Arkansas permit requirements

Official-source summary. Values we could not confirm are labelled, never filled with assumptions.

At a glance

Permit required to carry

Permit currently issued

Yes

Issuance structure

Constitutional

Issuing level

State

Minimum age

21 (18 if active military or veteran)

Training

Required

Live fire

Required Confirm with the issuing agency

Application fee

Reported: $100.00 online (about $75 for age 64 and over) in one source; $91.90 online or $88.25 on paper in another. Confirm at the source

Permit term

5 years

Residency required

Yes. Arkansas resident for 90 days before you apply, or active-duty military stationed in Arkansas. Confirm with the issuing agency

Processing time

120 days Confirm with the issuing agency

Some current details are not fully confirmed. Verify dates, fees, and requirements on the official page before relying on them.

Issuing agency: Arkansas State Police

Source: Arkansas State Police — last checked 2026-10-04

Check your status Renewing instead? Find a certified instructor in Arkansas

What to know in Arkansas

Arkansas is listed as a permitless carry state, so a permit is optional for eligible adults; the card is the Concealed Handgun Carry License (CHCL). For the optional permit, a single state agency handles permits, so the same office serves every county. The issuing agency is Arkansas State Police.

The minimum age to apply is 21 (18 if active military or veteran). A training course is required before you apply in Arkansas. A new permit lasts 5 years.

We found no Arkansas rule that lets you keep carrying on an expired permit while a renewal is pending, so renew before the date on your card. To replace a lost or stolen Arkansas permit, the request can be made online. After a move or name change, tell the issuing agency within 30 days. Confirm with the issuing agency

Official page: Arkansas State Police · Reciprocity: where a Arkansas permit is honored

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