Is an Arizona Non-Resident Permit Valid in Tennessee?
Check the condition first. Tennessee recognizes an Arizona non-resident permit unless you live in Tennessee. Tennessee also allows permitless carry for adults 21+ if you qualify. Tennessee residents (a new resident keeps recognition for six months) are not covered by this recognition, but Tennessee's permitless carry from age 21 still applies if they qualify.
Why
- Tennessee recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Tennessee does not honor an out-of-state permit held by a Tennessee resident (a new resident keeps recognition for six months).
- Tennessee allows permitless carry for eligible adults 21+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
'A facially valid handgun permit, firearms permit, weapons permit or license issued by another state shall be valid in this state according to its terms' — handguns only; the permit must be in the holder's possession at all times while carrying; new Tennessee residents must obtain a TN permit within six months.
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 (Tennessee)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (21+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Tennessee
Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter Tennessee, these rules replace the ones you know from Arizona.
- No proactive duty. A permit holder carrying where only the permit allows it must have the permit in immediate possession and display it on demand of a law enforcement officer (TCA 39-17-1351(n)(1) and 39-17-1366(e) as amended by Public Chapter 108, 2021).
- Tennessee sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Tennessee allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Permit holders and permitless-qualified carriers under TCA 39-17-1307(g) may transport and store firearms in their motor vehicle in any public or private parking area, kept from ordinary observation (locked in trunk/glove box/interior when unattended) (TCA 39-17-1313).
Off-limits places in Tennessee
Tennessee bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- School buildings, buses, campuses and school activities (TCA 39-17-1309)
- Certain public parks, playgrounds and civic centers (TCA 39-17-1311)
Arizona vs Tennessee: what changes at the state line
The core carry rules we track are the same in Arizona and Tennessee. Off-limits places still differ, so check the list above.
| Rule | Arizona | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (21+) | Yes (21+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | 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 Tennessee non-resident permit in Arizona: recognized — holders 21+ only; permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Tennessee
How an Arizona non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Tennessee:
- Alabama — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Arkansas — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Georgia — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Kentucky — Recognized — not for Kentucky residents; permitless carry applies
- Mississippi — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Missouri — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- North Carolina — Recognized — carry with your permit
- Virginia — Recognized — carry with your permit
Frequently asked questions
- Does Tennessee honor an Arizona resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. The verdict matches the non-resident permit on this page, but the conditions differ.
- Can a Tennessee non-resident permit holder carry in Arizona?
- Recognized — holders 21+ only; permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Arizona's law, not Tennessee's.
- Where does Tennessee publish its official reciprocity list?
- Tennessee 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
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Permit FAQ — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Related Laws — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Public Chapter 108 (2021) — permitless carry, vehicle carry, display-on-demand — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Public Chapter 356 (2025) — permit age lowered to 18 — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Permit Fees — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Permit Types — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — How To Apply — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit Training Requirements (PDF) — 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