How to Get a Concealed Carry Permit in Florida (2026)

Florida does not issue a "concealed carry permit." It issues a Concealed Weapon or Firearm License, often shortened to CWFL, and it comes from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).

Florida has allowed concealed carry without a license since 2023. The license is still available, still widely used, and still worth understanding — and whether you legally need one is covered in our guide to Florida gun laws.

This guide covers Florida's process: who qualifies, what training counts, what it actually costs, where you apply, how long it takes, and how renewal works. If you are comparing states, start with our national guide to getting a concealed carry permit.

How do you get a concealed carry permit in Florida?

To get a Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm License:

1. Complete an approved firearms training course that includes live fire.
2. Gather your documents — a valid photo ID, your training certificate, a passport-style color photo, and citizenship or immigration documentation if you were born outside the United States.
3. Submit your application to FDACS — in person at a participating county tax collector's office, in person at an FDACS regional office, or by mail.
4. Submit a full set of fingerprints, taken electronically at the office where you apply or by a law enforcement agency if you apply by mail.
5. Pay the fees — $97 to the state for a new application, plus a county service fee if you apply at a tax collector's office.
6. Wait for the decision. Under Florida Statute 790.06, FDACS has 90 days from receiving a complete application to issue the license or deny it.

Most applicants use a county tax collector's office. It is the fastest route: fingerprints are taken on site and the complete application reaches FDACS the same day. Mail is the slowest, because you arrange fingerprinting separately and any missing document costs you a round trip.

Who is eligible for a Florida concealed weapon license?

To qualify for a Florida CWFL, you must be a resident of the United States and either a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident, demonstrate competency with a firearm, and not be disqualified under state or federal law.

Florida issues licenses to residents and non-residents alike. You do not have to live in Florida to hold one — one reason the Florida CWFL is among the most widely held licenses in the country.

Can an 18-year-old get a concealed weapon license in Florida?

Yes — applications are being accepted from adults 18 and older, though issuance is still catching up to the ruling.

On June 17, 2026, Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal held in Eubanks v. State that barring adults aged 18 to 20 from carrying a concealed firearm violates the Second Amendment. Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the state would not seek further review and would work with FDACS to implement the order.

FDACS is now accepting applications from applicants 18 and older, and county tax collector offices — Hillsborough County among them — have posted the same notice. Licenses for that age group are expected to be issued once the court's mandate takes effect. If you are 18 to 20, confirm current FDACS practice before you pay any fees, because the statute itself still reads 21 and the agency's process is being brought in line with the court's decision. We covered the decision in more detail when it came down: Florida court struck down the 18–20 concealed carry ban.

What disqualifies you

FDACS lists the disqualifiers, which are set by statute. They generally include:

• A felony conviction, unless civil and firearm rights have been restored
• A conviction for a crime involving a controlled substance within the past three years
• Chronic and habitual use of alcohol or other substances to the point of impairment
• Adjudication of mental incompetence or commitment to a mental institution, subject to the statute's conditions
• An active injunction for protection against domestic violence or repeat violence
• A dishonorable discharge from the armed forces
• A physical inability to handle a firearm safely

These are the general requirements, not an assessment of any individual application. If your history includes an arrest, FDACS will want certified court documents showing how the case was resolved.

What training do you need for a Florida concealed weapon license?

Florida requires you to demonstrate competency with a firearm, and the training must include live fire. You submit a certificate of completion or an instructor's affidavit with your application — not a test score.

Florida accepts several forms of proof, including:

• A hunter education or hunter safety course
• An NRA firearms safety or training course
• A firearms course offered by a law enforcement agency, junior college, college, or public or private institution using a certified instructor
• A firearms safety course taught by a state-certified or NRA-certified instructor
• Documented firearms training received through law enforcement, corrections, security, or military service
• Participation in an organized shooting competition
• Military service — active duty ID, a DD Form 214, or orders showing training

Renewals do not require you to take the training again. You prove competency once, at the initial application.

Training costs are separate from your license fees and are set by the instructor or range. If you are still choosing one, here is what to expect from a concealed carry class.

How much does a Florida concealed carry permit cost?

A new Florida license costs $97 in state fees. If you apply at a county tax collector's office, expect to pay about $119 once the county's service fee is added.

Non-resident renewals cost more because out-of-state licensees must submit a new set of fingerprints. Service fees are set by each county and vary, so confirm the total with the office you plan to visit. Training is a separate cost.

Where do you apply for a Florida concealed weapon license?

There are three ways to submit an application.

A participating county tax collector's office. Fingerprints and your photo are handled on site and the application goes to FDACS the same visit. Not every tax collector office handles concealed weapon licenses, and some counties process them at only one location, so check before you drive.

An FDACS regional office. You apply directly with the issuing agency, with fingerprints and photo handled on site.

By mail. You download the application, have a law enforcement agency take a full set of fingerprints, and mail the package with your photo and supporting documents. Slowest route, and the one where missing paperwork costs the most.

Appointments are commonly required or encouraged, especially at tax collector offices. Confirm with your specific office, and use the FDACS list of participating locations to find the nearest one.

How long does it take to get a concealed carry permit in Florida?

FDACS has 90 days from the date it receives a complete application to issue or deny the license. The statute allows an additional 45 days when criminal history records need verification.

In practice, the timeline depends mostly on you. Applications submitted in person with electronic fingerprints and complete documentation move faster than mailed applications with paper prints. Incomplete documentation is the single most common cause of delay. The usual culprits:

• A missing or unacceptable training certificate
• Missing citizenship or immigration documentation
• An arrest record without certified court documents showing the final disposition

You can check the status of a pending application through FDACS. If FDACS needs something, it will notify you, and the clock effectively pauses until you supply it.

How do you renew a Florida concealed weapon license?

A Florida CWFL is valid for seven years. FDACS sends a renewal notice ahead of the expiration date, and you can renew before the license expires.

The key points:

• No new training is required. You do not repeat the course.
• Resident renewal is $45. Non-resident renewal is $87, because out-of-state licensees must submit a new set of fingerprints.
• A $15 late fee applies if you renew after your expiration date.
• A license cannot be renewed 180 days or more after it expires. At that point Florida treats the license as permanently expired, and you start over with a new application.

FDACS offers online renewal, and county tax collector offices handle renewals as well, though not every office offers every option. Confirm what your county supports before you make the trip.

Is a Florida concealed weapon license still worth getting under permitless carry?

For most people who carry regularly, yes — but not because Florida requires it. Florida does not. The license earns its keep in the places where permitless carry does not reach.

• Reciprocity. A Florida license is honored in a large number of other states. Permitless carry status is not portable — it stops at the state line. If you ever drive out of Florida with a firearm, the license is the thing that travels with you. Check our reciprocity map before any trip, since recognition lists change.
• Buying a firearm. Florida imposes a mandatory three-day waiting period on firearm purchases, and licensed CWFL holders are exempt from it. To be clear about what the license does not do: Florida is not on the ATF's list of permits that substitute for a federal background check, so a dealer will still run you through NICS.
• The 18–20 pathway. For adults in that age bracket following the Eubanks decision, the license is the mechanism that documents lawful concealed carry.
• Documentation and diligence. A license is a state-issued record that you cleared a background check and completed firearms training. It is not a legal defense and it is not a shield. It is a fact about you, on paper, from before anything happened.

The honest counterweight: the license costs money, requires a training course, and is not required to carry concealed inside Florida. If you never leave the state and never buy from a dealer, the practical case for it is thinner. That is a real trade-off, and it is yours to make.

A license is permission to carry. It is not protection after you use a firearm to defend yourself. The legal costs of a self-defense incident start the moment police arrive, licensed or not — and they can continue through a criminal investigation and a civil lawsuit long after.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a permit to carry a concealed firearm in Florida?

No. Florida has allowed concealed carry without a license since 2023 for adults who are legally eligible to possess a firearm. A Concealed Weapon or Firearm License is still available and still useful, particularly for travel. Our guide to Florida gun laws covers where and how you can carry in the state.

How much is a concealed carry permit in Florida?

A new Florida Concealed Weapon or Firearm License costs $97 in state fees — $42 for fingerprint processing and a $55 license fee. County tax collector offices add a service fee of about $22, so applicants who apply there typically pay around $119. Firearms training is a separate cost set by the instructor.

How long is a Florida concealed weapon license valid?

A Florida CWFL is valid for seven years from the date it is issued. FDACS sends a renewal notice before expiration. Resident renewal is $45 and non-resident renewal is $87, plus a $15 late fee if you renew after your expiration date. A license cannot be renewed 180 days or more after it expires.

Can an 18-year-old get a concealed weapon license in Florida?

Applications from adults 18 and older are being accepted. In Eubanks v. State (June 17, 2026), Florida's Fourth District Court of Appeal held that the 18-to-20 concealed carry ban is unconstitutional, and the Attorney General declined to appeal. Issuance for that age group follows the court's mandate, so confirm current FDACS practice before applying.

Does Florida issue concealed weapon licenses to non-residents?

Yes. Florida issues Concealed Weapon or Firearm Licenses to residents and non-residents who meet the same eligibility requirements. Non-residents pay the same $97 in state fees for a new application. The difference shows up at renewal: non-residents must submit a new set of fingerprints, which is why non-resident renewal costs $87 instead of $45.

Do you have to retake training to renew a Florida concealed weapon license?

No. Florida requires proof of firearms competency only for the initial application. Renewal requires a current photograph, the renewal fee, and an affidavit that you still meet the qualifications — plus a new set of fingerprints if you are an out-of-state licensee. You do not repeat the course.