Dover, DE — The Delaware State Police announced Tuesday that its online Permit to Purchase application portal is now live for residents seeking to buy or transfer a handgun starting November 16, 2025.
Under the new requirement, Delaware residents must obtain a handgun qualified purchaser permit before completing any handgun purchase or transfer. Applicants can start by reviewing the requirements on the official Permit to Purchase website and submit their applications through the online portal.
Applicants must complete a firearms safety course with an approved instructor, schedule fingerprinting through IdentoGO using Service Code 27S8N2, and submit the online application along with required documents. These documents include a government-issued photo ID, military orders if applicable, and firearms training certification or proof of exemption. Residents who hold a valid Delaware Concealed Carry Deadly Weapon license issued by the Superior Court do not need to apply for a handgun qualified purchaser permit.
For those without internet access, paper applications are available at all Delaware State Police troops and must be submitted in person at the SBI Dover office. Applications will be processed in the order received. By law, the State Bureau of Identification will issue a decision within 30 days of receiving a complete application. Applicants missing documents will be notified and may resubmit once requirements are met, while legal disqualifiers under state or federal law will result in a written denial.
A list of approved firearms instructors is available on the Permit to Purchase website and is updated regularly. Exemptions to the training requirement are detailed in Delaware law. For program updates and detailed instructions, residents should visit the Permit to Purchase website. SBI staff will not respond to individual questions by email; application-related correspondence should be sent to DSP_SBIP2PMail@delaware.gov.
More information is directly available by following this link: https://dsp.delaware.gov/permit-to-purchase/
