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How to Buy a Gun in Minnesota
Buying a firearm in Minnesota is legal for most eligible adults, but the process must follow both federal law and Minnesota state regulations. This guide covers everything you need to know.
- legal
- safe
- bill of sale
How to Buy a Gun in Minnesota — Quick Overview
- Who Can Buy: Adults 18+ with a valid Transferee Permit for handguns and assault weapons; 18+ for long guns without restriction
- Age Requirements: 21+ for handguns from licensed dealers; 18+ for long guns
- Background Check: Required — conducted as part of Transferee Permit process
- Waiting Period: 7 days for handguns from dealers (waived for Permit to Carry holders)
- Transferee Permit: Required for handgun and assault weapon purchases — apply at local police/sheriff
- Private Sales: Handguns and assault weapons require buyer to have a valid Transferee Permit
- Gun Registration: Not required statewide
- Bill of Sale: Strongly recommended in addition to permit documentation
Table of Contents
Who Can Legally Buy a Gun in Minnesota
Age Requirements for Buying a Gun in Minnesota
Buying a Gun from a Licensed Dealer
Buying a Gun from a Private Seller in Minnesota
Step-by-Step Guide to Buying a Gun in Minnesota
Why Many Buyers Use GunTransfer
Documents Required to Buy a Gun in Minnesota
Waiting Periods and Registration in Minnesota
Interstate Gun Purchases
Minnesota Gun Laws Every Buyer Should Understand
Responsible Firearm Ownership
FAQ About Buying a Gun in Minnesota
Who Can Legally Buy a Gun in Minnesota
Adults 18+ with a valid Transferee Permit (required for handguns and semi-automatic assault weapons). 21+ for handguns from dealers.
To legally buy a firearm, a person generally must:
- Be legally allowed to possess firearms under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922)
- Meet the minimum age requirements
- Provide valid government-issued photo ID when purchasing from a licensed dealer
- Not be a prohibited person under federal law
- Be a legal resident of the United States
Federal law prohibits certain individuals from purchasing or possessing firearms. These restrictions apply equally in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Individuals prohibited from purchasing or receiving firearms include:
- Convicted felons (any crime punishable by more than one year imprisonment)
- Persons convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors
- Persons subject to qualifying restraining or protective orders
- Unlawful users of or persons addicted to controlled substances
- Persons adjudicated as mentally defective or committed to a mental institution
- Illegal aliens and persons who have renounced U.S. citizenship
- Persons dishonorably discharged from the armed forces
- Fugitives from justice
Attempting to purchase a firearm in Minnesota while prohibited is a serious federal crime — punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000.
Understanding your eligibility is the essential first step before buying any firearm in Minnesota.
Age Requirements for Buying a Gun in Minnesota
21
years old to purchase handguns from a dealer
18
18
18
Who Can Legally Buy a Gun in Minnesota?
- Be legally allowed to possess firearms under federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922)
- Meet the minimum age requirements (18+ for private transfers; 21+ for handguns from dealers)
- Provide valid government-issued photo ID when purchasing from a licensed dealer
- Not be a prohibited person under federal law
- Be a legal resident of the United States
- Convicted felons
- Persons convicted of domestic violence misdemeanors
- Persons subject to qualifying restraining orders
- Unlawful users of controlled substances
- Persons adjudicated mentally defective
- Illegal aliens and persons who have renounced citizenship
- Persons dishonorably discharged from the armed forces
- Fugitives from justice
Buying a Gun from a Licensed Dealer in Minnesota
Typical process when buying from a dealer:
In most cases the background check is completed quickly. Minnesota has a waiting period: 7 days for handguns from dealers — waived for Permit to Carry holders.
How to Buy a Gun from a Private Seller in Minnesota
Minnesota requires a background check for private firearm transfers. Both parties must go through a licensed FFL dealer to complete the check. Direct person-to-person transfers without a background check are illegal in Minnesota.
Private firearm purchases are common when:
- Buying a used firearm from another gun owner
- Purchasing from a collector or at a gun show
- Buying from a friend or family member
Both buyers and sellers in a private transaction remain responsible for complying with federal firearm laws. The buyer must be legally eligible to receive the firearm.
Although a bill of sale is not legally required, GunTransfer generates one automatically. The FFL dealer background check record plus the GunTransfer bill of sale gives both parties complete documentation.
MINNESOTA GUN PURCHASE QUICK REFERENCE
| PURCHASE TYPE | BACKGROUND CHECK | WAITING PERIOD | KEY NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Dealer (w/ Transferee Permit) | Required — covered by permit | 7 days (PTC exempt) | 21+ handguns. Transferee Permit or Permit to Carry required. |
| Private Handgun Sale | Required — via Transferee Permit | None | Buyer must have valid Transferee Permit. |
| Private Long Gun Sale | Not Required | None | Standard long guns may transfer privately without a permit. |
| Permit to Carry Holders | NICS Exempt | No wait | Valid Permit to Carry bypasses both NICS and 7-day wait. |
| Online Purchase | Required at receiving FFL | 7 days (PTC exempt) | Ships to Minnesota FFL. Permit required. |
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Buy a Gun in Minnesota
Whether buying from a dealer or a private seller, the typical process for legally purchasing a firearm in Minnesota includes the following steps.
1
Obtain a Transferee Permit
2
Choose the firearm
3
Go to a licensed FFL dealer
4
Complete all paperwork
5
Wait 7 days (unless you have a Permit to Carry)
6
Take possession and document
We handle the legal part for you.
You know the rules now — here’s the easy part. A real background check on the buyer, a signed bill of sale, and permanent records, done from your phone in about 10 minutes. Flat $50.
Why Many Buyers Use GunTransfer
Private firearm purchases are legal in most states, but without documentation there is no proof of exactly when you took ownership — which can matter if the firearm is later reported stolen or connected to an incident that occurred before your purchase.
Establish a clear record of the firearm’s serial number and description
Document the exact date you took legal ownership
Protect yourself if the firearm was previously involved in an incident
Demonstrate responsible, law-abiding firearm ownership
For buyers, a signed GunTransfer bill of sale is proof that you own the firearm as of a specific date — critical if it is ever lost, stolen, or traced. GunTransfer makes this documentation simple for every private purchase in Minnesota.
Documents Required to Buy a Gun in Minnesota
When purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer in Minnesota, buyers must provide:
- A valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license or state ID)
- Current residential address
- Completed ATF Form 4473 (the dealer provides this)
Private firearm purchases in Minnesota must also go through a licensed dealer for the background check. GunTransfer to document the transfer. GunTransfer.com performs a background check on the buyer and generates a complete bill of sale documenting both parties, the firearm details, serial number, sale price, and date — giving both buyer and seller legal protection.
Waiting Periods and Registration in Minnesota
Minnesota requires a waiting period of 7 days for handguns from dealers — waived for Permit to Carry holders for firearm purchases. You must wait this period before you can take possession of the firearm after purchase approval.
Minnesota does not require firearm registration for firearms owned by private citizens. You are not required to register your newly purchased firearm with the state.
While no state registration is required, maintaining your own records — including a GunTransfer bill of sale — is a smart practice that documents your lawful ownership.
Interstate Gun Purchases
- Handguns purchased from an out-of-state seller must be transferred through a licensed Minnesota FFL dealer who will conduct the required background check before releasing the firearm.
- Long guns (rifles and shotguns) may sometimes be purchased out of state if the purchase complies with the laws of both Minnesota and the seller's state.
- You may never take direct possession of a handgun from a private out-of-state seller — it must be shipped to a Minnesota FFL dealer first.
Minnesota Gun Laws Every Buyer Should Understand
Although Minnesota has relatively permissive firearm purchase laws, buyers should still understand several important regulations. Key rules include:
- Transferee Permit required for all handgun and semi-automatic assault weapon purchases
- 7-day waiting period for handguns from dealers — Permit to Carry holders exempt
- Private handgun and assault weapon transfers require buyer to have valid Transferee Permit
- Red flag (ERPO) law enacted in 2023
- Universal background checks for handguns and semi-auto assault weapons
Responsible Firearm Ownership
Buying a firearm comes with important ongoing responsibilities. Responsible gun owners should:
Store firearms securely and away from unauthorized access
Follow all firearm safety rules at all times
Stay informed about Minnesota and federal firearm laws
Keep records of firearm purchases and transfers
When purchasing firearms privately in Minnesota, keeping a GunTransfer bill of sale is one of the simplest steps a responsible buyer can take. GunTransfer performs a background check on the buyer and generates a complete, signed record that both parties keep.
Frequently Asked
Questions
What is a Transferee Permit in Minnesota?
Is there a waiting period in Minnesota?
Do private handgun sales in Minnesota require a permit?
Does Minnesota require gun registration?
Explore All GUN Laws across the country
50 State Guides
How to Buy a Gun by State →How to Sell a Gun by State →Gun Transfer Laws by State →Background Check Laws by State →Private Gun Sale Laws by State →Gun Waiting Period Laws by State →Gun Inheritance Laws by State →Ready to Transfer ?
Minnesota Firearm Purchase Resources: ATF — Identifying Prohibited Persons | ATF — Brady Law & 3-Day Default Rule | FBI NICS | Giffords — Minnesota Gun Laws | ATF State Laws & Ordinances
A handshake isn’t a transfer.
Make it legal.
In Minnesota, the seller carries the federal liability. One undocumented sale to the wrong person is the difference between a clean record and 18 U.S.C. § 922(d). For \$50, you get proof you did it right.
- Real background check on the buyerMulti-source federal, state & county criminal + sex-offender records.
- Official bill of sale, signed by both partiesElectronic. Documented to hold up in court.
- Lifetime digital records in your Gun VaultPull them 5, 10, 20 years from now.
- Done from your phone in ~10 minutesNo gun-shop visit required in Minnesota.
I almost burned half a Saturday driving to a gun shop. Instead I did it from my phone for fifty bucks.— Brandon T., verified seller
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