As a Firearm Instructor and Gun Rights Advocate, a question I often receive is, “What is the Age Requirement for a FOID Card?” or “How old does my child have to be before I can get them a FOID card?”
You may be surprised to learn that there is no age requirement to obtain a FOID card. For those reading this unsure what a FOID is, the FOID is short for Firearm Owner Identification card. The FOID card is required to purchase and possess a firearm in Illinois.
Don’t let me gloss over what I just wrote. There is no age requirement for someone to obtain the Illinois FOID card. In fact, many people have gotten FOID cards for their children.
People in the anti-freedom crowd may be aghast to learn babies may buy guns, but that’s not true. Though there is no age requirement to obtain a FOID card, there certainly are many age restrictions on ownership and possession of firearms in Illinois. See also: Is it Illegal for kids to have Guns?
The process to obtain a FOID card for your child is similar to your own FOID card. Simply log in to https://www.ispfsb.com and begin the FOID application. The parent or legal guardian must be eligible to for a FOID themselves and would be required to upload a signed affidavit. In other words, a convicted felon, or otherwise prohibited person, would not be able to sponsor their child.