Tennessee Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map & Gun Laws

An applicant must:

• Be at least 21 years old or 18 for active duty, retired or honorably discharged members of the military;
• Have completed an approved firearms 8-hour safety course within the last 12 months for enhanced HCPs or a 90-minute online course, or equivalent for a concealed HCP;
• Be a resident of the state of Tennessee;
• Be a U.S. citizen or have permanent residency;
• Not have renounced their United States citizenship;
• Not be an illegal alien or unlawfully in the United States;
• Not have a felony conviction and not currently under indictment for a felony;
• Not have a charge pending for domestic violence and never have been convicted of domestic violence;
• Not be a fugitive from justice;
• Not have been discharged from the armed forces under dishonorable conditions;
• Not have an order of protection or a restraining order filed against them;
• Not be an unlawful user of or addicted to alcohol or any controlled substance or controlled substance analogue;
• Not be a patient in a rehabilitation program and not have been hospitalized for alcohol, controlled substance or controlled substance analogue within 10 years (if court ordered) or 3 years (if voluntary);
• Not have had 2 convictions for DUI in 10 years, with one of those being within the last 5 years;
• Not currently under the jurisdiction of the court for a DUI or any other class A misdemeanor conviction;
• Not have been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to/or hospitalized in a mental institution;
• Not had a court appoint a conservator for them by reason of mental defect;
• Not have been judicially determined to be disabled by reason of mental illness, development disability or other mental incapacity;
• Not have been found by a court to pose an immediate substantial likelihood of serious harm, because of mental illness within 7 years from the date of application;
• Not have been convicted of stalking and have no pending charge(s) for stalking;
• Not be receiving social security disability benefits by reason of alcohol dependence, drug dependence, or mental disability; and
• Meet federal law requirements.

*Consult with an attorney if you have any questions about your eligibility. If you don’t have an attorney, you can find one by contacting the State Bar of Tennessee.

Lifetime Enhanced HCP
$300 or $200 if upgrading from an 8 year permit

Enhanced HCP
$100 for the initial permit & $50 for renewal
$65 for active duty or honorably discharged members of the military

Concealed HCP
$65 for the initial 8-year permit

8 years

90 days

Link to online application

As of Jan. 1, 2020, the existing permit has been redesignated as the enhanced handgun carry permit.  Those who wish to obtain an enhanced carry permit may carry the gun openly or concealed to more places but must still take an 8-hour live training course from certified instructors, undergo a criminal background check and pay a $100 permit fee.

To qualify for a non-resident permit, the applicant must be active duty military stationed in the state. The application process is the same as for residents.

By law if you move, you are required to notify the state of your new address within 60 days. You may notify the Department of Safety to change your address on our records, online or in writing to

Handgun Permit Office,
P.O. Box 23710,
Nashville TN 37202.

If you wish to receive a permit with your new address, or if you have misplaced or lost your handgun carry permit, you will need to apply for a duplicate by completing an application. You may get duplicate application at any Driver Services Center or by calling (615) 251-8590. 

Mail the application and the $5.00 fee payable by check or money order to:

Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security
Handgun Permit Office
P.O. Box 23710
Nashville TN 37202

To receive a duplicate HCP, you will need to complete an online application or visit a Driver Services Center for a hard copy application. Complete and sign your application. Mail the application and the $5.00 fee to:

Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security Handgun Permit Office 
P.O. Box 23710 
Nashville, TN 37202

Moving to Tennessee and interested in applying for a resident permit? How soon can you apply?
Tennessee issues permits to residents, active duty military stationed in the state or out-of-state residents who work in Tennessee on a regular basis and have been employed in the state for at least six months. You can apply for your permit once you can provide evidence that you are a resident or are employed in the state or are stationed in Tennessee.

If a person with a handgun permit from another state decides to become a resident of Tennessee, the person must obtain a Tennessee handgun permit within six months of establishing residency in Tennessee. The permit may be issued based on the person having a permit from another state provided the other state has substantially similar permit eligibility requirements as this state. However, if during the six-month period the person applies for a handgun permit in this state and the application is denied, the person shall not be allowed to carry a handgun in this state based upon the other state's permit.

Moving from Tennessee and have a Tennessee resident permit? Does that permit transfer to your new state? Is there a grace period during which your Tennessee permit remains valid?
If a person with a Tennessee resident handgun carry permit establishes residency in another state, the pistol permit expires upon the establishment of residence in the other state.