Maryland Non-Resident Concealed Carry Permit: Training, Fees, Renewal

A Maryland non-resident concealed carry permit is issued by the Maryland State Police under the same rules that apply to residents, and you need one to legally carry a handgun anywhere in the state. Maryland does not recognize any other state’s concealed carry permit, so your Virginia, Pennsylvania, Florida, or Utah credential has no legal weight the moment you cross the state line.¹ Carrying without a Maryland Wear and Carry Permit is a felony under Maryland Criminal Law, not a ticketable offense. Since the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, Maryland no longer requires applicants to show a “good and substantial reason” to carry, which had been the biggest barrier for out-of-state applicants.²

Who Qualifies

Maryland Public Safety Code § 5-306 sets the qualifications, and it draws no distinction between residents and non-residents. There is no residency requirement, and no extra hurdle attaches to an out-of-state applicant.³

You must be at least 21, unless you are an active member of the armed forces, National Guard, or uniformed services. The following will disqualify you:

Any felony conviction, or a misdemeanor for which a sentence of more than one year of imprisonment was actually imposed. A pardon or federal relief under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c) may restore eligibility.
Any conviction for possession, use, or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance.
Active supervised probation for a crime punishable by a year or more of imprisonment, certain DUI offenses, or violation of a protective order.
Current alcoholism, drug addiction, or habitual use of a controlled substance outside legitimate medical supervision. The statute has no fixed lookback; the test is current status.
Involuntary admission to a mental health facility for more than 30 consecutive days, or a mental disorder with a history of violent behavior.
Being the respondent of an active protective order, extreme risk protective order, or any court order barring firearm possession.

The Secretary of State Police also has to conclude, based on the background investigation, that you have not shown a propensity for violence or instability that would make possession of a handgun dangerous.³

The 16-Hour Training Course

First-time applicants must complete a 16-hour firearms training course taught by a Qualified Handgun Instructor registered with the Maryland State Police. The course covers Maryland firearms law, home firearm safety, handgun operation and handling, and a live-fire proficiency demonstration on which you must score at least 70 percent.⁴

Your instructor issues a certificate with their unique Qualified Handgun Instructor number, and you upload that certificate during the application. Keep a digital and physical copy. Expect roughly $250 or more for the course, with pricing varying by provider. Non-residents can complete this course anywhere the instructor is certified to teach it; the instructor’s Maryland registration is what matters, not your location.

Training Exemptions

Several categories of applicants can skip the training entirely, though they still have to apply and pass the background investigation:

Active law enforcement officers at the federal, state, or local level
Retired law enforcement officers from those same agencies
Active, retired, or honorably discharged members of the armed forces or National Guard
Qualified Handgun Instructors registered with the Maryland State Police
Anyone who has already completed a course given by a Qualified Handgun Instructor

Fingerprinting Requires a Trip to Maryland

This is the sticking point for non-residents. Maryland requires LiveScan electronic fingerprinting from an approved provider, and the Maryland State Police explicitly do not accept out-of-state LiveScan submissions.¹ Ink cards from your local police department will not substitute unless routed through a state-authorized channel.

Plan on at least one trip into Maryland specifically to get printed. Some providers accept walk-ins; scheduling in advance is the safer bet during busy periods. The fingerprinting fee is separate from the application fee and varies by provider.

Application, Documents, and Fee

The application itself is submitted online through the Maryland State Police Licensing Portal. Before you start, have the following ready:

A digital copy of your training certificate, showing the instructor’s identification number
A recent passport-style color photo taken within the last six months
Three personal references, none related to you by blood or marriage, who can speak to your character
Your residential and employment history with dates
Confirmation that your LiveScan fingerprints were processed through a Maryland-authorized provider

The initial application fee is $125, paid electronically when you submit. It is non-refundable, even if the application is denied.¹ Between the 16-hour course, LiveScan fingerprinting, travel into Maryland, and the application fee, a non-resident should budget at least $400 to $500 for the full process.

Background Investigation and Timeline

The State Police Licensing Division has 90 days to review the application, complete the background investigation, and issue a decision.¹ An investigator may contact your three references and may reach out to you directly to clarify anything in the application. Your fingerprints run against national criminal databases, so out-of-state convictions surface the same as Maryland ones.

When the review finishes, you get an email directing you back to the portal for the decision. If approved, a physical permit card is mailed to the address on your application. You must carry that card whenever you have a handgun on your person in Maryland.

How Long the Permit Lasts and How to Renew

The initial permit expires on the last day of your birth month, two years after the issue date.⁵ After that, renewals run in three-year cycles. The renewal fee drops to $75, and the training requirement shortens from 16 hours to 8.¹

File your renewal at least 90 days before expiration. If you submit at least 14 days before the permit lapses, you can keep carrying while the renewal is pending. Let it expire, and you lose the permit entirely, which means starting over with the full 16 hours and a fresh set of LiveScan prints.

Where You Cannot Carry in Maryland

Maryland’s Gun Safety Act of 2023 (Senate Bill 1) added a long list of places where firearms are prohibited even with a valid Wear and Carry Permit.⁶ Portions of the law have been challenged in federal court, and as of early 2026 some provisions were subject to injunctions with litigation still active. Check the Maryland State Police site for current guidance before you carry.

As written, the statute prohibits carry in preschools, private K-12 schools and their grounds, health care facilities, buildings owned or leased by state or local government, public and private college and university buildings, polling places during elections, and critical energy infrastructure including power plants and nuclear facilities. Stadiums, museums, racetracks, video lottery facilities, and locations licensed to sell alcohol or cannabis for on-site consumption are also restricted.

The law changed the default rule for private property. You may not carry onto someone else’s property unless the owner has posted signage permitting it or has given you express permission, and for dwellings you need express permission from the owner or their agent. Willful violation is a misdemeanor carrying up to one year of imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,000. The private property default and the bar and restaurant ban were among the provisions enjoined by a federal district court and remain in flux on appeal. When in doubt, leave the handgun secured in your vehicle.

Other Carrying Rules to Know

Maryland requires concealed carry only. Open carry is not permitted even with a valid Wear and Carry Permit. Maryland also bans magazines holding more than 10 rounds, so if your usual carry gun ships with higher-capacity magazines, swap them out before crossing the state line.

Keep the physical permit card on you whenever you are carrying. If you are stopped by law enforcement in Maryland, having the card ready avoids the kind of complication a non-resident least wants to sort out far from home.

1
Maryland Department of State Police. Wear and Carry Permit
2
Maryland Courts. In the Matter of William Rounds
3
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Public Safety Code Section 5-306 (2025)
4
Cornell Law Institute. Maryland Code of Regulations COMAR 29.03.02.05 – Training Requirement
5
Maryland General Assembly. Maryland Public Safety Code 5-309
6
Maryland General Assembly. SB 1 – Criminal Law – Wearing, Carrying, or Transporting Firearms – Restrictions (Gun Safety Act of 2023)