Keeping your FOID card and Concealed Carry License information current is not just a best practice -- it is a legal requirement. Illinois law requires cardholders to notify the ISP of address changes, and carrying a card with outdated information can create complications during law enforcement encounters or firearm purchases.[1]
Address Change Requirements
FOID Card Address Change
Under 430 ILCS 65, FOID card holders must notify the ISP within 30 days of any change of address. The address on file with the ISP must match your current residential address. Failure to update your address does not automatically invalidate your FOID card, but it can cause problems during a background check for a firearm purchase or during a law enforcement encounter.[2]
CCL Address Change
Concealed Carry License holders must also notify the ISP within 30 days of an address change under 430 ILCS 66. The same notification process applies -- log in to the ISP portal and update your address.[3]
How to Update Your Address
Address changes are submitted through the ISP Firearms Services Bureau portal at ispfsb.com:[1]
- Log in to your account at ispfsb.com
- Select "Change of Address" from your account options
- Enter your new residential address
- Confirm and submit the change
You will need to update your Illinois driver's license or state ID to reflect the new address as well, since the ISP cross-references FOID/CCL records with Secretary of State records.
Name Changes
If your legal name changes (due to marriage, divorce, or court order), you must also update your FOID card and CCL records with the ISP. The process is similar to an address change -- log in to the portal and submit the updated information along with documentation of the legal name change.[1]
Replacement Cards
Lost or Stolen FOID Card
If your FOID card is lost or stolen, you should request a replacement through the ISP portal as soon as possible. To request a replacement:[1]
- Log in to your account at ispfsb.com
- Select the option to request a replacement FOID card
- Indicate whether the card was lost, stolen, or damaged
- Pay any applicable replacement fee
- Submit the request
Your FOID privileges remain valid while you await the replacement card, provided your FOID status has not been revoked or suspended. However, carrying proof of your valid FOID status (such as a printout from the ISP verification portal at verify.ispfsb.com) is advisable until the replacement arrives.
Lost or Stolen CCL
The replacement process for a lost or stolen CCL follows the same steps through the ISP portal. Log in, request a replacement, indicate the reason, and pay the replacement fee. As with a FOID replacement, your concealed carry privileges remain valid while you await the new card, but carrying some form of verification is recommended.[4]
Damaged Cards
If your FOID card or CCL is damaged to the point where it is illegible or the photo is no longer recognizable, request a replacement through the ISP portal. A damaged card may not be accepted as valid identification during a law enforcement encounter or firearm purchase.
Verifying Card Status Online
The ISP provides a public verification portal at verify.ispfsb.com where anyone can check the current validity of a FOID card or CCL. This tool is used by firearms dealers during private sales and by law enforcement during encounters. You can also use it to verify your own card status at any time.[1]
Moving Out of State
If you move out of Illinois permanently, your FOID card and CCL become invalid. The FOID Act requires the cardholder to be an Illinois resident. Upon establishing residency in another state, your Illinois FOID card and CCL no longer apply, and you should follow the firearms licensing requirements of your new state of residence.[2]
Moving Into Illinois
If you move to Illinois from another state, you must apply for a FOID card within 60 days of establishing residency. You may not possess firearms or ammunition in Illinois without a valid FOID card, and no other state's firearms permit is accepted as a substitute. Until your FOID card is issued, you are limited to the narrow exceptions for non-residents, such as possessing firearms at a licensed range under the supervision of a FOID card holder.[2]