Is an Arkansas Non-Resident Permit Valid in New Mexico?

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).

DPS defines reciprocity as permission for 'an out of state license issued to a person who is not a New Mexico resident' to be used while visiting or passing through — the holder need not reside in the issuing state, but NM affords no reciprocity to any out-of-state license held by a New Mexico resident (10.8.2.29(H) NMAC). Several states that honor NM licenses (AL, AK, ID, MN, MT, TN, UT, WV, WI) are NOT honored by NM.

Carry rules in New Mexico

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

• No proactive duty; a licensee carrying in public must display the license upon demand by a peace officer (10.8.2.16(D) NMAC). Consuming alcohol while carrying is prohibited (10.8.2.16(B)).
• New Mexico sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• New Mexico is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit New Mexico recognizes.
• Anyone not otherwise prohibited may carry a loaded concealed firearm in a private vehicle (including motorcycles and bicycles) without a license, per the DPS FAQ.

Off-limits places in New Mexico

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

• Schools and preschools (limited private-vehicle exception)
• University premises

See all 6 places you can't carry in New Mexico →

Arkansas vs New Mexico: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Arkansas into New Mexico changes 3 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → No); duty to inform police (Yes → No); out-of-state permits honored (All states → 20 states).

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

Permits that do work in New Mexico

These non-resident permits are honored in New Mexico, 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
• 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
• Arizona non-resident permit · honored in 31 states

Driving on from New Mexico

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

• Arizona — No such permit issued
• Colorado — No such permit issued
• Oklahoma — No such permit issued
• Texas — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does New Mexico honor an Arkansas resident permit?

Recognized — carry with your permit. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because New Mexico treats the two permit types differently.

Can a New Mexico non-resident permit holder carry in Arkansas?

New Mexico 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.