North Dakota Concealed Carry Permit Renewal Guide

North Dakota CWL Renewal Process

North Dakota Concealed Weapon Licenses (CWL) are issued for 5-year terms under N.D.C.C. 62.1-04-03. The renewal process differs between Class 1 and Class 2 licenses, and a license that has expired generally cannot be renewed - the holder must apply as a new applicant.

Renewal Window

A renewal application must be submitted within the 6-month window before the expiration date printed on the license card. Examples:

• License expiring August 1, 2027 -> renewal window opens February 1, 2027 and closes at midnight on August 1, 2027.
• License that expired on July 15, 2026 -> outside the renewal window; must reapply as a new applicant.

Plan to submit the application at least 60 days before the expiration date to allow BCI's standard processing time without a lapse.

Class 2 Renewal (Age 18+)

Class 2 renewal is the simpler track because no live-fire qualification was required at original issuance.

Requirements:

• File the renewal application with BCI within the 6-month window.
• Pay the renewal fee: $25 (cashier's check or money order to "ND Attorney General"; no personal checks).
• No retesting required.
• BCI uses fingerprints already on file - no new fingerprint card needed for routine Class 2 renewals.
• A current background check is conducted; the applicant must still satisfy all eligibility criteria.

Mailing:

BCI-CWL, PO Box 1054, Bismarck, ND 58502

Processing time: Up to 60 days. Plan accordingly to avoid a lapse.

Class 1 Renewal (Age 21+)

Class 1 renewal is treated as a full new application because the live-fire and classroom curriculum must be redone every 5 years to maintain the broader reciprocity footprint.

Requirements:

• Complete all required training and testing with a BCI-authorized concealed weapon test administrator, in North Dakota:
  • Classroom instruction.
  • Open-book written test.
  • Firearm-familiarity demonstration.
  • Live-fire proficiency test.
• File the new application packet with BCI within the 6-month window.
• Pay the full $60 application fee.
• Submit a current fingerprint card (FBI Form FD-258).
• Provide a current photograph per the form's specifications.
• Provide updated character references.

A complete Class 1 renewal packet is functionally identical to a new Class 1 application.

Expired Licenses Cannot Be Renewed

Under N.D.C.C. 62.1-04-03, an expired license is no longer valid and cannot be reactivated. Once expired:

• The holder must apply as a new applicant with full training and testing for the desired class.
• The application fee is the new-application fee, not the renewal fee.
• The applicant must satisfy current eligibility criteria, which may differ from the criteria at the time of original licensure if the law has changed in the interim.

Class Switch on Renewal

A Class 2 holder may upgrade to Class 1 at renewal by completing the additional training (classroom, firearm-familiarity demonstration, live-fire test) and submitting the new-application packet. The application fee is $60.

A Class 1 holder may downgrade to Class 2 by taking only the Class 2 written test at renewal and noting the class change on the application. The application fee is $25 (Class 2 renewal fee), provided the holder is within the 6-month renewal window.

Address and Name Changes

A licensee whose name or address changes during the term of the license should notify BCI in writing. Documentation:

• Name change: certified copy of the court order, marriage certificate, or divorce decree.
• Address change: confirmation of the new ND address (utility bill, lease, ND DL/ID showing the new address).

There is no automatic re-issuance for an address or name change unless the licensee requests a replacement card; address changes alone do not affect license validity.

Lost or Damaged License

A lost, stolen, or damaged license may be replaced by submitting a written request to BCI with:

• A statement of the circumstances (loss, theft, damage).
• A police report number if the license was stolen.
• The replacement fee (verify the current fee with BCI).

The replacement license retains the original expiration date.

Reciprocity After Renewal

Renewal restores the license for another 5 years and maintains the holder's reciprocity footprint:

• Class 1 renewal maintains Class 1 reciprocity in honoring states.
• Class 2 renewal maintains Class 2 reciprocity in honoring states.

A class downgrade or upgrade at renewal correspondingly adjusts the reciprocity footprint.

Confidentiality

Renewal applications are subject to the same confidentiality rule as new applications under N.D.C.C. 62.1-04-03. BCI will not confirm renewal status to any person, including the applicant. Use certified mail with return receipt for delivery confirmation, and allow the full processing window before inquiring.

Disqualifying Events Between Issuance and Renewal

If a licensee experiences any of the following between issuance and renewal, they are not eligible for renewal until and unless the disqualifying status is resolved:

• Felony conviction.
• Misdemeanor crime of domestic violence (including disorderly-conduct convictions on domestic-violence facts).
• Misdemeanor conviction involving violence with a weapon.
• Drug-addiction adjudication.
• Mental health adjudication or commitment.
• Dishonorable discharge.
• Domestic-violence protection order.
• Felon fugitive-from-justice status.
• Class 1 only: any alcohol-related conviction in the past 3 years.

A licensee who develops a disqualifying status during the license term must surrender the license to BCI. Failure to do so is a separate criminal offense.

Practical Renewal Checklist

• Mark your calendar for the 6-month window.
• For Class 1, schedule training and testing early within the window to allow time for any retake.
• For Class 2, file the renewal application and $25 fee promptly within the window.
• Use certified mail with return receipt.
• Allow up to 60 days for processing.
• Carry your existing CWL until your replacement card arrives - your existing card is valid until its printed expiration date.

Statutory References

Contact

• ND BCI Concealed Weapon Licensing Unit: (701) 328-5523
• Mailing: BCI-CWL, PO Box 1054, Bismarck, ND 58502
• Website: attorneygeneral.nd.gov (Concealed Weapon Licensing section)