New Mexico requires a state-issued license to carry a concealed handgun. It is not a permitless concealed-carry state. The Concealed Handgun Carry Act, NMSA...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
New Mexico requires a state-issued license to carry a concealed handgun. It is not a permitless concealed-carry state. The Concealed Handgun Carry Act, NMSA 1978 Sections 29-19-1 through 29-19-15, sets the fees, training, and renewal costs described below. Open carry of a loaded firearm by a person who may lawfully possess one is generally legal without a license, so the costs on this page apply to the concealed-carry license, not to open carry.
The application fee is set by NMSA 1978 Section 29-19-5, and the renewal fee is set by NMSA 1978 Section 29-19-6. The license is issued by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety (DPS). All money the department receives under the Concealed Handgun Carry Act is deposited in the "concealed handgun carry fund" created by NMSA 1978 Section 29-19-13, which the legislature appropriates back to the department to administer the Act.
Because the statute states the application fee as a maximum rather than a fixed amount, confirm the current charge on the DPS application form before submitting payment.
The principal state-level costs payable to the Department of Public Safety are:
| Item | Statutory Authority | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Initial CHL application fee | NMSA 1978 Section 29-19-5(B)(2) | Up to $100 |
| 4-year renewal fee | NMSA 1978 Section 29-19-6(F)(2) | $75 |
| Duplicate / replacement license | NMSA 1978 Section 29-19-6(E) | "Reasonable fee" set by DPS |
A few points on the table:
Beyond the state fee, a first-time applicant typically pays several third-party costs. These are not set by the Concealed Handgun Carry Act and vary by provider:
Training is usually the largest single cost. Under Section 29-19-7(A), an approved firearms training course "shall be not less than fifteen hours in length," must include classroom and range instruction, and requires the applicant to demonstrate the ability to safely use a handgun of at least .32 caliber. The course covers the largest caliber and the category (semiautomatic or not semiautomatic) the applicant wants licensed, so a broader endorsement can mean a longer or more expensive course.
Approved firearms-training instructors do not have to complete the training course themselves. Section 29-19-4(C) exempts department-approved instructors from the Subsection A(10) training requirement, which removes that cost for them.
A New Mexico concealed handgun license is valid for four years from issuance under Section 29-19-3, and a renewed license is also valid for four years. To renew, Section 29-19-6(F) requires the licensee to submit a completed renewal form, the $75 renewal fee, and a certificate of completion of a four-hour refresher firearms training course approved by the department.
There is also a mid-cycle training cost that is easy to miss. Section 29-19-6(H) requires a separate two-hour refresher course two years after the issuance of an original or renewed license, taken 22 to 26 months after issuance, with the certificate filed within 30 days of completion. Budget for that two-hour refresher in addition to the four-hour renewal course.
A four-hour refresher course commonly costs $50 to $125, and the two-hour mid-cycle refresher less. Typical renewal cost is the $75 fee plus refresher tuition.
For a first-time applicant, the total cost to obtain a New Mexico concealed handgun license is generally in the range of $235 to $440. A typical breakdown:
For a standard renewal, the typical cost is $125 to $200:
Plan separately for the two-hour mid-cycle refresher required at the two-year mark.
New Mexico law contains two specific, mandatory fee waivers. These are written into the statute, not left to department discretion.
A "military service person" who submits satisfactory documentation pays no application fee and no renewal fee. Section 29-19-15(A) states that for such an applicant or licensee "an application fee or renewal fee is not required." If the person was discharged from military service within 20 years of the application, no firearms training course or refresher course is required either. The statute defines a military service person to include those on active duty, on reserve or guard duty, and veterans or retirees who received an honorable discharge documented on a DD Form 214. A military service person's license is marked "military service person" and is valid for five years under Section 29-19-15(C).
Section 29-19-14(A) waives the application fee, the renewal fee, and the firearms training course for a current or retired certified law enforcement officer, and for a current New Mexico mounted patrol member who has completed the required basic training. A retired officer qualifies for the fee waiver if the officer served as a certified law enforcement officer for at least 15 years before retiring and retired in good standing, shown by a letter from the agency. A retired officer who has been retired 10 years or less does not have to complete a training course; one retired more than 10 years must complete a course but may use a local agency's qualification course if the officer supplies their own handgun, ammunition, targets, and range equipment.
Apart from these two statutory exemptions, there is no broad "free license" provision. Every other applicant pays the statutory fee.
Fingerprinting is a required out-of-pocket cost for most applicants. Section 29-19-5(B)(3) requires two full sets of fingerprints, and Section 29-19-5(C) permits a law enforcement agency to charge a reasonable fee to take them. The department uses the fingerprints for the FBI national background check under Section 29-19-5(D). Money collected under the Act, including fees, supports the state's criminal history database through the concealed handgun carry fund described in Section 29-19-13.
The Concealed Handgun Carry Act does not specify accepted payment methods; those are handled administratively by DPS. Confirm accepted payment methods, exact current charges, and any replacement or change-of-address processing fees on the most recent DPS application form or by contacting the department directly. Section 29-19-6(D) separately requires a licensee to notify the department within 30 days of a name or address change and within 10 days if the license is lost, stolen, or destroyed.
Statutory fees can be amended by the New Mexico Legislature, and the renewal fee history shows this can happen: the renewal fee was $50 before the 2005 amendment raised it to $75. The application-fee statute states a maximum of $100, so the actual charge may be set at or below that cap on the current DPS form. Before submitting an application, confirm current fees by consulting the DPS application form, contacting the Department of Public Safety, or reading the current published text of NMSA 1978 Sections 29-19-5 and 29-19-6.
This page covers one part of our New Mexico concealed carry guide.
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