary paper version, the licensee should contact KDOR at (785) 296-3671 to ask if the physical card was mistakenly returned. Undeliverable CCHL are NOT returned to the OAG.

• Not in Kansas, but you should. Licensees should have their CCHL when transporting firearms in a motor vehicle, and in case a scenario arises where law enforcement needs to determine your lawful ability to carry.
• Some other states require a person to have their license on their person at all times when carrying a concealed firearm. 
• It is always the licensee’s responsibility to know where they are carrying and the laws of that jurisdiction to make sure possession of a firearm and/or their method of carrying is lawful.

• Not in Kansas, but you should strongly consider doing so. 
• Some other states require immediate disclosure, and failure to do so is a crime. 

• You must notify the OAG through the Concealed Carry Licensing Unit (“CCLU”) within 30 days of changing your name or address. See K.S.A. 75-7c06. Updating your DL/ID with KDOR does not change your address or name with the OAG.
• All name or address changes must be submitted in writing. This can be done online (https://ag.ks.gov/licensing/concealed-carry/change-of-name-or-address-notification), by email (ksagcc@ag.ks.gov), or by mailing a letter to the CCLU. Please include your full name, new address, old address, and DL/ID number in the email or letter. Failure to notify the CCLU of an address change in a timely manner can result in a fine of up to $100 or suspension of the CCHL for up to 6 months. See K.S.A. 75-7c06(e).
• Once the information is received and updated, the CCLU will mail an approval notice to re-issue the CCHL. The notice must then be taken to a participating KDOR station to obtain the re-issued CCHL card. The KDOR station will charge a fee to generate a new CCHL card.
• If moving outside of Kansas, you must notify the CCLU in advance so that a 90-day extension letter can be provided. This also ensures that no penalty fees will be assessed if you later return to Kansas without having notified the CCLU of that move to another state.
• If the CCLU receives notice from another entity that a licensee has moved out of state without prior notification, their CCHL will be revoked.

• You must notify the CCLU in writing within 30 days of the loss or theft of a CCHL. This must include a notarized statement of the circumstances of the loss and a $15.00 fee in the form of a cashier’s check, personal check, or money order payable to the “Office of Attorney General.”
• Once notified, the CCLU will mail an approval notice to re-issue the CCHL. The notice must then be taken to a participating KDOR driver's license station to obtain the re-issued CCHL.

• No. By law, all fees are non-refundable. See K.S.A. 75-7c05.

• Yes. All CCHL applicants must successfully complete training approved by the OAG before they may obtain a Kansas CCHL. See K.S.A. 75-7c04(b) & (c).
• The OAG may accept prior handgun training in order to meet the training requirement. Options include:
  • Handgun training course completed in a jurisdiction other than Kansas which is determined to be “equal to or greater than” the training required by Kansas law (see note below).
  • Kansas recognizes prior handgun training for a retired law enforcement officer (LEO) if retired less than 8 years. See K.S.A. 75-7c05. If a current service LEO desires a Kansas CCHL, the LEO’s prior handgun training can be used as a bypass for the Kansas 8-hour training course.
  • Military training may be accepted for military police officers. Standard military training for those other than military police does not meet the Kansas training requirements.
  • Kansas recognizes the handgun training taken by current Department of Corrections officers, parole officers or Federal Bureau of Prisons officers if completed within the past 12 months. See K.S.A. 75-7c05.

NOTE: Kansas law states prior handgun training that is “equal to or greater than” that of Kansas must include, “at a minimum, the applicant to: (i) Receive instruction on the laws of self-defense; and (ii) demonstrate training and competency in the safe handling, storage and actual firing of handguns.” K.S.A. 75-7c04(c)(2)(A). Proof of training must be submitted with the application, such as a certificate or course syllabus which outlines that the required elements were covered. Once submitted, the OAG’s CCLU will review prior handgun training courses to determine their compliance. Online training will not be accepted.

• The training course may be taken from any OAG-certified trainer in any county.
• A directory of certified instructors (listed by county) is posted on the OAG’s website: (http://ag.ks.gov/docs/documents/certified-instructor-directory.pdf).

• No. Kansas CCHL regulations do not allow online training to be accepted – even if that training allowed the person to obtain a non-Kansas CCHL.

• Because the CCHL training courses are taught by private individuals, the cost varies from trainer to trainer.

• Once a person has completed the required class, the instructor will sign a form (or affidavit) certifying that the person has completed the Kansas CCHL course.
• You must submit a copy of the completion form with the application to the sheriff’s office.

• Yes. Proof of completing either the 8-hour Kansas CCHL training course or handgun training from another jurisdiction must be submitted with the application to the sheriff’s office.

• Yes. There is no expiration for an approved training course or requirement for retraining.

• The application is available on the OAG’s website at: http://ag.ks.gov/docs/forms/concealed-carry-application.pdf.
• A paper copy of the application is available from the sheriff’s office in your county of residence.

• All applicants for a Kansas CCHL are required by law to apply through the sheriff’s office in the county where they reside. There are no exceptions.
• Kansas residents who are active duty military (ADM) but stationed outside of Kansas must still forward their completed CCHL application through the sheriff of the Kansas county where their home of record is located.
  • ADM who are Kansas residents and stationed at a U.S. military installation outside of Kansas may have their fingerprints taken by proper military personnel and then mail their completed Kansas CCHL application to the Sheriff of the Kansas county where they reside. See K.S.A. 75-7c05(i).
  • The CCLU recommends that any mailing be done so that the submission can be tracked and that a highlighted copy of K.S.A. 75-7c05(i) be attached to the top of the application to remind the Sheriff’s staff of availability of this application process.
  • If the application is ultimately approved, this allowance may not relieve the ADM from having to physically return to Kansas in order to have the CCHL issued by an approved KDOR station.

• Yes. Kansas does not issue CCHL to non-residents, with two exceptions:
  • Active duty military (ADM) who are stationed in Kansas but whose state of legal residence or home of record is in a state other than Kansas.
  • A “dependent” of an ADM stationed in Kansas whose state of legal residence is other than Kansas. A “dependent” for purposes of this exception is someone who resides with the ADM and financially depends upon that ADM in whole or substantial part.

• The OAG is required by statute to process an application and notify the applicant within 90 days of receiving a complete application. Most initial applications are processed within 60-90 days.
• Unless an applicant receives a written request for additional information, the applicant should not expect to hear from the CCLU for at least 60 days.

• Yes, but you “shall” be denied if you have certain felony convictions or juvenile adjudications or are otherwise prohibited from “shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving a firearm” under State or Federal law. See K.S.A. 75-7c04(a). If you do not truthfully disclose your criminal history on your application, you could face felony criminal charges for perjury. See K.S.A. 75-7c09.
• Federal law prohibits individuals from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving firearms and/or ammunition if the individual has been convicted of a “crime punishable by a term of imprisonment for more than 12 months” – generally a felony, but this could include some misdemeanor offenses from other jurisdictions.
• Federal law will look to the law of the jurisdiction where the offense was prosecuted to determine if there is a qualifying “conviction” for that prohibition. If the conviction happened in Kansas state court, Kansas law will control the analysis; if the conviction occurred in another state court, that state law will control the analysis; if the conviction happened in a federal court, then federal law will control the analysis.
• Kansas law prohibits individuals from possessing firearms for either 3 months, 3 years, 8 years, or permanently depending on the felony conviction/adjudication and whether a firearm was used in the commission of the crime. See K.S.A. 21-6304.
• Applicants should also be aware that even if the crime occurred in another jurisdiction, Kansas law will also be considered for purposes of determining whether the applicant’s criminal history meets Kansas firearm possession standards. In other words, convicted felons from another state will have to satisfy 2 levels of “state” legal compliance (convicting jurisdiction and K.S.A. 21-6304) before being approved.
• There are additional Kansas firearm prohibitions under K.S.A. 21-6301 that are similar to some of the federal prohibitions of 18 U.S.C. 922(g) noted below.
• Federal law prohibits individuals with a prior conviction for a “misdemeanor crime of domestic violence” (MCDV) from shipping, transporting, possessing or receiving firearms and ammunition. 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(9).
  • Under federal law, if a person is convicted of any misdemeanor crime for using physical force (or attempted physical force) against another person with whom they have a qualifying relationship, then that conviction can qualify as a MCDV. See 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(33) for the definition of “MCDV”.
  • A MCDV conviction may result in a permanent loss of firearms rights. This applies for any misdemeanor conviction that involves the use or attempted use of physical force (i.e., battery, assaults from some jurisdictions, disorderly conduct) even if the statute or ordinance does not contain the word “domestic” or list domestic relationships.
  • An individual with any prior misdemeanor conviction that is substantially similar to those described above (no matter how long ago and no matter what the ultimate charge or conviction was) should contact a private attorney who is well versed in federal firearms laws to assist you in determining if you are prohibited from possessing firearms.
• Federal law under 18 U.S.C. 922(g) & (n) prohibits firearm possession for individuals with the following circumstances:
  • Individuals who are “under indictment” (have a pending criminal charge or are still subject to the terms of a diversion agreement) for a “crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.”
  • Individuals who are fugitives from justice.
  • Individuals with qualifying protection orders against them from intimate partners or the child of an intimate partner.
  • Individuals who are addicted to or unlawful users of controlled substances. See 27 C.F.R. 478.11 and 21 U.S.C. 802. This includes, but may not be limited to:
    • Individuals who have been convicted of a drug offense within the past year,
    • Individuals who were arrested for a controlled substance/drug offense within the past year and have had another arrest within the past 5 years,
    • Positive drug tests within the past year,
    • Admitted drug use within the past year,
    • Possession of a medical marijuana card, or possession of paraphernalia that tests positive for a controlled substance. 
  • Individuals who have been adjudicated by a lawful authority as a mental defective or have been committed to a mental institution
  • Individuals who have been dishonorably discharged from the US armed forces (or “dismissed” as an officer)
  • Individuals who renounce their US citizenship
  • Individuals who are: (a) illegally or unlawfully in the United States; (b) not a US citizen; (c) not a permanent resident alien; or (d) not a qualifying nonimmigrant alien
    • Most nonimmigrant aliens are only in the United States on a temporary basis (for work or school) and have retained their citizenship in their country of origin. Nonimmigrant aliens may not meet the state residency requirements.
    • K.S.A. 75-7c04 also requires Kansas residency as a CCHL qualification.

• Effective July 1, 2021, applicants are no longer required to disclose expunged offenses on a Kansas CCHL application. However, any items that have been expunged (arrests, charges, convictions, etc.) will appear on the background check run during the application process. 
• Expungement may not restore firearms rights for all convictions. Some convictions,  even if expunged, will remain lifetime firearms prohibitors. Only a pardon may restore a person's ability to possess firearms in certain cases. For this reason, we recommend disclosure to avoid delays in application processing.

• No. An individual with questions about how their criminal history may affect their ability to possess firearms or qualify for a CCHL under the Kansas Personal and Family Protection Act (K.S.A. 75-7c01 et. seq.) should consult a private attorney for legal advice.
• The Office of the Attorney General/Concealed Carry Licensing Unit cannot give private, individual legal advice to any member of the general public.

• Yes. Effective July 1, 2021, a valid license or permit to carry a concealed firearm issued by another state (or the District of Columbia) shall be recognized in this state, but only while the holder is not a resident of Kansas. See K.S.A. 75-7c03.

• It depends on the age of the license holder. Effective July 1, 2021, a CCHL issued by another state will not be recognized if the holder is a Kansas resident.
• If the person is 21 or older and lawful to possess firearms, they may carry concealed firearms/handguns in Kansas with or without a CCHL.
• If the person is age 18-20 and a Kansas resident, they must obtain a Kansas CCHL in order to carry concealed firearms/handguns.

• No. There is no provision to allow a direct transfer of a CCHL from another state into a Kansas CCHL. A person must apply for a Kansas CCHL as described in K.S.A. 75-7c05.
• The training used to obtain the non-Kansas CCHL may be accepted if it meets the Kansas CCHL criteria (as described in K.S.A. 75-7c04), but all other requirements of the initial Kansas CCHL application process must be met.

• No. Federal land, federal facilities, and certain buildings have the ability to limit or prohibit concealed carry. See questions below for more information.
• Any person carrying a concealed firearm should know the legal restrictions on all locations where firearms are or can be prohibited.

• No. There are currently 39 states that have acknowledged they recognize the Kansas CCHL. See our Out-of-State Recognition page for more information. 
• It is always the licensee’s responsibility to know where they are carrying and the laws of that jurisdiction to make sure possession of a firearm and/or their method of carrying is lawful.

• Yes, if the business has properly posted signage at the entrances.

• Yes, especially for private businesses. Although you would not technically be violating the concealed carry law just by carrying into a non-posted building, if you are asked to leave by the owner or an employee and refuse to do so, you could be cited for criminal trespass.

• Yes, concealed carry is prohibited if adequate security measures (metal detection equipment and armed security guards) and signage are in place at the building’s public entrances.
• Correctional facilities, jail facilities, and law enforcement agencies may prohibit the carrying of a handgun or other firearm concealed or unconcealed by any person into any secure area of a building located on such premises. K.S.A. 75-7c20(g).
• Judicial districts may prohibit carrying of a concealed handgun by any person into courtrooms within the district if adequate security measures and signage are in place. K.S.A. 75-7c20(h).
• State or municipal-owned medical care facilities, adult care homes, and mental health centers may prohibit concealed or unconcealed carry without the requirement for adequate security measures.

• On state or municipal owned public lands, the state and municipalities are not allowed to restrict licensed concealed carry. However, buildings on those lands can be restricted as described above.
• On federal land or in federal facilities, federal law controls. If no firearms are allowed on those lands or in those facilities, then licensed and unlicensed concealed carry as well as open carry will be prohibited. If you are crossing or visiting a federally owned land or entering a federal facility, find out from proper federal authorities if firearms or concealed carry will be allowed there.
• It is always the licensee’s responsibility to know where they are carrying and the laws of that jurisdiction to make sure possession of a firearm or their method of carrying is lawful.

• Yes, carrying a concealed handgun is allowed if the person is at least 21 years of age and lawful to be in possession of the handgun – whether the person has a CCHL or not. Those age 18-20 must have a valid CCHL to carry concealed.
• Open carry of a handgun is not allowed in the State Capitol building.

• Unlicensed concealed carry is not allowed in a school zone (within 1000 feet of a K-12 school).
• A person with a Kansas CCHL is considered exempt from the federal Gun Free School Zone Act prohibition and may travel through a Kansas school zone (within 1000 feet of a K-12 school). Kansas law also allows persons with a valid concealed handgun license issued by another jurisdiction to travel through a school zone. A licensee may be allowed on school grounds, but not in school district buildings. 
• K-12 school district buildings may prohibit concealed carry if they post signage at the building’s public entrances. K-12 school district buildings are not required to have adequate security measures in place (metal detection equipment and armed security guards) in order to restrict concealed carry.

• It depends.
  • Kansas universities, colleges, or community colleges may restrict concealed carry if adequate security measures (metal detection equipment and armed security guards) and signage are in place at the public entrances of campus buildings.
  • If adequate security measures and signage are not in place, a person who is 21 years of age or older and otherwise lawful to be in possession of a firearm may carry concealed. Those aged 18-20 must have a valid provisional CCHL to carry concealed.
  • Concealed carry is legal on the school’s grounds. Signage prohibiting firearms on the school’s grounds is improper, but not “illegal.”

• It depends on whether the employer is private or public, and it depends where the employee is physically working.
  • Private employers may prohibit employees from carrying concealed while on the premises of the employer’s business or while otherwise engaged in the duties of employment. Private employers may not prohibit an employee from storing their handgun in the licensee’s private vehicle even if parked on the employer’s premises. K.S.A. 75-7c10(b).
  • Public (state or municipal) employers may restrict concealed carry by employees if adequate security measures and signage are in place at the employer’s public entrances. K.S.A. 75-7c20.
  • Public employers may not restrict an employee, who is legally qualified, from carrying a concealed handgun while engaged in the duties of employment outside of the employer’s place of business, including while in a vehicle. K.S.A. 75-7c10(e).

• It depends on whether the employer is state or municipal.
  • Municipal employers are prohibited from requiring disclosure of a CCHL and are prohibited from creating or maintaining a record of their employees who have a CCHL. K.S.A. 75-7c-23.
  • State employers are not prohibited from requiring disclosure of CCHL status.

• Renewal applications (yellow) are mailed to licensees 3-4 months before their CCHL’s expiration date. If you are within 60 days of expiration and have not received a renewal application, please contact the CCLU.
• If you did not receive the renewal form, it may be because you moved and did not notify the Concealed Carry Licensing Unit (CCLU) of your new address.
  • Address changes must be submitted online or in writing directly to the CCLU.
  • Changing your address with the post office or the Department of Revenue will not update your address for your concealed carry license. 
• The CCLU advises each licensee to submit a complete renewal application to the CCLU as soon as possible after receipt in order to avoid any lapses in the CCHL.

• Renewal is not allowed more than 6 months before the CCHL expiration date.

• No. Online or electronic renewal is not currently available. Renewal applications are not posted online to keep the flow of renewal applications reasonably controlled and within their proper timeframe.

• It depends. It is legal for most people (resident or non-resident) to carry concealed firearms in Kansas without a CCHL. There are a few important exceptions and qualifications to note:
  • Unlicensed concealed carry is allowed for both Kansas residents and non-Kansas residents who are lawful to be in possession of firearms or ammunition and are 21 years of age or older.
  • Unlicensed concealed carry of firearms in Kansas only applies to those who are 21 years of age or older. Those age 18-20 (resident or non-resident) must have a valid CCHL to carry concealed in Kansas.
• A CCHL is required to carry concealed in some locations within Kansas. For example, unlicensed concealed carry is not allowed in a school zone (within 1000 feet of a K-12 school).

• No. Unlicensed concealed carry of handguns/firearms is not allowed in most other states, even those that currently recognize the Kansas CCHL by reciprocity. A CCHL is still required to carry in most other states.
• It is each individual’s responsibility to be sure that they are lawful to carry firearms in each state they are traveling to or through.

• No. Having a loaded firearm on your person or within your immediate access while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a class A misdemeanor offense (up to one year in jail and/or up to $2500 in fines) K.S.A. 21-6332.
• Refusal to submit to drug/alcohol testing can result in a civil penalty of up to $1,000.
• If convicted, the person's CCHL shall be revoked for a minimum of one year for a first offense and three years for a second or subsequent offense.

• Yes, if the business allows concealed carry.
• Keep in mind that if you are found to be under the influence of alcohol while having a loaded firearm on your person then you would be subject to criminal penalties under K.S.A. 21-6332.

• No. A person who is issued a medical marijuana card is considered to be an unlawful user of controlled substances and is therefore prohibited both federally and in the state of Kansas from being in possession of a firearm. This prohibition lasts as long as the card is valid and for one full year after the card expires.