Non-Resident permit · MO → PA
Is a Missouri Non-Resident Permit Valid in Pennsylvania?
Missouri doesn't put this permit on the table for non-residents (no non-resident permits, except members of the US Armed Forces stationed in Missouri and their spouses (RSMo 571.101.2). Minimum age drops to 18 for members of or honorably discharged from the Armed Forces). See our non-resident permit guide for the states that do, and which of their permits Pennsylvania accepts.
Why
- Missouri does not issue carry permits to non-residents (no non-resident permits, except members of the us armed forces stationed in missouri and their spouses (rsmo 571.101.2). minimum age drops to 18 for members of or honorably discharged from the armed forces).
AG rule: where Pennsylvania grants reciprocity, ONLY individuals who are both residents of the issuing state AND 21 or older may carry in Pennsylvania — non-resident permits are never recognized. Several states are recognized only for specific license classes (see overrides). Virginia became the 30th recognized state in Feb 2026. Not recognized: CA, CT, DE, DC, HI, IL, ME, MD, MA, MN, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI, SC, VT, WA.
The permit (Missouri)
- Permit
- Missouri Concealed Carry Permit
- Issued by
- County or city sheriff of the applicant's county of residence
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- No — No non-resident permits, except members of the US Armed Forces stationed in Missouri and their spouses (RSMo 571.101.2). Minimum age drops to 18 for members of or honorably discharged from the Armed Forces.
The destination (Pennsylvania)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 30 states
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's rules control while you're there. These are the ones travelers trip over most.
- No Pennsylvania statute requires a carrier to proactively inform police; carry the license and produce it on lawful demand.
- Pennsylvania sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Pennsylvania is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Pennsylvania recognizes.
- Carrying a firearm in any vehicle, loaded or unloaded, requires a valid LTCF or a recognized reciprocal license (18 Pa.C.S. § 6106).
Off-limits places in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Court facilities (18 Pa.C.S. § 913)
- Elementary and secondary school buildings, grounds and buses (18 Pa.C.S. § 912; statutory 'other lawful purpose' defense)
Missouri vs Pennsylvania: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Missouri into Pennsylvania changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes → No); out-of-state permits honored (All states → 30 states).
| Rule | Missouri | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes | No |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | 30 states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Pennsylvania non-resident permit in Missouri: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Pennsylvania
How a Missouri non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Pennsylvania:
- Delaware — No such permit issued
- Maryland — No such permit issued
- New Jersey — No such permit issued
- New York — No such permit issued
- Ohio — No such permit issued
- West Virginia — No such permit issued
Frequently asked questions
- Does Pennsylvania honor a Missouri resident permit?
- Recognized — carry with your permit. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Pennsylvania treats the two permit types differently.
- Can a Pennsylvania non-resident permit holder carry in Missouri?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Missouri's law, not Pennsylvania's.
- Does Missouri issue non-resident carry permits?
- No. Missouri issues carry permits to residents only (no non-resident permits, except members of the US Armed Forces stationed in Missouri and their spouses (RSMo 571.101.2). Minimum age drops to 18 for members of or honorably discharged from the Armed Forces). 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
- PA Office of Attorney General — Concealed Carry Reciprocity (per-state map data) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Pennsylvania State Police — Carrying Firearms in Pennsylvania — accessed 2026-08-08
- PA OAG press release — Virginia becomes 30th reciprocity state — accessed 2026-08-08
- Chester County Sheriff — PA License to Carry Firearms Information — accessed 2026-09-27
- Centre County Sheriff — License to Carry Firearms — accessed 2026-09-27
- City of Philadelphia — Application for a Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearm — accessed 2026-09-27
- Missouri Attorney General — Concealed Carry Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- RSMo 571.101 — Concealed carry permits, application requirements — accessed 2026-08-08
- RSMo 571.030 — Unlawful use of weapons, exceptions — accessed 2026-08-08
- RSMo 571.107 — Permit does not authorize concealed firearms, where — accessed 2026-08-08
- RSMo 571.121 — Duty to carry and display permit — accessed 2026-08-08
- RSMo 571.111 — Firearms safety training course requirements — accessed 2026-09-27
- RSMo 21.750 — State preemption; local regulation of open carry — accessed 2026-09-27