How to Register a Gun

Minnesota does not obligate its residents to furnish a permit to purchase or own a rifle or a shotgun. Should a resident wish to buy a handgun (or long gun with a described “pistol grip”), they will either be required to secure a Minnesota Uniform Firearm Permit to Purchase or obtain a permit to carry. No form of registration is recorded by state agencies, and no logs of persons who possess a long gun or handgun are archived. For private sales, there is no regulation necessary to undergo a background check for either long guns or handguns. To legally carry any firearm, whether open or concealed, will ultimately require a Minnesota Permit to Carry a Pistol. The permit is necessary for all firearms, including BB guns, long guns, and handguns (per Minnesota Statutes §624.7181). The only firearm you cannot carry openly, under any circumstance with the license, is an automatic weapon.

How to Obtain a Permit to Carry a Pistol

It is obligated for one to procure a Permit to Carry a Pistol to carry most firearms, but it also provides an additional function that will allow a Minnesota resident to travel lawfully within the boundaries of participating reciprocity states. It will allow for open/concealed carry only in approved places, as listed in the Minnesota Firearms Laws Guide.

To request a Minnesota Permit to Carry a Pistol, prepare the following forms and documents to hand in at your resident county sheriff’s headquarters:

• A filled-out and notarized Minnesota Uniform Firearm Application Permit to Carry a Pistol (Form Rev-2015).
• A copy of the applicant’s Minnesota driver’s license or identification card (or identification page of the applicant’s passport).
• An original certificate of completion from an accredited firearm training program (must be completed within one year of the application submission date).
• Payment for the permit application fee (decided by the sheriff’s department, with a maximum of $100).

The time frame for processing and subsequent approval or denial is about 1-2 months. Upon completion, you will receive written notice of the permit status via mail. Once issued, the permit will remain valid for 5 years before requiring renewal. An applicant must take additional training with a certified instructor to qualify for the license sufficiently for renewal.

Firearm Bill of Sale (Preview)