Non-Resident permit · IL → AL
Is an Illinois Non-Resident Permit Valid in Alabama?
Recognized — and permitless carry appliesVerified 2026-08-08
Yes. Alabama is a permitless-carry state that also honors Illinois non-resident permits. Carrying on the permit keeps things simpler in some situations, such as school-zone rules under federal law.
Why
- Alabama recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Alabama allows permitless carry for eligible adults 19+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
Attorney General: 'The state of Alabama recognizes any concealed carry permit issued by another state' (Ala. Code § 13A-11-85(a)); no resident-only condition stated.
The permit (Illinois)
- Permit
- Illinois Concealed Carry License (CCL)
- Issued by
- Illinois State Police
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Non-residents may apply only if their state is 'substantially similar' - currently Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas and Virginia (per ISP). Fee $300 (residents $150). Illinois residents also need a FOID card; non-residents are not eligible for a FOID card and are not required to have one.
The destination (Alabama)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (19+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Alabama
Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter Alabama, these rules replace the ones you know from Illinois.
- No proactive duty to inform found on any official Alabama source; answer truthfully and present a permit if an officer asks during a lawful stop.
- Alabama sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Alabama allows permitless concealed carry from age 19 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Since Jan 1, 2023 a loaded handgun may be carried in a vehicle without a permit by anyone who may carry permitless (Act 2022-133 removed the vehicle-carry permit requirement).
Off-limits places in Alabama
Alabama bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Police, sheriff and highway patrol stations
- Prisons, jails and other detention facilities
Illinois vs Alabama: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Illinois into Alabama changes 4 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes (19+)); magazine limit (15 rounds → None); out-of-state permits honored (None → All states); open carry (No → Yes, no permit).
| Rule | Illinois | Alabama |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | No | Yes (19+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | 15 rounds | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | None | All states |
| Open carry | No | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, an Alabama non-resident permit in Illinois: no such permit issued.
Driving on from Alabama
How an Illinois non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Alabama:
- Florida — Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
- Georgia — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Mississippi — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Tennessee — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does Alabama honor an Illinois resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can an Alabama non-resident permit holder carry in Illinois?
- Alabama does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in Illinois.
- Where does Alabama publish its official reciprocity list?
- Alabama 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
- Alabama Attorney General — Reciprocity For Concealed Carry Permits (current as of May 1, 2026) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Alabama Law Enforcement Agency — Gun Laws — accessed 2026-08-08
- Jefferson County Sheriff — Understanding the New Permit-less Carry Law — accessed 2026-08-08
- Jefferson County Sheriff — Pistol Permits (issuing authority; age 19, 18 military) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Code of Alabama § 13A-11-75 — permit issuance, term, fee (Legislature ALISON, via Wayback) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Code of Alabama § 13A-11-73 — permit required only for vehicle or concealed carry (via Wayback) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Code of Alabama § 13A-11-7 — visible holstered pistol not disorderly conduct (via Wayback) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Illinois State Police - Concealed Carry License — accessed 2026-08-08
- Illinois State Police - Transport Your Firearm Legally (ISP 1-154, 7/25) - out-of-state recognition, vehicle exception, officer disclosure — accessed 2026-08-08
- Illinois State Police - Assault Weapons / Protect Illinois Communities Act (magazine limits) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Illinois State Police Firearms Services Bureau - FAQ — accessed 2026-08-08