Non-Resident permit · AK → SD
Is an Alaska Non-Resident Permit Valid in South Dakota?
The premise fails at the first step. Alaska issues no non-resident carry permit (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), so reciprocity with South Dakota never comes into play for this permit type.
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).
Official Firearm Handbook: 'The state of South Dakota recognizes any valid concealed pistol permit issued to a nonresident of South Dakota, according to the terms of its issuance in the state of its issue' — any state's permit qualifies as long as the holder is not a South Dakota resident (SD residents simply carry permitless).
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 (South Dakota)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in South Dakota
Crossing into South Dakota swaps the rulebook. Here is what changes for a visiting carrier.
- No duty-to-inform provision appears in the Secretary of State's official Firearm Handbook or in SDCL chapter 23-7.
- South Dakota sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- South Dakota allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Permitless concealed carry under SDCL 23-7-7 applies statewide, including in vehicles, for residents and non-residents 18+ who may lawfully possess a pistol.
Off-limits places in South Dakota
South Dakota bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- County courthouses (SDCL 22-14-23)
- The state capitol (SDCL 22-14-23; limited enhanced-permit exceptions)
Alaska vs South Dakota: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Alaska into South Dakota changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (21+) → Yes (18+)); duty to inform police (Yes → No).
| Rule | Alaska | South Dakota |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (21+) | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | Yes | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | All states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a South Dakota non-resident permit in Alaska: no such permit issued.
Permits that do work in South Dakota
These non-resident permits are honored in South Dakota, ranked by how many states honor each one. They are issued to people who live outside the issuing state, subject to its eligibility rules.
- North Dakota non-resident permit · honored in 33 states
- Ohio non-resident permit · honored in 33 states
- Idaho non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
- Texas non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
- Florida non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
- South Carolina non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
Driving on from South Dakota
How an Alaska non-resident permit fares in the states bordering South Dakota:
Frequently asked questions
- Does South Dakota honor an Alaska resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because South Dakota treats the two permit types differently.
- Can a South Dakota non-resident permit holder carry in Alaska?
- South Dakota does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in Alaska.
- 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
- South Dakota Secretary of State — Concealed Carry Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- South Dakota Secretary of State — South Dakota Firearm Handbook (July 2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- South Dakota Secretary of State — Pistol Permit FAQs — accessed 2026-09-27
- South Dakota Secretary of State — How to Apply for a Permit — accessed 2026-09-27
- South Dakota Secretary of State — Types of Concealed Carry Permits — 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