Texas 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

Shall Issue

Issuing level

State

Minimum age

21 (18 if active military)

Training

Required

Live fire

Required Confirm with the issuing agency

Application fee

Reported: $40.00 base state license fee + ~$10.00 IdentoGO fingerprint fee (~$50.00 total); reduced fee ($0.00) for active military and honorably discharged veterans. Confirm at the source

Permit term

To your birthday after the 4th anniversary (4 to 5 years) Confirm with the issuing agency

Residency required

Yes. Texas resident, or a non-resident applying under the state's non-resident rules. Confirm with the issuing agency

Processing time

60 days Confirm with the issuing agency

Issuing agency: Texas Department of Public Safety

Source: Texas DPS Handgun Licensing — last checked 2026-10-04

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What to know in Texas

Texas is listed as a shall-issue state, and its permit is the License to Carry (LTC): a single state agency handles permits, so the same office serves every county. The issuing agency is Texas Department of Public Safety. Applications in Texas are filed online.

The minimum age to apply is 21 (18 if active military). A training course is required before you apply in Texas.

We found no Texas 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 Texas 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: Texas DPS Handgun Licensing · Reciprocity: where a Texas permit is honored

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