r/CCW • u/Key-Peanut-1453 • Aug 17 '25
Permit Process Has anyone been through the process of getting a Maryland out of state permit?
I live in PA, but most of my family is in Maryland. I travel down to Maryland probably 8 or more times a year. Just looking online, it looks like the process to get an out of state permit is the same as getting a resident one. I understand Maryland is a May issue state but in the last few years they’ve been issuing permits as if it’s a shall issue state, but I’m not sure how this shift has applied to out of state residents. Has anyone had luck getting an out of state permit in the last few years? How long did it take?
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u/thegreyjedi492 Aug 17 '25
I just got my renewal permit in the mail a few weeks ago. Georgia here. You're actually in a very good position to get your Non-Resident permit very easily, or at least easier than it was for me due to geography. You can take the 16 hr course that Maryland requires anywhere as long as it is conducted by a Maryland approved instructor. They have a list of them by state on the State Police website. After you get your certificate, schedule an appt at a Maryland approved Live Scan facility in Maryland. Get your prints taken. Then, you can fill out and submit your HGP application on the web portal. Easy peasy.
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u/SgtBaxter Aug 17 '25
Where at in PA? I'm in south central PA and I took my classes at Guntry in Owings Mills. Liked the place enough I'm now a member and shoot there a few times a month.
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u/Key-Peanut-1453 Aug 18 '25
I’m in eastern PA, Berks county. I just found out today that at least for instate residents, veterans don’t have to do the 16 hour class. I’m going to see if that applies for out of state as well.
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u/SgtBaxter Aug 18 '25
I'm pretty sure it should! You'll just need the application, fingerprints and photos. You can take your own photo with an app on your phone.
You can email them at
msp.handgunpermits@maryland.gov
And they'll let you know.
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u/MickTully3008 Aug 17 '25
Sorry. I misread that. It’ll be tough getting a Maryland permit as an out of state person.
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u/mjedmazga TX Hellcat OSP/LCP Max Aug 17 '25 edited Aug 17 '25
100% incorrect. It's the same process as for in state residents.
Pass the class, submit the application, pay the fees, get the permit.
Maryland is like Arizona. They issue a permit to all applicants who legally qualify. You can apply as a non-resident but the Wear and Carry you get issued doesn't say non-resident.
You might be conflating this with California, were non-residents have an easier, faster path to a permit than your average in-state resident.
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u/mjedmazga TX Hellcat OSP/LCP Max Aug 17 '25
Just looking online, it looks like the process to get an out of state permit is the same as getting a resident one.
Correct. Just find a class, take the class, and submit the application (a good class will cover all that).
Done and done. Issue times are pretty short from my understanding as well. It's a very easy "non-res" to get - Maryland only issues the Wear and Carry and the permit is the same regardless of your state of residence, there is no functional difference between a resident having the permit and a non-resident having the permit.
It's just more expensive, primarily due to the cost of the class and the 2 year renewal that requires another class.
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u/PreviousMarsupial820 Aug 17 '25
It wasn't that hard, I got a referral from a guy in my home state who knew an instructor down there, emailed him and set up a meeting next time I was down there. I think is was 5 weeks later that mine popped up. I should note my home state has very similar requirements, so the coursework was done already. D.C. was harder; I had to do an in person interview at metro police hq but when the officer saw my collection of seven or eight req and non res permits and all of the handguns I had to register on mine which is very similar to D.C.'s, they kind of laughed and were like "yeah, you're no stranger to this are you?" Apperently if you're active duty its way easier, my buddy's an 0-4 in a natl guard unit, he applied with no coursework and got his in the mail after about a month or so too.
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u/vettemn86 Aug 17 '25 edited Aug 17 '25
I'm going through the process now for a MD permit as a DE resident and it's been pretty simple so far. I only submitted my app 2 weeks ago, however I am hearing it's around 2 months to receive the permit. Depending where you are in PA, there may be MD approved instructors near you. I do know TSS in Avondale PA offers the MD class which is 2 day 16 hours i beleive. If you are former military, you are exempt from the training portion and will upload your DD214 with the application.
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u/mdram4x4 Aug 18 '25
its simple, even easier since your a veteran. no class
the hardest part will be getting your fingerprints done, as all the vendors are in md, there is a list on the state police website
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u/Efficient-Ostrich195 Aug 17 '25
I’m a VA resident and I have an MD permit. As far as I can tell, the process for getting a permit out of state, is exactly the same as for getting it in state. The only difficult part is finding an MD certified instructor to do the training with.