Duty to Inform Officer You're Carrying?

The Puerto Rico Arms Act of 2020 does not address if there is a duty to inform a law enforcement officer that you're carrying a concealed firearm in Puerto Rico.

No definition of brandishing was found in Puerto Rico law, although open carry is prohibited. [Reg. Admin. Art. 2.16(A)(1)(a)]

Per federal law, an individual may not have a weapon on or about the person or accessible property when entering or in a sterile area of an airport or when attempting to board or onboard an aircraft for which screening is conducted. Airports in Puerto Rico must have signs posted in Spanish and English indicating that anyone without a valid weapons permit issued in any state, enclave, possession or territory of the United States of America who brings a firearm to Puerto Rico, must give immediate notice to the Ports Authority Security Office and an officer of the Police Bureau of Puerto Rico upon arrival. The Ports Authority Security Office and/or an Authorized Agent will inform the individual on how to proceed with his or her weapon. [Reg. Admin. Art.11.01]

Yes. Residents with a Puerto Rico Weapons License or non-residents with any valid state permit are allowed to transport more than one firearm at a time, if the other weapons are unloaded in a closed case that does not reflect its content, provided it is not in plain sight. Weapons and ammunition must be transported within closed cases that do not reflect the content or are hidden. [Reg. Admin. Art. 1.05(40)]

Puerto Rico gun laws & concealed carry reciprocity map

Puerto Rico is a shall-issue unincorporated U.S. territory with concealed weapons permits issued by the Office of Weapons licenses.

A valid weapons or gunsmith license is required to acquire, buy, transport, sell, donate, transfer, have, possess, guard, carry, use and drive with weapons, firearms, ammunition and any regulated firearm accessories.

Open carry is not legal in Puerto Rico.

Concealed carry is legal for residents with a Puerto Rico Weapons License (WL) issued under the Puerto Rico Arms Act of 2020 (PRAA) and any license issued previously under Law 404-2000. Puerto Rico requires the completion of a firearms use and management course prior to issuance of a WL. Licenses are available to any citizen or legal resident of the United States that is at least 21 years old. Only one concealed firearm may be carried at a time, although more than one firearm can be carried while on the premises of an authorized shooting club or places where hunting is practiced. Law enforcement officers may use government-assigned weapons without a license. In addition, members of the United States Armed Forces and the Puerto Rico National Guard may use those weapons assigned to them while they are on official duty without a WL. Active duty military veterans that meet the qualifications can obtain or renew their pistol permits free of charge.

Traveling with Handguns to Puerto Rico Not Quite Yet!

In terms of reciprocity, although the PRAA indicates that there is reciprocity with any valid U.S. state permit, there is a caveat that states that reciprocity will be allowed for each state, “once the NPPR Commissioner establishes a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the state.” As of November 2021, it appears that no MOUs have been established.

Per Article 2.18 of the Regulations to Administer the PRAA (Reg. Admin.), once the NPPR Commissioner establishes a MOU with the state, any person who meets the established requirements and intends to introduce one or more weapons and/or ammunition to Puerto Rico must inform the Division of Weapons Registry and License Issuance by completing Form PPR-1062 (Notification of Intention to Introduce Weapons and/or Ammunition) within five business days before the introduction of weapons and/or ammunition to Puerto Rico. When feasible, the notification will be made through the following link: http://www.policia.pr.gov. In these cases, firearms will be registered in the REAL Plus System.There is also confusion as to whether anyone intending to travel to Puerto Rico with their handgun must provide notice five business days prior [Reg. Admin. Art. 2.18] or whether the airline can simply submit the form prior to the flight [Reg. Admin. Art. 11.01].

Per Reg. Admin. Art. 11.01, any commercial airline that flies to Puerto Rico and that has received firearms and/or ammunition from a passenger to transport them to any airport within the limits territorial of Puerto Rico as part of the person’s luggage, must notify the Puerto Rico Police Bureau at the time that said firearm and/or ammunition is to be delivered to the passenger. The airline will require the passenger to complete Form PPR-1053. The form must be sent by email to www.registrodearmas@policia.pr.gov or sent through the following link: www.policia.pr.gov.

Where can I carry with my Puerto Rico permit?

Yes

Yes, Constitutional Carry

Yes, Other Restrictions

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Puerto Rico Concealed Carry Reciprocity Details

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Puerto Rico Concealed Carry License Information

Requirements:

An applicant must:

Be at at least 21 years old
Have obtained a Certificate of Use and Handling of Firearms by an instructor certified by the Puerto Rico Police Bureau
Not have a criminal record and must not have charges pending for any serious crime, for crimes involving violence, for conduct constituting domestic violence, stalking or child abuse
Not be addicted to controlled substances or a habitual drunkard
Not have been declared mentally incapacitated by a court with jurisdiction
Not have been dishonorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces or the Bureau of the Puerto Rico Police
Not belong to organizations that commit acts of violence or that are directed to overthrow the constituted government
Not be under a court order, or have been at any time during the past 12 months prior to the application date, for harassing, spying, threatening or approaching an intimate partner or a family member
Be a citizen or legal resident of the United States of America
Meet federal law requirements

*Consult with an attorney if you have any questions about your eligibility. If you don’t have an attorney, you can find one by contacting the State Bar of Puerto Rico.

Valid For:

5 years

Processing Time:

30 days

Lost/Stolen Permits:

Submit an affidavit with an explanation stating the reason why you need a duplicate license to the Weapons Licensing Office. There is a $50 fee.

Application:

Online portal

Fees:

New Permits $200

Renewals $100

There are fee exemptions for international high performance PR target shooting athletes, government employees that are required to carry firearms, auxiliary police, and active and former law enforcement officers, provided their retirement has been honorable and they have served in that capacity for at least 10 years.

Residency Changes:

Moving to Puerto Rico and interested in applying for a resident permit? How soon can you apply?Puerto Rico issues licenses to residents and non-residents. You can apply for your permit to the police area command where you reside, the Arms Registry and Licensing Issue Division at Headquarters or online.

Moving from Puerto Rico and have a Puerto Rico resident permit? Does that permit transfer to your new state? Is there a grace period during which your Puerto Rico permit remains valid?If a person with a Puerto Rico pistol permit establishes residency in another state, the pistol permit expires upon the establishment of residence in the other state.

Non-Resident Concealed Carry Permits:

Yes. Non-residents must include a notarized affidavit with their application which is then notarized in Puerto Rico before a notary.

Name/Address Changes:

A licensee must inform the Weapons Licensing Office of a change of residential or postal address within 30 days of the change.

How to get a Puerto Rico Concealed Weapons Permit

STEP 1:

Obtain a Certificate of Use and Handling of Firearms from an instructor certified by the Puerto Rico Police Bureau.

Step 2:

Download the application.

Step 3:

Complete the form.

Step 4:

Apply online or take your application and the following documents to the Area Command where you reside:

Completed and notarized application form
Negative criminal record certificate issued not more than 30 days prior to the date of the request
Social Security Card or other approved document to certify your social security number
Copy of birth certificate or U.S. passport
Two passport-style photographs
Drivers license or government ID card

You will have your fingerprints taken by a technician of the Police Bureau.

Pay the fee.

Step 5:

You will be notified by mail if your application has been approved.

Puerto Rico Self-Defense Laws

Self-Defense

In terms of self-defense, any person who defends his/her person, dwelling, property or rights is justified in using reasonable and proportionate force when he or she believes there is peril of imminent danger and to avoid or repel the danger. That is provided they have not provoked the attack and no more damage is inflicted than is necessary to avert or avoid the injury.

When alleging self-defense to justify deadly force, it is necessary to have reasonable grounds to believe that the person was in imminent or immediate danger of death or serious bodily harm. To justify the defense of dwelling, the circumstances shall indicate trespassing or for the purpose of committing a crime. To justify defense of property or rights, the circumstances shall indicate an attack that constitutes a crime or that poses serious danger of damage or imminent loss.

Liability

Any person who, in order to protect his or her own or another’s right from an imminent danger not provoked by him or her and otherwise inevitable, infringes a duty or causes damage to another’s legally protected interest, shall not be liable, provided that the damage caused is less than the damage being prevented and does not cause the death or the serious and permanent injury to a person.

Puerto Rico Gun Law Updates

DateDetails

2021-01-04

Updated the permit processing time effective January 1, 2021

Yes, Selected State:	Puerto Rico
Yes, Constitutional Carry:	South Dakota, Nebraska, Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming, Idaho, Alabama, Kentucky, Alaska, New Hampshire, Vermont, Georgia, Kansas, Ohio, Indiana, Mississippi, Maine, Florida, North Dakota, Arizona, Montana, Utah, Iowa, Oklahoma, Missouri, West Virginia
Yes, Allowed to Carry:	Wisconsin, Virginia
Yes, With Restrictions:	Michigan
No, Carry Not Allowed	New Jersey, New York City, New Mexico, Maryland, New York, Massachusetts, Nevada, Hawaii, Connecticut, Rhode Island, District of Columbia, North Carolina, Colorado, Delaware, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, California, Oregon, Illinois, Washington