Georgia does not require a permit to carry a concealed handgun in-state, but the Georgia concealed carry permit — officially the Weapons Carry License — is still issued and still useful. Senate Bill 319, signed in April 2022, made Georgia a permitless carry state for anyone who would otherwise qualify for a license. The license remains worth getting if you travel, buy firearms often, or want documented proof that you have cleared a background check.
Why Get a License in a Permitless Carry State
Three practical reasons keep the Weapons Carry License relevant.
First, reciprocity. Permitless carry stops at the state line. Most other states will honor a Georgia license but will not recognize your right to carry simply because you are a Georgian. The Attorney General’s office lists 32 states that currently recognize the Georgia license, including Alabama, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and both Carolinas.1Office of the Attorney General. States Which Recognize a Georgia Weapons Carry License
Second, firearm purchases. Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(t)(3), a qualifying state carry permit issued in the last five years can substitute for the point-of-sale NICS background check at a federally licensed dealer. The ATF lists the Georgia Weapons Carry License as a qualifying permit, so presenting a valid one at a gun store can let the dealer complete the transfer without calling in a NICS check.2Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Brady Permit Chart The license must be unexpired and issued by Georgia. Dealers can still run the check if they prefer.
Third, legal clarity. Permitless carry only protects people who would qualify for a license. If a question ever arises about your eligibility, the physical license is proof that a probate judge has already made that determination.
Who Qualifies
Eligibility is set out in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-129. You must be at least 21 and a resident of the Georgia county where you file. Active-duty military members and honorably discharged veterans who are at least 18 and can show proof of completing basic training may apply under a narrow exception.3Justia. Georgia Code 16-11-129 – Weapons Carry License
You are disqualified if any of the following apply:
- A felony conviction from any U.S. court or foreign nation, unless pardoned.
- Pending felony charges that have not been resolved.
- Fugitive from justice status.
- Any federal firearms prohibition under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g) or (n), which includes domestic violence misdemeanor convictions and active restraining orders.
- Any conviction for manufacturing or distributing a controlled substance (permanent).
- A misdemeanor conviction for using or possessing a controlled substance, which disqualifies you for five years after completing your sentence and supervision. A second such conviction, or another disqualifying offense within that window, makes the bar permanent.
- A prior Weapons Carry License revocation within the last three years.
- A conviction under O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127 for carrying in an unauthorized location, which disqualifies you for five years after completing supervision.
- Inpatient treatment at any mental health or alcohol/drug facility within the past five years.
- A court finding of mental incompetence or a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.
The mental health and substance abuse bars are not always permanent. Subsection (b.1) of the statute lays out a process for lifting them in certain cases.
How to Apply
You apply in person at the Probate Court of the county where you live. There is no online application and no option to file in a different county.4Georgia.gov. Apply for a Firearms License
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID — typically a Georgia driver’s license or state ID — showing your current address. If your ID still has an old address, bring a utility bill, lease, or similar document to prove where you live now.
At the courthouse, request the application from the clerk, complete it under oath, and provide your full legal name, physical description, residential history, Social Security number, and place of birth. Verify every entry before you hand it back. A misspelled name or wrong digit can delay the whole process.
Fingerprinting is part of the application, usually done at the probate court itself or a nearby law enforcement office. Your prints go to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the FBI for a criminal history review. Law enforcement typically returns the background check in about 30 days, after which the probate judge makes a final decision. Most approved applicants receive the physical license by mail within three to six weeks of filing.
What It Costs and How Long It Lasts
The statutory license fee is $30, set by O.C.G.A. § 16-11-129.3Justia. Georgia Code 16-11-129 – Weapons Carry License What you actually pay at the courthouse is higher because fingerprinting and local administrative fees are added on top. Georgia.gov puts the typical total at around $75, with the exact figure varying by county.4Georgia.gov. Apply for a Firearms License Call ahead to confirm the amount and acceptable payment methods, since some probate offices do not take credit cards.
The license is valid for five years from the date of issue. To renew, return to your county probate court at least two months before expiration with the same documentation you used the first time. The renewal fee is the same $30 statutory charge plus local processing costs. Letting the license lapse is not itself a crime in Georgia because permitless carry still covers you in-state, but it ends your reciprocity in every other state until you get a new one.
Where the License Does Not Let You Carry
Even with a valid license, Georgia law bars firearms in specific locations under O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127.5Justia. Georgia Code 16-11-127 – Carrying Weapons or Long Guns in Unauthorized Locations Courthouses are off-limits to everyone, license holders included. Non-courthouse government buildings are generally open to lawful weapons carriers, which is a distinction people get wrong often — the two are not treated the same. Jails and prisons, state mental health facilities that admit patients involuntarily, nuclear power facilities, and the area within 150 feet of an active polling place are all prohibited.
Places of worship are prohibited by default, but a congregation’s governing body can vote to allow lawful weapons carriers. If no permission has been granted, carrying there as a license holder is punishable by a fine of up to $100 rather than arrest.
A separate statute, O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127.1, prohibits weapons on the grounds of any public or private elementary, secondary, or technical school, on a school bus, or at a school function. A narrow exception lets a lawful weapons carrier keep a firearm on their person or in their vehicle during a quick student pickup or drop-off, but you cannot linger on campus.
Federal property is a separate matter entirely. Under 18 U.S.C. § 930, possessing a firearm in any federal facility is a federal crime carrying up to one year in prison, or up to two years in a federal courthouse.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 930 – Possession of Firearms and Dangerous Weapons in Federal Facilities Post offices, VA hospitals, Social Security offices, federal courthouses, and military installations all qualify. Your Georgia license has no effect there.
Private property owners can also prohibit firearms through posted signs or verbal notice. Ignoring that notice can result in a trespassing charge.
Carrying in Other States
Reciprocity shifts. States can add Georgia to their list or drop it, and some recognize the Georgia license only with conditions, marked by an asterisk on the Attorney General’s chart. Check the current status of every state along your route, not just your destination, before any trip. Carrying in a state that does not recognize the Georgia license is a crime under that state’s law.
If Your Application Is Denied
Under O.C.G.A. § 16-11-129(j), the probate judge must inform you of your rights when denying an application. You can request a hearing before the same judge to argue that you do qualify, or file a mandamus action asking a court to order the license issued. If you win, the statute entitles you to recover your costs, including reasonable attorney’s fees. The same rights apply if the court fails to act on your application within the required timeframe.
Most denials come from criminal history records, and database errors are more common than most people expect. Before filing anything, request your criminal history from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to see exactly what the background check returned. Correcting a wrong record is often faster and cheaper than a formal hearing.