Is an Arkansas Non-Resident Permit Valid in Kentucky?

Why

• Arkansas does not issue carry permits to non-residents (requires arkansas residency for 90+ continuous days (§ 5-73-309(2)); exception — active-duty us armed forces members and their spouses are exempt from the residency requirement).

KSP: 'A person who is not a resident of Kentucky and who has a valid license issued by another state... may carry a concealed deadly weapon in Kentucky.' Recognition covers deadly weapons generally, not just handguns. New Kentucky residents' out-of-state licenses stay valid for 120 days if they file the KSP form within 60 days of moving.

Carry rules in Kentucky

Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter Kentucky, these rules replace the ones you know from Arkansas.

• No Kentucky statute or KSP guidance imposes a proactive duty to inform an officer that you are carrying.
• Kentucky sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• Kentucky allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• A firearm in any enclosed container, compartment or storage space installed as original equipment (e.g. glove box or console) is not considered concealed and is lawful for anyone who may possess it, loaded or not; persons 21+ may also carry on-body permitless.

Off-limits places in Kentucky

Kentucky bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• Police stations and sheriff's offices
• Detention facilities, prisons and jails

See all 6 places you can't carry in Kentucky →

Arkansas vs Kentucky: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Arkansas into Kentucky changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → Yes (21+)); duty to inform police (Yes → No).

Going the other way, a Kentucky non-resident permit in Arkansas: no such permit issued.

Permits that do work in Kentucky

These non-resident permits are honored in Kentucky, 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 Kentucky

How an Arkansas non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Kentucky:

• Illinois — No such permit issued
• Indiana — No such permit issued
• Missouri — No such permit issued
• Ohio — No such permit issued
• Tennessee — No such permit issued
• Virginia — No such permit issued
• West Virginia — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Kentucky honor an Arkansas resident permit?

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Kentucky treats the two permit types differently.

Can a Kentucky non-resident permit holder carry in Arkansas?

Kentucky does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in Arkansas.

Does Arkansas issue non-resident carry permits?

No. Arkansas issues carry permits to residents only (requires Arkansas residency for 90+ continuous days (§ 5-73-309(2)); exception — active-duty US Armed Forces members and their spouses are exempt from the residency requirement). 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.