Maryland permit requirements

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

At a glance

Permit required to carry

Yes

Permit currently issued

Yes

Issuance structure

Shall Issue

Issuing level

State

Minimum age

21 (lower age for active military)

Training

16 hours

Live fire

Required

Application fee

125 USD

Permit term

2 years

Residency required

No. Open to residents and non-residents. Confirm with the issuing agency

Processing time

90 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: Maryland State Police

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

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What to know in Maryland

Maryland is listed as a shall-issue state, and its permit is the Wear & Carry Handgun Permit (WCHP): a single state agency handles permits, so the same office serves every county. The issuing agency is Maryland State Police.

The minimum age to apply is 21 (lower age for active military). The required training course in Maryland is 16 hours. Live-fire shooting is part of the course. The application fee is 125 USD. A new permit lasts 2 years.

Maryland is reported to let you keep carrying while a renewal is pending, if you filed it before the permit expired. To replace a lost or stolen Maryland permit, the request can be made online; expect to provide a notarized statement. Confirm with the issuing agency

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

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