A Wisconsin CCW license renewal costs $22, requires no new firearms training, and can be submitted starting 120 days before your license expires and up to 90 days after the expiration date. The Wisconsin Department of Justice mails a renewal notice to your address on file at least 90 days before expiration, and you can complete the whole process online in a single sitting.1Wisconsin Department of Justice. Managing a CCW License One thing to know up front: an expired license is not valid for carry even while your renewal is being processed.
Your Renewal Window and Why the Date Matters
Every Wisconsin CCW license is valid for five years from the date it was issued. If you renew on or before the expiration date, your new license runs for five years from that expiration date, so you keep the full time. If you renew after expiration, the new five-year term starts from the date the renewal is issued, and you lose the overlap.2Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Code 175 – Miscellaneous Provisions
You have until 90 days after the expiration date to be treated as a renewal applicant. Miss that window and you start over as a new applicant, which means a higher fee and proof of firearms training all over again.2Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Code 175 – Miscellaneous Provisions
Being eligible to renew after your license expires is not the same as being able to carry during that gap. Carrying concealed without a valid license is a Class A misdemeanor in Wisconsin.3Wisconsin Department of Justice. Wisconsin Carrying Concealed Weapon Law Questions and Answers If your license lapses, stop carrying until the new card arrives.
What the Renewal Costs and Requires
The renewal fee is $22 total: a $12 application fee plus a $10 background check fee. The payment is nonrefundable.4Wisconsin Department of Justice. Concealed Weapon Renewal Application
No new training certificate is needed. The training you submitted with your original application still counts.1Wisconsin Department of Justice. Managing a CCW License The renewal application itself asks for your legal name, current Wisconsin residential address, and the license number from your existing permit, and you sign a statement confirming the information is accurate and that you remain eligible.4Wisconsin Department of Justice. Concealed Weapon Renewal Application
How to Submit the Application
The fastest route is the DOJ’s online portal at concealedcarry.doj.wi.gov. You enter your license information, confirm your eligibility, and pay the fee electronically. You’ll get a confirmation as soon as the submission goes through.5Wisconsin Department of Justice. Renew Your CCW License
To renew by mail, send the completed paper form with your payment to:
Wisconsin Department of Justice
ATTN: Firearms Unit
P.O. Box 7130
Madison, WI 53707-71304Wisconsin Department of Justice. Concealed Weapon Renewal Application
Make your check or money order payable to “Wisconsin Department of Justice.” Confirm that your name and address on the application match what the DOJ has on file. Small discrepancies in spelling or formatting can slow processing.
The Background Check at Renewal
The DOJ runs a fresh background check every time you renew.6Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Code 175 – Miscellaneous Provisions Anything that changed since your last application will show up. To renew, you must be at least 21, a Wisconsin resident with a valid Wisconsin driver license or state ID, and not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law.4Wisconsin Department of Justice. Concealed Weapon Renewal Application
Federal law adds its own disqualifiers under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), including felony convictions, misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence, active qualifying restraining orders, unlawful drug use, certain mental health adjudications, dishonorable military discharges, and fugitive status. Any of these will result in a denial.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 Unlawful Acts The domestic violence provision catches more renewal applicants than most people expect. A misdemeanor assault involving a spouse or family member from years back still disqualifies you. If something on your record is a question mark, check before you pay the fee.
Processing Time
Wisconsin law requires the DOJ to issue your renewed license by first-class mail within 21 days of receiving a complete application and correct fee.2Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Code 175 – Miscellaneous Provisions Online submissions generally move faster because there’s no mailing delay at the front end. You can check status through the online portal.
The new card goes to the residential address on file. Renew on or before your expiration date and the new card should arrive while the old one is still valid, so you never have a gap in carry authority. Renew afterward and you have to wait, without carrying, for the card to show up.
If Your Renewal Is Denied
A denial arrives in writing with an explanation and an appeals form. There’s no additional charge to appeal. Fill out the form, attach any documentation that supports your case, and send it to the Firearms Unit. If the denial was based on a records mix-up or mistaken identity, include a fingerprint card prepared by your local law enforcement agency. The Firearms Unit must respond in writing within 30 days of receiving the appeal.1Wisconsin Department of Justice. Managing a CCW License
Keep Your Address Current
If you move during your five-year license period, notify the DOJ in writing within 30 days.8Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Administrative Code Jus 18.07 – Change of Address This is directly tied to renewal: the 90-day renewal notice goes to whatever address the DOJ has on record. An outdated address can mean the notice never reaches you and the renewal window closes without your knowing. You can also request a replacement card with your new address once you’ve reported the change.