Illinois FOID (Firearm Owner’s Identification Card) requirements
How to Apply for a FOID card in Illinois
To legally possess firearms or ammunition, Illinois residents must have a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card, which is issued by the Illinois State Police to any qualified applicant.
PUBLIC SAFETY (430 ILCS 66/) Firearm Concealed Carry Act http://www.ispfsb.com/Public/AboutTheAct.aspx
A Firearm Owners Identification, or FOID card, must be presented when purchasing guns and ammunition. And it is a requirement for possessing a firearm. The average wait time for new FOID-card applicants is 122 days, according to the Illinois State Police.
State Sen. Neil Anderson, R-Moline, said rioting in cities across the country has sparked the growing desire to own firearms. “Before, folks didn’t think this could happen in their town or their neighborhood. Now they know that it can,” he said. “So, they want to find a way to protect themselves.” Illinois law has required FOID cards for more than 50 years. The cards typically expire after 10 years. But cards that expire during the current COVID-19 crisis have had their expiration dates extended by 18 months through an executive order from Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Source: Scott Reeder, The News Gazette 11.18.2020
If you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply for a FOID card on the Illinois State Police website.
- You’ll need to pay the required fee and upload a color photograph of yourself.
- Once you apply, it can take up to 30 days* for the police department to process your application.
*Illinois’ FOID card delays are nothing new, unfortunately, but the problem has grown to mammoth proportions over the past few months, and there are few signs that the Illinois State Police have a handle on the issue. Back in January 2020, the ISP had a backlog of about 62,000 applications, which was bad enough, but now the state police say they’re trying to work through a whopping 135,573 applications. That includes new FOID card submissions, as well as renewals and things like changes of address.
For folks who are trying to renew their FOID card, the state police say that your existing card, even if expired, has in essence been extended for another 18 months. Those hoping to acquire a FOID card for the first time, however, are in for some lengthy delays. News sources cited Illinois State Police on September 10, 2020 with a backlog of a *94 day wait time.
https://isp.illinois.gov/Foid/Foid