Is a Montana Non-Resident Permit Valid in Arizona?

Why

• Montana does not issue carry permits to non-residents (permit requires at least 6 months' montana residency, us citizenship or lawful permanent residence, and montana id (mca 45-8-321; mt doj). no non-resident permits are issued).

A.R.S. § 13-3112(Q): Arizona recognizes any other state's permit if it is valid in the issuing state and the holder is legally present and not prohibited — no resident-only condition, so non-resident permits qualify. But out-of-state permit holders under 21 may not carry concealed in Arizona (§ 13-3112(S)).

Carry rules in Arizona

Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter Arizona, these rules replace the ones you know from Montana.

• No proactive duty, but if an officer asks whether you are carrying a concealed deadly weapon you must answer accurately (A.R.S. § 13-3102(A)(1)(b)); permit holders must present the permit for inspection on request (§ 13-3112(A), civil penalty up to $300).
• Arizona sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• Arizona allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• Anyone 21+ who may lawfully possess may carry a loaded handgun, concealed, in a vehicle without a permit; under-21s are limited to visible-holster or cased transport.

Off-limits places in Arizona

Arizona bans carry in 5 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• School grounds (K-12)
• Polling places on election day

See all 5 places you can't carry in Arizona →

Montana vs Arizona: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Montana into Arizona changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes → Yes (21+)); out-of-state permits honored (43 states → All states).

Going the other way, an Arizona non-resident permit in Montana: recognized — and permitless carry applies.

Permits that do work in Arizona

These non-resident permits are honored in Arizona, ranked by how many states honor each one. They are issued to people who live outside the issuing state, subject to its eligibility rules.

• North Dakota non-resident permit · honored in 33 states
• Ohio non-resident permit · honored in 33 states
• Idaho non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• Texas non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• Florida non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• South Carolina non-resident permit · honored in 32 states

Driving on from Arizona

How a Montana non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Arizona:

• California — No such permit issued
• Nevada — No such permit issued
• New Mexico — No such permit issued
• Utah — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Arizona honor a Montana resident permit?

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Arizona treats the two permit types differently.

Can an Arizona non-resident permit holder carry in Montana?

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Montana's law, not Arizona's.

Does Montana issue non-resident carry permits?

No. Montana issues carry permits to residents only (permit requires at least 6 months' Montana residency, US citizenship or lawful permanent residence, and Montana ID (MCA 45-8-321; MT DOJ). No non-resident permits are issued). 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.