Is an Indiana Non-Resident Permit Valid in Wisconsin?
Conditionally. Wisconsin honors the Indiana non-resident permit for holders 21+ who do not live in Wisconsin; outside that, it does not count there. Holders under 21 and Wisconsin residents cannot carry concealed in Wisconsin on this permit, and Wisconsin has no permitless carry. One caveat: an official Wisconsin source does not settle this cleanly for your exact situation, so confirm with Wisconsin's issuing authority before you carry.
Why
- Wisconsin's official reciprocity list includes Indiana.
- Wisconsin honors out-of-state permits only for holders 21 and older; Indiana's minimum permit age is not verified.
- Wisconsin does not honor an out-of-state permit held by a Wisconsin resident.
- Whether Indiana issues non-resident permits could not be verified from official sources.
Holder must be 21+ AND must NOT be a Wisconsin resident (a WI resident needs a WI license even if holding another state's permit). Recognition is based on the WI DOJ list of states whose permits require a background check comparable to Wisconsin's. Permit-class limits on the DOJ list: Virginia NON-RESIDENT licenses only; Florida NON-RESIDENT licenses only; Idaho regular or enhanced only (not emergency); West Virginia regular resident or non-resident CHLs only (not provisional); Missouri regular only (not provisional). NOT honored: Maine, New Jersey, Oregon (and Guam, Virgin Islands; Puerto Rico regular licenses only). Vermont issues no permits.
The permit (Indiana)
- Permit
- Indiana License to Carry a Handgun (LTCH)
- Issued by
- Indiana State Police
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Not verified
The destination (Wisconsin)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 46 states
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's rules control while you're there. These are the ones travelers trip over most.
- No proactive duty to inform; a licensee or out-of-state licensee must display the license and photo ID only upon an officer's request while the officer is acting in an official capacity ($25 forfeiture; Wis. Stat. § 175.60(2g)(c), (17)(a)).
- Wisconsin sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Wisconsin is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Wisconsin recognizes.
- License holders may carry a loaded, concealed handgun in a vehicle. Without a license, a loaded handgun may be placed or transported in a vehicle (Wis. Stat. § 167.31(2)) but may NOT be concealed within reach — case law treats a hidden firearm within reach as unlawfully concealed.
Off-limits places in Wisconsin
Wisconsin bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Police stations, sheriff's offices and state patrol stations (Wis. Stat. § 175.60(16))
- Prisons, jails, houses of correction and secured correctional facilities
Indiana vs Wisconsin: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Indiana into Wisconsin changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → No); out-of-state permits honored (All states → 46 states).
| Rule | Indiana | Wisconsin |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (18+) | No |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | 46 states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Wisconsin non-resident permit in Indiana: no such permit issued.
Driving on from Wisconsin
How an Indiana non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Wisconsin:
Frequently asked questions
- Does Wisconsin honor an Indiana resident permit?
- Recognized — holders 21+ only. The verdict matches the non-resident permit on this page, but the conditions differ.
- Can a Wisconsin non-resident permit holder carry in Indiana?
- Wisconsin does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in Indiana.
- Where does Wisconsin publish its official reciprocity list?
- Wisconsin 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
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW Reciprocity (Out-of-State Licenses Recognized in Wisconsin) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wisconsin DOJ — Concealed Carry Weapon License — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW License Information (apply, fees, renewal) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW Training Requirements — accessed 2026-09-27
- Wis. Stat. § 948.60 — Possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18 (via Wayback 2026-08-11) — accessed 2026-09-27
- IN.gov FAQ - Does Indiana honor handgun licenses from other states? (IC 35-47-2-21(b)) — accessed 2026-08-08
- IN.gov FAQ - Places where carry is illegal even with a valid license — accessed 2026-08-08
- IN.gov FAQ - Handgun carry at Indiana State Parks — accessed 2026-08-08
- IN.gov FAQ - How do I apply for a handgun license? (ISP issues; online portal) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Georgia General Assembly policy brief (supporting: lists Indiana among the 25 permitless-carry states as of 2022) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Indiana State Police - Permitless Carry website messaging (PDF) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Indiana State Police - Firearms Handgun Licensing Application Fees — accessed 2026-09-27
- Indiana State Police - Apply for a New License to Carry — accessed 2026-09-27