Illinois Concealed Carry License (CCL): Requirements, Cost and How to Apply (2026)

Quick answer: Illinois requires a Concealed Carry License (CCL) from the Illinois State Police (ISP) to carry a concealed firearm. You must be at least 21, hold a valid FOID card if you are an Illinois resident, and complete 16 hours of training. The license costs $150 for residents, ISP decides within 90 days when you submit electronic fingerprints, and a new license has a five-year expiration date. Facts below are from the ISP Firearms Services Bureau, checked November 4, 2026.

Illinois requires a license to carry concealed

ISP says that on July 9, 2013, the Firearm Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66) became state law, and that it “requires an Illinois Concealed Carry License to carry a concealed firearm in Illinois.” Open carry is not allowed: ISP’s FAQ says you can only carry a handgun “if it is completely or mostly concealed from view of the public.”

Who qualifies for an Illinois CCL

ISP’s FAQ lists the qualifications. The applicant must:

• be at least 21 years of age;
• have a currently valid FOID card (if an Illinois resident);
• not be prohibited under federal law from possessing or receiving a firearm;
• not have been convicted in Illinois or any other state of a misdemeanor involving the use or threat of physical force or violence within the last 5 years, or of two or more violations related to driving under the influence within the last five years;
• not be the subject of a pending arrest warrant, prosecution or proceeding that could lead to disqualification;
• have submitted a completed application and finished 16 hours of firearms training, including classroom and range instruction.

The FOID card is a separate requirement. ISP says: “You must have a valid FOID in order to have a CCL.” A FOID card is valid for 10 years and its application fee is $10.00.

The 16-hour training course

ISP says the course must cover, at a minimum: firearms safety (2 hours); basic principles of marksmanship (3 hours); care, cleaning, loading and unloading of a concealable firearm (3 hours); state and federal laws on ownership, storage, carry and transportation, including lawful interaction with law enforcement (4 hours); and weapons handling (4 hours). Applicants must also pass a live-fire exercise with a concealable firearm. Training must come from an ISP-approved instructor.

How to apply, cost and timing

• Apply: online through the ISP Firearms Services Bureau website. The Act requires a photograph taken within the past 30 days, and the Live Scan fingerprint photo cannot be used for it.
• Fees: $150 for Illinois residents and $300 for out-of-state residents, non-refundable. ISP uses Illinois ePay, which adds a 2.25% service fee (minimum $1.00) for cards; electronic checks are accepted, and cash, paper checks and money orders are not.
• Timing: ISP issues or denies the license within 90 days of a completed application when you submit a full set of electronic fingerprints. Without fingerprints, ISP gets an additional 30 days to complete a manual background check.
• Term: “A newly-issued Concealed Carry License has a five-year expiration date.”
• Renewal: renew with a 3-hour refresher training certificate. ISP says that in most circumstances you can renew even after the license has expired, but the card is invalid while the renewal is processed.

Nonresidents

Only residents of states ISP considers to have “substantially similar” firearm laws can apply. ISP says: “Currently, the only states considered to be substantially similar are Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas and Virginia.” The nonresident fee is $300. On whether other states honor an Illinois license, ISP says that “will be determined by the laws of the 49 other states,” and license holders are responsible for researching the laws where they travel; see our reciprocity guide.

Where a license does not let you carry

The Act lists prohibited areas, and ISP’s FAQ gives examples: all state buildings are prohibited areas and must be posted as such, and a CCL holder may not carry at a place of worship that has a pre-school, after school program or faith-based school on the premises. A licensee who cannot carry into a prohibited location may still carry within a vehicle into the parking area and store the firearm in a case within a locked vehicle or locked container out of plain view. Read the full list in 430 ILCS 66 before you carry somewhere new.

Carrying comfortably once licensed

Illinois only allows concealed carry, so a holster that hides well and sits comfortably matters. The Cloudster Pillow holster wedge mounts to the back of any IWB or AIWB holster with hook-and-loop, angles the grip into your body for better concealment and comfort, and has shredded cooling gel memory foam fill you can add or remove to set its thickness. Our Kore 1.5″ ratchet gun belts hold the holster steady. For other states, see our concealed carry laws guide.

Illinois CCL: Questions People Ask

How much is an Illinois concealed carry license?

$150 for Illinois residents and $300 for out-of-state residents, non-refundable, plus a 2.25% card service fee (minimum $1.00) through Illinois ePay.

How long does it take to get an Illinois CCL?

ISP issues or denies the license within 90 days of a completed application with electronic fingerprints, or within an additional 30 days if fingerprints are not submitted.

Do I need a FOID card to get a CCL in Illinois?

Yes, if you are an Illinois resident. ISP says you must have a valid FOID card in order to have a CCL.

Can you open carry in Illinois with a CCL?

No. ISP says a handgun may be carried only if it is completely or mostly concealed from view of the public.

How do you renew an Illinois CCL?

With a 3-hour refresher training certificate. A new license has a five-year expiration date.

Sources, all read November 4, 2026: Illinois State Police Firearms Services Bureau, Concealed Carry License page and FOID/CCL FAQ; Firearm Concealed Carry Act, 430 ILCS 66 (Illinois General Assembly). Laws change, so confirm with ISP before you apply. This is general information, not legal advice.