Missouri does not require a permit for constitutional (permitless) concealed carry under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.030.3. The application process...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
Missouri does not require a permit for constitutional (permitless) concealed carry under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.030.3. The application process described below applies only to the optional CCP issued under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.101, the lifetime CCP under Section 571.215, and the senior CCP under Section 571.205 to 571.230.
The application is made to the sheriff of the applicant's county of residence (or, for residents of the City of St. Louis, to the chief of police of that city). Each issuing agency manages its own intake, fingerprinting, and turnaround. The statutory framework caps the fee and sets a maximum processing time of 45 days for a completed application.
Before applying, confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.101.2:
If any disqualifier applies, the application will be denied after the background check. Some disqualifiers (e.g., expungement of a felony, restoration of rights) can be addressed in advance; consult counsel.
Complete an eight-hour Missouri CCP training course under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.111 from a Department of Public Safety approved instructor. The training certificate must be in your name and dated within the period the sheriff accepts (typically one year; some sheriffs accept older certificates if the applicant has held a CCP within that time).
The application typically requires:
The applicant signs the application under penalty of perjury. False statements are punishable under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.117.
The applicant submits the completed package to the sheriff's office of the county of residence (or, for City of St. Louis residents, to the chief of police). Most sheriffs accept submissions during business hours; some require an appointment. A few accept mail-in submissions, but in-person submission is the norm because the sheriff must verify the applicant's identity.
The sheriff transmits fingerprints to the Missouri Highway Patrol and the FBI for the state and federal background checks.
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.101.3, the sheriff must act on a completed application within 45 days. If the background check returns clean and the application is complete, the sheriff issues the CCP. If the background check identifies a disqualifying record, or the application is materially incomplete, the sheriff issues a written denial with the reasons.
A denial may be appealed to circuit court under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.114.
The CCP is issued in the form of a wallet-size photo identification card. The applicant signs it, the issuing officer signs it, and it bears the applicant's photo, name, date of birth, address, and the issuing sheriff's seal or signature. The expiration date is on the card: five years from the date of issuance for a standard CCP, twenty-five years for a senior CCP, no expiration for a lifetime CCP.
The applicant should also visit the Missouri Department of Revenue to have the CCP-holder notation added to the driver's license under Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.121. This step is typically not done at the sheriff's office and may require a separate driver's license duplicate.
Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.107.5 (cross-referenced in Section 571.111) requires the CCP holder to notify the issuing sheriff of any change of address within 30 days. Failure to do so is grounds for suspension. The holder must also notify the Department of Revenue.
If the holder moves to a different Missouri county, the holder may continue to use the existing CCP until it expires; the new county does not re-issue. The holder should still notify both the old county sheriff and the Department of Revenue.
If the holder moves out of Missouri, the CCP becomes invalid; the holder should apply for a permit in the new state.
Applicants who are active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Reserves, or the National Guard, age 18 or older, may apply for a Missouri CCP if stationed in Missouri or maintaining Missouri residency. Some sheriffs accept active-duty orders in lieu of full Missouri residency documentation if the applicant is on temporary duty in Missouri.
Honorably discharged veterans receive certain fee considerations at the sheriff's discretion. Some counties waive part of the application fee for veterans. The applicant should present a DD-214.
Missouri does not issue non-resident CCPs. An applicant must be a Missouri resident to obtain a Missouri CCP. Non-residents may carry in Missouri under reciprocity if they hold a CCP issued by their home state (Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.030.5).
The 45-day statutory maximum applies only to complete applications. An incomplete application may be returned to the applicant; the 45-day clock restarts when the complete application is resubmitted.
| Statute | Subject |
|---|---|
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.101 | CCP issuance, eligibility, fee, 45-day processing |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.101.2 | Eligibility criteria |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.101.3 | 45-day processing requirement |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.111 | Training requirement |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.114 | Suspension, revocation, appeal |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.117 | False statement penalty |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.121 | Driver's license notation |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.205 to 571.230 | Senior CCP (25-year, age 65+) |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.215 | Lifetime CCP |
This section reflects Missouri law as of May 2026. Procedures, fees, and timelines vary by sheriff; confirm with the issuing agency in your county before applying.
This page covers one part of our Missouri concealed carry guide.
Read the complete Missouri guideBrowse local instructors offering state-approved training in your area. Book online, complete your training, and get one step closer to your concealed carry permit.