To register a handgun in Michigan, you document the transfer on a state-issued Firearm Sales Record (form RI-060) at the time of sale, using either a valid Concealed Pistol License or a License to Purchase you obtained beforehand, and the seller submits the law enforcement copy to a local police department or sheriff’s office within 10 days. That process, set out in MCL 28.422 and 28.422a, is what Michigan means by registration. There is no separate certificate and no annual renewal.
Confirm You’re Eligible First
Before any paperwork, you have to be legally allowed to possess a pistol. Federal law bars several categories of people from having any firearm, including anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in prison, anyone subject to certain domestic violence restraining orders, anyone convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, anyone involuntarily committed to a mental institution, and unlawful users of controlled substances.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts On top of that, the local issuing authority for a License to Purchase can deny an application if there is probable cause to believe the applicant would be a threat to themselves or others, or would use the firearm to commit a crime.2Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 28.422
If any of those bars applies to you, you cannot legally complete this process, and no amount of paperwork changes that.
Get a License to Purchase (or Use Your CPL)
If you don’t hold a valid Michigan Concealed Pistol License, your first stop is your local police department or sheriff’s office to apply for a License to Purchase. The permit, issued on form RI-010a, confirms your eligibility through a background check and has to be in your hand before you take possession of the pistol.2Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 28.422 It’s either free or carries a nominal processing fee depending on the jurisdiction.
The issuing authority is required to process applications with “due speed and diligence.” Some agencies finish the check the same day; others take several business days. Plan around that if you’re buying from a private seller who won’t hold the firearm indefinitely. Once issued, the License to Purchase is valid for 30 days, so your transaction has to close inside that window.
A valid CPL lets you skip this step. Your concealed pistol license satisfies the state background check and also qualifies as an alternative to the federal NICS check at a dealer.3Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Brady Permit Chart You still have to complete the RI-060; you just enter your CPL number where a non-CPL buyer would enter an LTP number.
Complete the Firearm Sales Record (RI-060)
Every pistol transfer in Michigan, dealer or private, has to be documented on the Firearm Sales Record, form RI-060.4Michigan State Police. Forms – Section: Firearms and Background Records The form is a triplicate, and the seller is responsible for filling it out legibly and completely.5Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 28.422a The Michigan State Police recommends completing it electronically and printing on white paper.
The form captures three sets of information:
- Buyer details: full name, address, date of birth, and either a CPL number or License to Purchase number.
- Firearm details: manufacturer, model, caliber, and serial number.
- Seller details: full name and address, plus an FFL number if the seller is a licensed dealer.
Buyer and seller both sign, and the three copies are distributed: one stays with the seller, one goes to the buyer, and the third — labeled the “Police Department/Sheriff’s Office Copy” — goes to law enforcement. Your buyer’s copy is your proof that the transfer happened; keep it somewhere safe. Blank RI-060s are available on the Michigan State Police website, from licensed dealers, or at your local law enforcement office.
The 10-Day Deadline and What “Registered” Looks Like
The seller has to return the law enforcement copy of the RI-060 to a local police department or sheriff’s office within 10 days of the sale.2Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 28.422 Delivery can be in person or by first-class or certified mail postmarked inside the 10 days. Some agencies also run drop boxes for after-hours submissions.
Once the form reaches law enforcement, the information is entered into the MiPistol database, which functions as Michigan’s pistol registry. You will not get a certificate, card, or confirmation letter. The buyer’s copy of the RI-060 is your registration record.
Penalties for Missing the Deadline or Falsifying the Form
A seller who misses the 10-day submission window commits a state civil infraction and can be fined up to $250.2Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 28.422 If a court finds the seller responsible, the Michigan State Police is notified.
Falsifying the form is far more serious. Anyone who makes a materially false statement on an RI-060 commits a felony punishable by up to four years in prison, a fine of up to $2,500, or both.5Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 28.422a
Private Sales, Inheritance, and Moving to Michigan
Michigan holds private handgun sales to the same documentation rules as dealer sales. The buyer needs a valid CPL or a License to Purchase in hand before the transfer, the seller has to complete the RI-060, and the law enforcement copy has to be submitted within 10 days. There is no private-party exemption.
What differs is the practical side. A dealer has blank forms, knows the routine, and files them regularly. In a private sale, both parties have to source the form themselves and, if the buyer lacks a CPL, add a separate trip for a License to Purchase. Some private sellers prefer to close the deal at a licensed dealer’s shop to make sure the paperwork is correct, though dealers usually charge a transfer fee for that service.
Inheritance runs the same track. The person receiving the pistol needs a CPL or a License to Purchase, and the transfer is documented on an RI-060 with the executor or estate representative signing as the seller and returning the law enforcement copy.
Members of the Armed Forces who bring a firearm into Michigan while on leave or after discharge must license it within 30 days of arriving in the state.2Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 28.422 Civilians moving to Michigan from another state face the same underlying rule: you cannot legally possess a pistol in Michigan without a license for it. Once you’ve established residency, visit your local police department or sheriff’s office promptly to get a License to Purchase and complete an RI-060 for each pistol you brought with you. A Michigan CPL will streamline both this initial step and any later purchases.
Carry the Form for 30 Days
For 30 days after you acquire a pistol, you’re required to carry your buyer’s copy of the RI-060 whenever you carry, use, possess, or transport that pistol. After 30 days, the form no longer has to be on your person.5Michigan Legislature. MCL – Section 28.422a Store it safely at home once that window closes, since it’s still your proof of the transfer.