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Nonresident Application Procedure for Iowa Permits to Carry Weapons

Chapter 724 of the Iowa Code authorizes the commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety to issue Iowa permits to carry weapons to nonresidents who meet the criteria for issuance as determined by the commissioner. The forms, procedures and training requirements are further defined in Administrative Rules, 661, Chapter 91.
Iowa's issuance policy for a non-resident permit to carry weapons includes the following justification requirement:
  • Professional permits to carry weapons will only be issued to qualified applicants in their need to go armed is employment based and is a critical element in the protection of life and property.
  • Nonprofessional permits to carry will only be issued to:
a.

 nonresident correctional officers and other public officials, other than law enforcement officers*, who are currently employed fulltime in the administration of criminal justice
b.
 other nonresidents with a demonstrable viable threat to themselves or their family as verified by a law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction where the threat occurred

* Law enforcement officers are not issued nonprofessional permits to carry because of their ability to carry nationwide pursuant to the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004.

The complete issuance policy may be accessed at criteria for issuance.

You may apply for a nonresident permit to carry weapons by submitting:

  • Iowa Application for Permit to Carry Weapons - WP5 (to be completed in its entirety for all new and renewal applications)
  • Iowa Firearms Safety training Program Enrollment Permit - WP0 (to be completed in its entirety for all new applications; range score portion is all that is required for renewals)
  • two FBI Applicant fingerprint cards (may be obtained from this office if needed)
  • fees($10.00 for new applications, $5.00 for each renewal)
Application packets may also be obtained from this office by providing a name and mailing address to wpinfo@dps.state.ia.us or by US mail at Iowa DPS, Program Services Bureau, Department of Public Safety Building, 215 East 7th Street - 4th Floor, Des Moines, IA 50319-0045.
 
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