Non-Resident permit · AZ → MT
Is an Arizona Non-Resident Permit Valid in Montana?
Yes — and Montana would let you carry even without the permit. The state honors Arizona non-resident permits and allows permitless carry for anyone who may legally possess a handgun.
Why
- Montana's official reciprocity list includes Arizona.
- Montana allows permitless carry, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
MCA 45-8-329 recognizes another state's permit if that state requires a criminal-records background check before issuance and the holder carries the permit plus photo ID; it imposes no issuing-state residency condition. The AG list (last updated Oct 2024) excludes Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island because their laws do not expressly require background checks; Vermont issues no permits. Recognition is largely moot for eligible adults because carry is permitless.
The permit (Arizona)
- Permit
- Arizona Concealed Weapons Permit (CCW)
- Issued by
- Arizona Department of Public Safety (Concealed Weapons Permit Unit)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — AZDPS FAQ: non-residents may apply for an Arizona permit under the same requirements (A.R.S. § 13-3112 allows any qualifying US citizen or Arizona resident).
The destination (Montana)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 43 states
- Permitless carry
- Yes
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Montana
Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter Montana, these rules replace the ones you know from Arizona.
- No statutory duty to proactively inform an officer. A traveler carrying under reciprocity must have the permit in immediate possession plus photo ID (MCA 45-8-329).
- Montana sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Montana allows permitless concealed carry for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Montana has no prohibitions on carrying a loaded weapon in a motor vehicle (MT DOJ).
Off-limits places in Montana
Montana bans carry in 4 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Restricted portions of state or local government office buildings (unless holding a Montana or recognized permit, MCA 45-8-328)
- Courtrooms and spaces controlled by a Montana court (unless authorized by the judge)
Arizona vs Montana: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Arizona into Montana changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (21+) → Yes); out-of-state permits honored (All states → 43 states).
| Rule | Arizona | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (21+) | Yes |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | 43 states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Montana non-resident permit in Arizona: no such permit issued.
Driving on from Montana
How an Arizona non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Montana:
- Idaho — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- North Dakota — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- South Dakota — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Wyoming — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does Montana honor an Arizona resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can a Montana non-resident permit holder carry in Arizona?
- Montana does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in Arizona.
- Where does Montana publish its official reciprocity list?
- Montana publishes its recognition policy on an official state page, linked in the sources on this page. That page is the authority — check it shortly before travel, because recognition lists change without much notice.
Official sources
- Montana DOJ — Concealed Weapons (AG recognition list) — accessed 2026-08-08
- MCA 45-8-329 — Concealed weapon permit reciprocity (MCA 2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- MCA 45-8-321 — Permit to carry concealed weapon (MCA 2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- MCA 45-8-316 — Carrying concealed weapons (MCA 2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- MCA 45-8-328 — Carrying concealed firearm in restricted government offices (MCA 2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- MCA 45-8-322 — Application, renewal, permit, and fees (MCA 2025) — accessed 2026-09-27
- MCA 45-8-351 — Restriction on local government regulation of firearms (MCA 2025) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Arizona DPS — Concealed Weapons and Permits (reciprocity, non-resident applications, age) — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3112 (Arizona Legislature) — permit issuance and out-of-state permit recognition — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3102 (Arizona Legislature) — misconduct involving weapons; permitless carry, duty to answer, prohibited places — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3111 — minors prohibited from carrying or possessing firearms (AZ Legislature) — accessed 2026-09-27