MN Conceal and Carry Renewal: Deadlines, Training, and Filing

A Minnesota conceal and carry renewal must be filed in person at your county sheriff’s office within the 90 days before your permit expires, with a fresh training certificate completed within the previous year, a photo ID, the signed application, and a fee capped at $75. Miss the expiration date and you get a 30-day grace period with a $10 late fee, during which you cannot legally carry. Miss that too and you start over as a new applicant.

Renewal Timeline and Deadlines

Your permit expires at midnight on the date printed on the card. The renewal window opens 90 days before that date, and filing early costs you nothing: the renewed permit takes effect on the expiration date of your old one, so you get the full five years no matter where in the window you apply.¹

If the expiration date passes before you file, you have 30 days to submit a late renewal. That grace period adds $10 to the standard fee. During those 30 days your permit is not valid. Carrying while your late renewal is being processed is illegal until the new permit is physically in your hands.²

Once the 30-day late window closes, renewal is off the table. You would have to apply as a first-time applicant, with a processing fee of up to $100 and the full new-application process from the start.¹

The practical takeaway: apply early enough that the new card arrives while your old permit is still valid. Sheriff’s offices have 30 days after you submit to approve or deny, and if your old permit lapses during that review, you cannot carry until the new one is in hand.

Training You Have to Redo

Every renewal cycle requires a new training certificate. You cannot reuse the one from your original application or a prior renewal. The course must be completed within one year before the date you submit your renewal application.¹

The course itself has to cover three things: the fundamentals of pistol use, including handling, loading, safe storage, and basic marksmanship; a live shooting qualification on a range, which no online-only course can substitute for; and legal instruction on the rules for carrying and using a pistol, including when deadly force is justified.¹

Instructor Credentials

Your instructor has to be certified as a firearms instructor within the past five years by an organization or government entity approved by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. The instructor signs the completion certificate you submit with your packet. If the credential has lapsed or the approving body is not on the DPS list, the sheriff’s office can reject your application. Confirming the instructor’s status before you enroll saves you the fee and the time.¹

What Training Costs

Renewal courses in Minnesota generally run between $50 and $150 depending on the provider and whether range fees are bundled in. These costs are separate from the sheriff’s office application fee. Some ranges include range time in the price; others charge for it on top.

What to Bring and What It Costs

The application packet is short, but a missing item can push your renewal back weeks. Bring all of the following:

The completed and signed Minnesota Permit to Carry Application, available through most county sheriff’s offices.
A photocopy of the training certificate your instructor signed. Bring the original as well; some offices want to see it for verification.
A photocopy of your current Minnesota driver’s license, state ID card, or the photo page of your passport.¹

The renewal fee is capped at $75 by state law. Your county may charge less if its processing costs are lower. Filing during the 30-day late window brings the total to $85.¹

How and Where to File

You have to apply in person. Minnesota does not accept online or mailed renewals. Residents file at the sheriff’s office in their county of residence. Non-residents may file at any county sheriff’s office in the state.³

After submission, the sheriff’s office runs a background check and has 30 days to approve or deny. State law prohibits the office from discussing the status of your application with you during that review. If approved, the new permit card is mailed to the address on your application.⁴

If Your Renewal Is Denied

A denial is not final. You can appeal by filing a petition in the district court of the county where you submitted your application. The court must hold a hearing within 60 days, and the judge reviews the facts fresh rather than deferring to the sheriff’s decision.¹

The burden is on the sheriff. To sustain the denial, the sheriff must show by clear and convincing evidence that you are disqualified or that you pose a substantial danger to yourself or others. Unsubstantiated allegations of criminal behavior that were never investigated and documented cannot be used against you. If the court rules for you, it orders the permit issued and awards reasonable costs and attorney fees.¹

Federal Disqualifiers That Will Block a Renewal

Even if you meet every Minnesota requirement, federal law can bar you from possessing firearms at all. A disqualifying event that occurs between renewals ends your eligibility regardless of what your state permit says, and the sheriff’s background check will catch it.⁵

The federally prohibited categories include:

Conviction of any crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment, in any court.
Being a fugitive from justice.
Current unlawful use of, or addiction to, a controlled substance as defined under federal law.
Adjudication as mentally defective or involuntary commitment to a mental institution. Voluntarily seeking treatment does not trigger this.
Dishonorable discharge from the military.
Renunciation of U.S. citizenship.
An active domestic violence protective order issued after a hearing with notice and an opportunity to participate.
A misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence.

If any of these apply, filing a renewal will produce a denial and can draw law enforcement attention to the fact that you currently possess firearms in violation of federal law. Talk to an attorney before applying if you have any doubt about your eligibility.⁵

1
Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes. Minnesota Statutes Section 624.714
2
Isanti County, MN. Renewal of Permit to Carry
3
Ramsey County, Minnesota. Permit to Carry Application Process
4
Sherburne County, MN. Permit to Carry
5
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 922 – Unlawful Acts