1. You must be a resident of the State of Montana for at least six months (as evidenced by your Montana Driver’s License) and must be at least 18 years of age. A permit cannot be issued to a resident of another state. If born in another country, you will need to provide your naturalization certificate. A photocopy of your certificate will be made at the time you submit your application and the original given back to you.
2. You must produce proof of an approved handgun firearms training course or your hunter’s safety certification.
3. You can have no felony convictions or convictions of certain misdemeanors involving violent acts.
4. You cannot be serving a sentence or be undergoing treatment for substance abuse.

Applications are available online at www.missoulacounty.us. Click on “departments”, “sheriff’s office” and “forms”. There you will find links to fillable (you can enter information online, then print) or non-fillable form (that requires you to print it out and fill it out manually). You may also pick up an application at the Missoula County Sheriff’s Office on the second floor of the County Courthouse between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Completed applications are accepted from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday. You must submit your application in person, and you must sign your application in the presence of a designated person in the Sheriff’s Office.

When you submit your application, you will be required to show a current Montana Driver’s license or state issued picture identification card, be fingerprinted, and pay a non-refundable fee of $82.50. Payment may be made by check, cash, credit or debit card. We do not accept American Express.

Montana law recognizes any of the following training resources:

1. Completion of a hunter’s education or safety course approved or conducted by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks or a similar agency of another state. You can obtain a copy of your Montana Hunter’s Safety certificate by going to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website www.fwp.mt.gov. You may also contact the Missoula FWP office at 406-542-5000 for assistance in obtaining a copy of your Montana hunter’s education certificate.
2. Completion of a firearms safety or training course from a National Firearms Association, a law enforcement agency, an institution of higher education, or an organization that uses instructors certified by a National Firearms Association.
3. Completion of a law enforcement firearms safety or training course offered to or required by public or private law enforcement personnel and conducted or approved by a law enforcement agency.
4. Evidence that the applicant, during military service, was found to be qualified to operate firearms, including handguns. DD214 will show your weapons qualifications and must show handgun qualification to be adequate for your CWP proof of competency. Proof of firearm training cannot be waived for military veterans.
5. Possession of a license from another state to carry a firearm, concealed or otherwise, that is granted by that state upon completion of a course described in 1 through 4 above.

This information may be obtained through the Montana Department of Justice website at https://dojmt.gov/enforcement/concealed-weapons/. If you moved here from another state, your permit is not transferable. You must complete the application process for a Montana permit after residing in Montana for six months.

To learn more about Montana laws most commonly relevant to concealed carry permits: go to www.mt.gov then click on Title 45, Chapter 8, Part 3 to peruse the codes. Other helpful links include https://doj.mt.gov/enforcement/concealed weapons/ and http://leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/45/8/45-8-321.htm.