Alaska Concealed Carry Permit Basics

Alaska Concealed Handgun Permit (ACHP) — Permit Basics

Alaska is a constitutional carry (permitless carry) state, meaning any person who is legally allowed to possess a firearm may carry a concealed handgun without a permit. However, Alaska still issues concealed handgun permits through the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS), Division of Statewide Services, primarily for the purposes of reciprocity with other states and to obtain a NICS-exempt designation on the permit.

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Who May Apply

Age Requirement

• Applicants must be 21 years of age or older (per AS 18.65.705(1)).

Residency Requirement

• Applicants must be a resident of Alaska and must have been a resident for the 90 days immediately preceding the application (per AS 18.65.705(3)).
• Under AS 01.10.055, a person establishes residency by being physically present in the state with the intent to remain indefinitely and maintaining a principal place of abode in the state for at least 30 days.
• Non-residents cannot obtain an Alaska concealed handgun permit. Per the DPS FAQ: "Alaska concealed permits can be issued only to persons who are and have been physically in Alaska for at least 90 days and who intend to remain in Alaska indefinitely."
• Legal resident aliens who reside in Alaska may obtain a permit, provided they meet the 90-day residency requirement and intend to remain indefinitely.

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Eligibility Qualifications (AS 18.65.705)

A person is qualified to receive and hold a permit if the person:

1. Is 21 years of age or older (AS 18.65.705(1))
2. Is eligible to own or possess a handgun under both Alaska state law and federal law (AS 18.65.705(2))
3. Is an Alaska resident for at least 90 days immediately preceding the application (AS 18.65.705(3))
4. Has not been convicted of two or more Class A misdemeanors of Alaska (or similar offenses in another jurisdiction) within the six years immediately preceding the application (AS 18.65.705(4))
5. Is not currently in, and has not in the three years immediately preceding the application been ordered by a court to complete, an alcohol or substance abuse treatment program (AS 18.65.705(5))
6. Has successfully completed a handgun course as provided in AS 18.65.715 (AS 18.65.705(6))

Disqualifying Factors

• Felony convictions: A felony conviction disqualifies an applicant. Under 13 AAC 30.900(6), a "conviction" means a person has entered a plea of guilty or no contest to, or has been found guilty of, a criminal offense — regardless of whether the judgment was later set aside under AS 12.55.085 or a similar procedure. A set-aside felony conviction still disqualifies an applicant.
• Felony and firearm possession: Under AS 11.61.200, it is a class C felony for a person convicted of a felony to knowingly possess a concealable firearm or a concealed firearm.
• Pardons and set-asides for felonies: Per DPS guidance, a pardon requires submission of a certified copy of the pardon paperwork. A set-aside requires a certified copy of the court order. If 10 or more years have passed since unconditional discharge from a felony, a certified copy of documentation from the Alaska Department of Corrections (or equivalent entity of another state) reflecting the date of unconditional discharge is required.
• Two or more Class A misdemeanor convictions within the preceding six years, regardless of whether the convictions were later set aside or pardoned (per AS 18.65.705(4) and DPS FAQ).
• Court-ordered alcohol or substance abuse treatment within the preceding three years (per AS 18.65.705(5)).
• Physical infirmity that prevents the safe handling of a handgun (per AS 18.65.700(a)(8)).
• Persons who cannot legally possess firearms and ammunition under state or federal law cannot obtain a permit (per DPS FAQ).

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Application Process (AS 18.65.700 & AS 18.65.710)

How to Apply

1. Complete an approved handgun training course (must be completed within 12 months immediately preceding the application, per AS 18.65.715(a)).
2. Apply in person at an Alaska State Trooper office (per AS 18.65.700(a)(1)). Applications cannot be submitted by another person on your behalf.
3. Show a valid Alaska driver's license or identification card at the time of application (per AS 18.65.700(a)(7)).

Required Materials

• Completed application form approved by the department (per AS 18.65.700(a)(3))
• One complete set of fingerprints in the format approved by the department, taken by a DPS-approved person, group, or agency (per AS 18.65.700(a)(4)). Fingerprints are used for both state criminal justice information checks (under AS 12.62) and a national criminal history record check (under AS 12.62.400).
• Certificate of successful completion of an approved handgun course (per AS 18.65.700(a)(5))
• One frontal-view color photograph taken within the preceding 30 days, including head and shoulders, of a size specified by the department (per AS 18.65.700(a)(6))
• Application fee of $87.00 (per DPS FAQ; the statutory maximum is $99 per AS 18.65.720)

Application Information Required (AS 18.65.710(a))

• Full name, physical residence, mailing address, place and date of birth
• Physical description (height, weight, race, hair color, eye color)
• Alaska driver's license or identification card number
• City and state of each place of residence for the five years immediately preceding the application
• Statements affirming qualification, understanding of laws, lawful purpose, truthfulness, and authorization of investigation
• The department may not inquire about any firearms owned by the applicant (per AS 18.65.710(b))

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Handgun Course Requirements (AS 18.65.715)

The approved handgun course must test the applicant's:

1. Knowledge of Alaska law relating to firearms and the use of deadly force
2. Familiarity with basic concepts of safe and responsible use of handguns
3. Knowledge of self-defense principles
4. Physical competence with a handgun

• The National Rifle Association's personal protection course is specifically named as an approvable course (per AS 18.65.715(a)).
• The department maintains a list of approved courses available to the public upon request (per AS 18.65.715(d)).
• The certificate of competence may not be required to contain identifying information about a specific handgun (make, model, or serial number) (per AS 18.65.715(c)).

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Processing Timeline

• The department must approve or reject an application within 30 days of receipt (per AS 18.65.700(b)).
• If fingerprint eligibility information has not been received from another agency within the 30-day period and the applicant is otherwise eligible, the department shall issue a conditional permit subject to immediate revocation if fingerprint results later show ineligibility (per AS 18.65.700(b)).
• Rejections must be provided to the applicant in writing with the reason stated (per AS 18.65.700(b)).

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Fees (AS 18.65.720 & DPS FAQ)

All fees are nonrefundable (per AS 18.65.720).

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Permit Duration & Expiration

• A permit expires on the holder's birthday in the fifth year following issuance, for a total period not to exceed five years (per AS 18.65.700(d)).
• The department may adjust the length of an initial permit so that it does not exceed five years (per AS 18.65.700(d)).
• The department shall mail a notice of expiration by first class mail at least 90 days before expiration (per AS 18.65.725(f)).

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Renewal (AS 18.65.725)

• Apply for renewal within 90 days before the permit expiration date.
• Renewal applications need not be submitted in person — they may be mailed to the Alaska Concealed Carry Office at 5700 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, AK 99507.
• No new handgun course is required for renewal.
• Required materials: completed renewal form, updated photograph (within 30 days), $25 fee, and a statement that the permittee remains qualified under AS 18.65.705.
• Late renewals (submitted after expiration): subject to an additional $25 late fee. The department will not accept a renewal for a permit expired more than 60 days (per AS 18.65.725(c)).
• A permittee who is no longer a resident of Alaska may not renew the permit (per AS 18.65.725(e)), but is not required to surrender the permit upon leaving the state.

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Replacement Permits (AS 18.65.730)

• If a permit is lost, stolen, or destroyed, the permittee must apply in person at an Alaska State Trooper office.
• Required: completed replacement application, photograph (within 30 days), oath certifying the permit was lost/stolen/destroyed, and $25 fee.

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Address & Name Changes

• Address change: Must notify DPS within 30 days of the change by submitting a change of address notification (DPS Form #12-299-88) to the concealed carry office.
• Name change: Must submit a replacement application in person at an Alaska State Trooper office with a certified copy of a court or public document reflecting the change and a $25 fee.

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Honorably Retired Peace Officers (AS 18.65.700(e))

• An honorably retired peace officer of Alaska may apply for a concealed handgun permit within one year of retirement.
• Must satisfy most standard requirements (AS 18.65.700(a)(1)–(3) and (6)–(9)) but is exempt from the fingerprint requirement (AS 18.65.700(a)(4)).
• Must complete the handgun course unless the officer qualified with a handgun within five years of retirement.
• The department issues the permit without submitting information to or receiving eligibility information from the FBI.
• Officers who retired before the concealed carry program was established cannot be "grandfathered" into the exemption — the one-year-from-retirement deadline applies.

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NICS-Exempt Designation

• Applicants may voluntarily request a "NICS-Exempt" designation on their concealed handgun permit by submitting a supplemental form (NICS-Exempt Concealed Handgun Permit Supplement) with a new, renewal, or replacement application.
• This designation may allow the permit holder to bypass the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check when purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer.

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Appeals Process

• A person whose application is rejected may appeal to the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety (per AS 18.65.700(c)).
• A person may seek judicial review of the Commissioner's decision under AS 44.62.560–44.62.570 (per AS 18.65.700(c)).
• For revocations, the appeal must be received in writing within 30 days after the date of the notice of revocation (per AS 18.65.740 as referenced in DPS correspondence).

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Reciprocity & Out-of-State Recognition

• Whether an Alaska concealed handgun permit is recognized in another state depends entirely on that state's laws (per DPS FAQ).
• Under AS 18.65.748, permit holders from other jurisdictions may be considered Alaska permit holders under certain conditions.
• All persons physically present in Alaska who can legally possess firearms and ammunition may carry concealed firearms, except in certain prohibited locations (per DPS FAQ).
• The DPS maintains a reciprocity list, but it is updated only once per year and may not reflect current law in other states.

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Confidentiality

• Permits, applications, and other materials are not public records (per AS 18.65.770).

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Municipal Preemption

• Under AS 18.65.778, municipalities are preempted from enacting conflicting concealed handgun regulations.

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Federal Considerations

• FOPA (Firearm Owners' Protection Act): Not addressed in available sources specific to Alaska permit materials, but federal law provides protections for interstate transport of legally possessed firearms.
• LEOSA (Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act): Not directly addressed in available sources, though the honorably retired peace officer provisions in AS 18.65.700(e) provide a state-level parallel pathway.
• Applicants must be eligible to possess a handgun under both state and federal law (per AS 18.65.705(2)).

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Pending Legislation or Recent Court Decisions

Not addressed in available sources.

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Key Statutes and Regulations