FOID Card for 18-20 Year Olds:
Parental Consent

While Illinois generally requires applicants to be 21 years of age to obtain a FOID card independently, the Act provides a pathway for persons aged 18 through 20 to acquire a card with parental or guardian consent. This provision recognizes that adults under 21 may have legitimate reasons to possess firearms -- including hunting, sport shooting, and home defense -- while maintaining an additional layer of parental accountability.^[1]

Parental Consent Requirements

Under 430 ILCS 65/4, a person between 18 and 20 years of age may apply for a FOID card if they have the written consent of a parent or legal guardian. The consent requirement has several specific conditions:

• The consenting parent or legal guardian must themselves hold a currently valid FOID card
• The consent must be in writing and submitted as part of the FOID card application
• Only a parent or legal guardian may provide consent -- other relatives, family friends, or mentors do not qualify
• The parent or guardian must not have a revoked or suspended FOID card at the time of consent

If the parent or guardian's FOID card is subsequently revoked, the minor applicant's FOID card may also be subject to revocation.^[1]

Liability Assumption

A critical aspect of the parental consent provision is the liability transfer. The parent or legal guardian who provides written consent assumes civil liability for any damages resulting from the applicant's use of firearms. This means if the 18-to-20-year-old FOID cardholder causes injury or property damage with a firearm, the consenting parent or guardian may be held financially responsible in a civil lawsuit. This liability provision is designed to ensure that the consenting adult has a personal stake in the responsible behavior of the younger applicant.^[1]

What the 18-20 Year Old FOID Card Allows

A FOID card issued to a person aged 18 through 20 carries the same privileges as a standard FOID card for possession purposes. The cardholder may:

• Possess firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns) and ammunition
• Purchase long guns (rifles and shotguns) from licensed dealers, subject to the 72-hour waiting period^[2]
• Receive firearms through private transfers with FOID verification

However, federal law imposes additional age restrictions that the Illinois FOID card does not override. Under 18 U.S.C. 922(b)(1), a licensed dealer may not sell a handgun to any person under 21 years of age. This means an 18-to-20-year-old FOID cardholder may possess a handgun (for example, one received as a gift or through a private transfer) but cannot purchase one from a federally licensed firearms dealer.^[3]

Limitations Compared to 21+ FOID Holders

Beyond the federal handgun purchase restriction, persons aged 18 through 20 face one additional significant limitation: they are ineligible for a Concealed Carry License (CCL). Under 430 ILCS 66/25, CCL applicants must be at least 21 years of age. This means an 18-to-20-year-old FOID cardholder may possess firearms at home and transport them unloaded and enclosed in a case, but may not carry a concealed firearm on their person or loaded in a vehicle.^[4]

Under 18: No FOID Card Eligibility

Persons under 18 years of age are not eligible for a FOID card under any circumstances. However, persons under 18 may handle firearms under the direct supervision of a FOID card holder at a shooting range, hunting, or in other supervised settings. This supervised use exception does not constitute "possession" for purposes of the FOID requirement and does not require the minor to hold any permit or license.^[1]