Is a Delaware Non-Resident Permit Valid in Indiana?

Why

• Delaware does not issue carry permits to non-residents (no standard non-resident license. the attorney general may issue a temporary 30-day license to a non-resident with a short-term, employment-related need to carry (11 del. c. 1441(k); maximum 3 such licenses)).

Official IN.gov FAQ quoting IC 35-47-2-21(b): licenses issued by other states or foreign countries 'will be recognized according to the terms thereof but only while the holders are not residents of Indiana.' No issuing-state residency condition, so non-resident permits are honored per their terms; permitless carry independently covers most visitors 18+.

Carry rules in Indiana

Crossing into Indiana swaps the rulebook. Here is what changes for a visiting carrier.

• No statutory proactive duty found; official IN.gov guidance recommends telling an officer 'in a non-threatening manner' that you are in possession of a firearm. Framed as a recommendation, not a legal requirement.
• Indiana sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• Indiana allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• Anyone eligible for permitless carry (18+, not a prohibited person) may carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle without a license since July 1, 2022.

Off-limits places in Indiana

Indiana bans carry in 4 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• School property (IC 35-47-9)
• Commercial airports and aircraft (IC 35-47-6)

See all 4 places you can't carry in Indiana →

Delaware vs Indiana: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Delaware into Indiana changes 3 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes (18+)); magazine limit (17 rounds → None); out-of-state permits honored (21 states → All states).

Going the other way, an Indiana non-resident permit in Delaware: not recognized.

Permits that do work in Indiana

These non-resident permits are honored in Indiana, 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 Indiana

How a Delaware non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Indiana:

• Illinois — No such permit issued
• Kentucky — No such permit issued
• Michigan — No such permit issued
• Ohio — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Indiana honor a Delaware resident permit?

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

Can an Indiana non-resident permit holder carry in Delaware?

Not recognized. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Delaware's law, not Indiana's.

Does Delaware issue non-resident carry permits?

No. Delaware issues carry permits to residents only (no standard non-resident license. The Attorney General may issue a temporary 30-day license to a non-resident with a short-term, employment-related need to carry (11 Del. C. 1441(k); maximum 3 such licenses)). 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.