To get a License to Carry in Texas, you complete a state-approved handgun proficiency course, get digital fingerprints taken through IdentoGO, and file an online application with the Department of Public Safety along with a $40 fee. DPS then has up to 60 days to run background checks and either issue or deny the license. Plan on roughly $125 to $300 in total costs and a couple of months from start to finish.
Texas adopted permitless carry in 2021, so most adults 21 and older can already carry a handgun in the state without any license. The LTC still exists because it unlocks things permitless carry does not: reciprocity with dozens of other states, a skip past the federal NICS check at the gun counter, legal carry on public university campuses, and a federal school-zone exemption under 18 U.S.C. § 922(q).1Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Brady Permit Chart2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts3Department of Public Safety. LTC Benefits DPS keeps the current reciprocity list on its website.4Department of Public Safety. State Reciprocity Information
Check Whether You’re Eligible
Before you spend money on training or fingerprints, read the eligibility rules in Texas Government Code § 411.172. You must be at least 21 and a legal Texas resident for the six months before you apply. Active-duty military and some veterans may qualify at 18 under a separate provision of the same statute.5State of Texas. Texas Government Code 411.172 – Eligibility
You’re automatically ineligible under state law if you have a felony conviction of any kind at any time, are currently charged with a felony or a Class A or Class B misdemeanor, were convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor within the five years before you apply, are a fugitive from justice for one of those offenses, or are chemically dependent or otherwise unable to exercise sound judgment about the use and storage of a handgun.5State of Texas. Texas Government Code 411.172 – Eligibility
Federal law adds its own bars under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), and these apply no matter what state law says. You cannot possess a firearm, let alone hold an LTC, if you’ve been convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, are under indictment for one, use or are addicted to a controlled substance, have been adjudicated mentally defective or committed to a mental institution, are in the country unlawfully, were dishonorably discharged, are subject to a qualifying domestic violence restraining order, or were convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts
The domestic violence disqualifiers catch more people than any other item on the list. A misdemeanor family assault conviction may not look like a serious record on paper, but it triggers a lifetime federal firearms ban with no expiration.
Complete a State-Approved Handgun Course
Every LTC applicant has to finish a handgun proficiency course taught by a certified instructor. The course has two parts: classroom instruction and a live-fire proficiency demonstration.
Classroom instruction runs four to six hours and covers four required topics: laws on weapons and the use of deadly force, handgun use and safety including holster methods, nonviolent dispute resolution, and proper handgun storage with an emphasis on preventing child access. You can take this part in person from a certified LTC instructor or through an approved online provider.5State of Texas. Texas Government Code 411.172 – Eligibility
The live-fire portion cannot be done online. You go to a range with a certified instructor and shoot a required course of fire to show you can handle a handgun safely. If you did the classroom in person, your instructor fills out form LTC-100. If you took the classroom online, the online provider and the range instructor fill out LTC-101 instead. You’ll receive the original certificate and upload it later with your application.6Texas Department of Public Safety. Instructions for LTC-100 Certificate of Training
Course prices run roughly $75 to $250 depending on the instructor and whether range time and ammunition are included. If they’re not, budget another $25 to $75 on top.
Get Fingerprinted Through IdentoGO
Texas requires digital fingerprints for every LTC application, and the state uses IdentoGO as its contractor. Schedule an appointment on the IdentoGO website or by calling 888-467-2080, then show up at the location with a valid photo ID and a credit or debit card.7Department of Public Safety. LTC Fingerprint and Photo Information
The fingerprint fee is $10. Your prints go to DPS electronically and are matched to your application. DPS cannot process the application without them, so take care of this step before you submit or shortly after.
File the Online Application With DPS
With the training certificate in hand and fingerprints scheduled, log in to the DPS LTC portal and start the application. You’ll need your Texas driver’s license or state ID number, your Social Security number, and a digital copy of your LTC-100 or LTC-101 certificate.8Texas.gov. Welcome – License to Carry a Handgun
The application walks you through a series of eligibility questions that mirror the statute. Answer honestly. Submitting false information on the application is a criminal offense: tampering with a government record is a Class A misdemeanor carrying up to a year in county jail and up to a $4,000 fine, and it rises to a state jail felony if there was intent to defraud. Either conviction would permanently take you out of the running.
The standard fee is $40 for both new applications and renewals, paid by credit card or electronic check at the end of the online form. The fee is non-refundable. Texas law provides reduced fees for certain applicants, including active-duty military, veterans, and seniors.9Department of Public Safety. Application FAQs
A first-time applicant’s total out-of-pocket cost usually lands between $125 and $300: $40 for the state fee, $10 for prints, and $75 to $250 for the course with range fees and ammunition.
Wait for DPS Review and Your License Card
Once DPS has your application, certificate, prints, and payment, the statutory 60-day review window starts. During that time, DPS runs your information through the Texas Crime Information Center and the National Crime Information Center to confirm you have no disqualifying history.9Department of Public Safety. Application FAQs
If DPS needs more information or finds a record that needs clarification, the review can run past 60 days. You can log back in to the DPS portal anytime to check your status.8Texas.gov. Welcome – License to Carry a Handgun
After approval, DPS mails the physical card to the address on your Texas driver’s license. Most applicants get the card a couple of weeks after their status flips to “issued.” Make sure your DPS address and your driver’s license address match. A mismatch is one of the most common reasons the card never shows up.
What To Do If DPS Denies Your Application
A denial is appealable. DPS mails a written notice explaining the reason, and you have 30 calendar days from the date you receive it to file an appeal request. Appeals are heard in a Justice of the Peace court in the county where you live.10Department of Public Safety. License to Carry LTC Hearings
The JP court reviews the denial and either upholds or overturns it. Either side can take the case to county court from there. You can submit the appeal request through the DPS Contact Us page or by mail using the form that came with your denial notice. The 30-day deadline is firm. Miss it and you lose the right to challenge the denial.
Keeping Your License Current
A Texas LTC is valid for five years. DPS sends a renewal notice before yours expires, and the renewal fee is the same $40. You can renew online through the same portal, and Texas does not currently require renewal applicants to retake the training course, which makes renewal a much shorter process than the first time around.11Texas.gov. Texas Handgun License
If you move or change your name, Texas Government Code § 411.181 requires you to update your license information with DPS. Keep the address on your license matching your driver’s license at all times. If your license is lost, stolen, or damaged, you can request a duplicate through the same DPS portal for a small replacement fee.
One boundary worth knowing before you carry: an LTC doesn’t let you carry everywhere. Texas Penal Code §§ 46.03 and 46.035 and federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 930 both designate places where firearms are prohibited regardless of license status, and post offices are flatly off-limits under federal postal regulations even in the parking lot.12Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 930 – Possession of Firearms and Dangerous Weapons in Federal Facilities13eCFR. Conduct on Postal Property Review the restricted-location rules before you start carrying.