Non-Resident permit · KS → ME
Is a Kansas Non-Resident Permit Valid in Maine?
Kansas doesn't put this permit on the table for non-residents (kansas residents only - application must be made to the sheriff of the county where the applicant resides (K.S.A. 75-7c05)). See our non-resident permit guide for the states that do, and which of their permits Maine accepts.
Why
- Kansas does not issue carry permits to non-residents (kansas residents only - application must be made to the sheriff of the county where the applicant resides (k.s.a. 75-7c05)).
Maine recognizes a permit 'issued by another state to its resident' only where that state recognizes Maine's resident permit - non-resident permits are not honored. Extra conditions: permit holders from Alaska, Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and Virginia must be 21+ (Virginia holders must also carry government-issued photo ID). In practice most visitors 21+ may simply carry permitless.
The permit (Kansas)
- Permit
- Kansas Concealed Carry Handgun License (CCHL)
- Issued by
- Kansas Attorney General (application submitted through the sheriff of the applicant's county of residence, K.S.A. 75-7c05)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- No — Kansas residents only - application must be made to the sheriff of the county where the applicant resides (K.S.A. 75-7c05).
The destination (Maine)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 23 states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (21+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Maine
Maine's rules control while you're there. These are the ones travelers trip over most.
- Permit holders have no proactive duty to inform. A person carrying WITHOUT a permit under Maine's permitless-carry law must immediately inform the officer that they are carrying a concealed handgun upon any routine stop, detention or arrest.
- Maine sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Maine allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- A person 21+ who may legally possess a firearm may keep a loaded concealed handgun in a vehicle without a permit, but if carrying without a permit must immediately inform law enforcement during any stop.
Off-limits places in Maine
Maine bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Courthouses
- Schools and school property
Kansas vs Maine: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Kansas into Maine changes one rule: out-of-state permits honored (All states → 23 states).
| Rule | Kansas | Maine |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (21+) | Yes (21+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | 23 states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Maine non-resident permit in Kansas: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Maine
How a Kansas non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Maine:
- New Hampshire — No such permit issued
Frequently asked questions
- Does Maine honor a Kansas resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Maine treats the two permit types differently.
- Can a Maine non-resident permit holder carry in Kansas?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Kansas's law, not Maine's.
- Does Kansas issue non-resident carry permits?
- No. Kansas issues carry permits to residents only (kansas residents only - application must be made to the sheriff of the county where the applicant resides (K.S.A. 75-7c05)). 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.
Official sources
- Maine State Police - Concealed Handgun Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- Maine State Police - Concealed Carry in Maine — accessed 2026-08-08
- 25 M.R.S. 2003 - Permits to carry concealed handguns — accessed 2026-08-08
- 25 M.R.S. 2001-A - Threatening display of or carrying concealed weapon — accessed 2026-09-27
- Kansas AG - Out-of-State License Recognition — accessed 2026-08-08
- K.S.A. 75-7c03 (recognition of out-of-state licenses; provisional licenses) — accessed 2026-08-08
- K.S.A. 21-6302 (criminal carrying of a weapon; under-21 rule) — accessed 2026-08-08
- K.S.A. 75-7c05 (application; residency) — accessed 2026-08-08
- K.S.A. 75-7c10 (posted prohibited buildings) — accessed 2026-08-08
- K.S.A. 75-7c04 (disqualifications; 8-hour handgun safety and training course) — accessed 2026-09-27
- K.S.A. 21-6301 (criminal use of weapons; under-18 handgun possession) — accessed 2026-09-27
- K.S.A. 75-7c08 (license renewal) — accessed 2026-09-27