Non-Resident permit · IL → SC
Is an Illinois Non-Resident Permit Valid in South Carolina?
Your permit itself isn't recognized, but you can still likely carry. South Carolina does not honor Illinois non-resident permits, yet its permitless-carry law for adults 18+ covers visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
Why
- Illinois is not on South Carolina's official reciprocity list.
- South Carolina allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
S.C. Code 23-31-215(N)(1) honors out-of-state permits only when 'held by a resident of a reciprocal state' whose permitting requires a background check and firearm training; Georgia and North Carolina permits are recognized automatically under (N)(2). Recognition covers handguns only. Largely moot for visitors 18+, who may carry permitless.
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 (South Carolina)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 2 states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in South Carolina
Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter South Carolina, these rules replace the ones you know from Illinois.
- SLED H.3594 guidance: a CWP holder or permitless carrier 'DOES NOT have a duty to notify a law enforcement officer that they are carrying a firearm', and a CWP holder is not required to carry the CWP or disclose CWP status.
- South Carolina sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- South Carolina allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- No restrictions on guns inside vehicles — a person not prohibited from possessing a firearm may store it anywhere in a vehicle, openly or concealed (SLED H.3594 guidance).
Off-limits places in South Carolina
South Carolina bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Law enforcement, correctional or detention facilities
- Courthouses and courtrooms (publicly owned buildings where court is in session)
Illinois vs South Carolina: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Illinois into South Carolina changes 4 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes (18+)); magazine limit (15 rounds → None); out-of-state permits honored (None → 2 states); open carry (No → Yes, no permit).
| Rule | Illinois | South Carolina |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | No | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | 15 rounds | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | None | 2 states |
| Open carry | No | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a South Carolina non-resident permit in Illinois: not recognized.
Driving on from South Carolina
How an Illinois non-resident permit fares in the states bordering South Carolina:
- Georgia — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- North Carolina — Recognized — carry with your permit
Frequently asked questions
- Does South Carolina honor an Illinois resident permit?
- Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can a South Carolina non-resident permit holder carry in Illinois?
- Not recognized. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Illinois's law, not South Carolina's.
- Where does South Carolina publish its official reciprocity list?
- South Carolina 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
- SLED — Constitutional Carry Guidance (H.3594) — accessed 2026-08-08
- SLED — Concealed Weapons Permit — accessed 2026-08-08
- S.C. Code of Laws Title 23, Chapter 31 (incl. 23-31-215(N) recognition) — accessed 2026-08-08
- 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