Completed your online Minnesota Permit to Carry course with Gun Permit Center? Use our county sheriff’s office contact guide to find where to apply, what to bring, and how to keep your MN Permit to Carry application moving.
Minnesota County Sheriff’s Office Contact List for Permit to Carry Applicants
You finished your Minnesota Permit to Carry training — nice work.
Now comes the part where everyone collectively says, “Okay… now what?”
That’s where the county sheriff’s office comes in.
After completing your training, your next step is to apply for your Minnesota Permit to Carry through a county sheriff’s office. For Minnesota residents, that usually means applying through the sheriff’s office in the county where you live. Non-residents may apply through any Minnesota county sheriff’s office.
Sounds simple enough, right?
Mostly.
But because every county can have slightly different hours, appointment rules, fees, payment methods, and local procedures, we strongly recommend contacting the sheriff’s office before you go.
Think of it as checking the weather before a Minnesota road trip. Could you just wing it? Sure. Should you? Probably not.
At Gun Permit Center, our goal is to make this process feel less confusing and a lot more manageable. Use this page as a starting point to find your county sheriff’s office, confirm their current process, and make sure you bring what you need.
What to Ask Before You Go
Before you head to the sheriff’s office, it is worth making a quick call or checking their website.
A few good questions to ask:
- Do I need an appointment?
- What are your Permit to Carry application hours?
- What payment methods do you accept?
- What is the current application fee?
- Do you need copies of my training certificate, or will you make copies on site?
- Where exactly should I go when I arrive?
That last question matters. Some county buildings are very straightforward. Others feel like they were designed by someone who enjoys watching people wander hallways with paperwork.
A two-minute phone call can save you a lot of time, frustration, and parking-lot Googling.
What to Bring With You
When applying for your Minnesota Permit to Carry, you should generally bring:
- Your completed Permit to Carry application
- Your valid government-issued photo ID
- Your training certificate
- Your application fee
- Any additional documents your sheriff’s office tells you to bring
Important reminder: do not sign and date your application until you are instructed to do so by the sheriff’s office.
We know. It feels weird to bring a form that is mostly done but not fully done. Welcome to paperwork.
Find Your County Sheriff’s Office
Use the contact list below to find your county sheriff’s office. Contact information and procedures can change, so always confirm the details directly with the county before making the trip.
This list is meant to help point you in the right direction. It is not a substitute for checking directly with the sheriff’s office, because if something changed yesterday, they are going to know before we do.
Don’t Forget Your Training Certificate
Your Gun Permit Center certificate is an important part of the application process.
After completing the online course and live-fire qualification, keep your certificate in a safe place and bring it with you when you apply.
And by “safe place,” we mean somewhere better than the bottom of your truck console, under three receipts, a pair of sunglasses, and something that may or may not have once been a granola bar.
Your training certificate is valid for one year from the date of completion. So yes, you have some time — but we recommend finishing the application process sooner rather than later.
Future you will appreciate not turning this into a last-minute scavenger hunt.
Need to Finish Your MN Permit to Carry Training?
If you have not completed your Minnesota Permit to Carry training yet, Gun Permit Center can help.
Our online course is self-paced, easy to follow, and designed to help you feel confident before your live-fire qualification. Once your online portion is complete, you can connect with one of our instructors to finish your live-fire requirement.
We believe the process should be clear, approachable, and useful — not intimidating, confusing, or filled with mystery tabs on government websites.
Start your Minnesota Permit to Carry course here:
Final Reminder
This page is meant to help you get started. Sheriff’s office procedures can change, and each county may handle permits a little differently.
Always confirm current hours, fees, appointment requirements, and application instructions directly with your county sheriff’s office before you go.
Gun Permit Center is here to help you complete the training side of the process so you can walk into the next step more prepared, more confident, and with less guesswork.
Because getting your Minnesota Permit to Carry should feel like progress — not like you accidentally signed up for a paperwork escape room.