Non-Resident permit · AK → MD
Is an Alaska Non-Resident Permit Valid in Maryland?
There is nothing to recognize: Alaska issues permits to its own residents only (dPS: 'No non-resident permits are issued.' Applicant must have been physically in Alaska 90+ days and intend to remain indefinitely; legal resident aliens meeting residency may apply). If you don't live in Alaska, look at states that do sell non-resident permits and check which of those Maryland honors.
Why
- Alaska does not issue carry permits to non-residents (dps: 'no non-resident permits are issued.' applicant must have been physically in alaska 90+ days and intend to remain indefinitely; legal resident aliens meeting residency may apply).
MSP FAQ: 'Maryland does not recognize permits/CCWs from any other state.' Maryland law does not authorize reciprocity agreements with any state.
The permit (Alaska)
- Permit
- Alaska Concealed Handgun Permit (ACHP)
- Issued by
- Alaska Department of Public Safety (Permits and Licensing Unit)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- No — DPS: 'No non-resident permits are issued.' Applicant must have been physically in Alaska 90+ days and intend to remain indefinitely; legal resident aliens meeting residency may apply.
The destination (Maryland)
- Recognition policy
- Honors no out-of-state permits
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- 10 rounds
Carry rules in Maryland
Maryland's rules control while you're there. These are the ones travelers trip over most.
- No Maryland statute imposes a proactive duty to tell an officer you are carrying; the permit must be in your possession whenever you carry, wear or transport a handgun (Pub. Safety §5-308).
- Maryland limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds — a limit that applies to visitors, and one of the easiest laws to break by accident.
- Maryland is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Maryland recognizes.
- A Wear and Carry Permit allows carrying a loaded handgun in a vehicle; without a permit, handguns may only be transported unloaded between enumerated locations under the Crim. Law §4-203 transport exceptions.
Off-limits places in Maryland
Maryland bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Public and private K-12 schools, preschools and child care centers (CR 4-102, CR 4-111(c))
- State and local government buildings and higher-education buildings (CR 4-111(d))
Alaska vs Maryland: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Alaska into Maryland changes 5 rules: permitless carry (Yes (21+) → No); duty to inform police (Yes → No); magazine limit (None → 10 rounds); out-of-state permits honored (All states → None); open carry (Yes, no permit → With a permit).
| Rule | Alaska | Maryland |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (21+) | No |
| Duty to inform police | Yes | No |
| Magazine limit | None | 10 rounds |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | None |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | With a permit |
Going the other way, a Maryland non-resident permit in Alaska: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Maryland
How an Alaska non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Maryland:
- Delaware — No such permit issued
- Pennsylvania — No such permit issued
- Virginia — No such permit issued
- West Virginia — No such permit issued
- District of Columbia — No such permit issued
Frequently asked questions
- Does Maryland honor an Alaska resident permit?
- Not recognized. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Maryland treats the two permit types differently.
- Can a Maryland non-resident permit holder carry in Alaska?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Alaska's law, not Maryland's.
- Does Alaska issue non-resident carry permits?
- No. Alaska issues carry permits to residents only (dPS: 'No non-resident permits are issued.' Applicant must have been physically in Alaska 90+ days and intend to remain indefinitely; legal resident aliens meeting residency may apply). Non-residents who want multi-state coverage usually obtain a non-resident permit from a state that offers one, such as those listed in our non-resident permit guide.
Official sources
- Maryland State Police — Wear & Carry Permit — accessed 2026-08-08
- Maryland State Police — Firearms FAQs (reciprocity statement) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Maryland State Police — Prohibited Places to Carry a Firearm (incl. Kipke v. Moore status) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Md. Public Safety §5-306 (permit qualifications, no residency or good-and-substantial-reason requirement) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Md. Criminal Law §4-305 (detachable magazines over 10 rounds) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Md. Public Safety §5-308 (permit must be carried) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Md. Criminal Law §4-203 — wearing, carrying or transporting a handgun (concealed or open) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Md. Public Safety §5-309 — permit term and renewal — accessed 2026-09-27
- Alaska DPS — Concealed Handgun Permits (permit rules, AS 18.65.748 recognition, permitless 21+) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Alaska DPS — Frequently Asked Firearms Questions (duty to inform, permitless carry, prohibited places) — accessed 2026-08-08