Non-Resident permit · ME → IN
Is a Maine Non-Resident Permit Valid in Indiana?
You're covered either way. Indiana honors Maine non-resident permits, and its permitless-carry law also lets eligible visitors carry without any permit at all.
Why
- Indiana recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Indiana allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
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+.
The permit (Maine)
- Permit
- Maine Permit to Carry Concealed Handguns
- Issued by
- Maine State Police (issuing authority for most municipalities and for all non-residents); some municipal police chiefs issue locally
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Non-resident permits are issued by the Chief of the State Police (25 M.R.S. 2003; $80 application fee, 60-day decision window).
The destination (Indiana)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Indiana
Whatever your permit status, Indiana law governs how you carry inside the state. The rules below matter most on a short trip.
- 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)
Maine vs Indiana: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Maine into Indiana changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (21+) → Yes (18+)); out-of-state permits honored (23 states → All states).
| Rule | Maine | Indiana |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (21+) | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 23 states | All states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, an Indiana non-resident permit in Maine: permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Indiana
How a Maine non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Indiana:
Frequently asked questions
- Does Indiana honor a Maine resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can an Indiana non-resident permit holder carry in Maine?
- Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Maine's law, not Indiana's.
- Where does Indiana publish its official reciprocity list?
- Indiana 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
- 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
- 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