Still popular now for gun owners who travel out of state, before Illinois started issuing Licenses to Carry in 2013, the two most popular options for Illinoisans were the Utah and Florida non-resident CCW permits. These permits are relatively easy to obtain and provided an Illinois residents with the ability to carry concealed in up to 30 other states. But the Arizona permit is just as easy to get and for some may be a better option.
Now that we can get an Illinois License which is honored in over 20 other states, is there still a need for Illinoisans to get a Utah, Arizona or Florida permit? Let’s take a look at the benefits of each permit and what it takes to get one.
Costs:
There is a big difference in the ‘price’ of permit application fees, but not necessarily in the overall ‘cost.’ The Utah application fee is only $49, which is valid for 5 years, the Arizona is $60 and is also valid for 5 years, while the Florida permit costs $112 for seven years. But the ‘price’ is not always the true cost.
The training requirement for the Florida and Arizona permits is a bit easier for most people; veterans and anyone taking the Illinois License to Carry training from an NRA Instructor (or any other NRA Instructor-led program) automatically qualify.
However, the Utah permit requires that you take a Utah-specific course that must be taught by a Utah Certified Instructor (though there are MANY certified here in Illinois, such as myself). The cost of this class is usually $75 -$100, depending on the instructor, and covers Utah laws and basics of firearms safety, shooting and concealment.
Where you are traveling and wish to carry is also a big factor, so let’s compare and contrast the differences in the states that honor the permit with the above information:
Utah |
Florida |
Arizona |
|
Application Fee |
$49 |
$112 |
$60 |
Valid for: |
5 years |
7 years |
5 years |
Tng Required |
Utah-Specific Class |
Any NRA Class |
Any NRA Class |
Tng Exemption |
N/A |
Military Service |
Military Service |
Number of States |
31 |
30 |
30 |
Valid in Fla |
NO |
YES |
NO |
Valid in Minn |
YES |
NO |
NO |
Valid in New Mex |
NO |
YES |
YES |
Valid in Wash |
YES |
NO |
NO |
Valid in Wis |
YES |
NO |
YES |
States that Honor Each Permit: (Some states will honor a resident permit but NOT a non-resident permit. This chart is for non-resident permits)
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Here is the link to get a Florida Non Resident Permit Application:
http://www.freshfromflorida.com/Divisions-Offices/Licensing/Concealed-Weapon-License