Is a Montana Non-Resident Permit Valid in Idaho?

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).

Idaho AG: out-of-state concealed weapons licenses are recognized ('Yes'), with the condition that 'while in Idaho, you must carry the license on your person at all times when carrying a concealed weapon' (Idaho Code 18-3302(5)(g)). No residency or permit-type restriction is stated; permitless carry independently covers US-citizen visitors 18+.

Carry rules in Idaho

Your Montana habits may not match Idaho's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.

• No proactive duty-to-inform requirement appears in the AG's official concealed-weapons guidance; carriers relying on an out-of-state license must have it with them when carrying. Cross-checked: Idaho has no must-inform statute.
• Idaho sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• Idaho allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• Anyone eligible for permitless carry (US citizen or armed forces member 18+, not disqualified) may carry a loaded concealed handgun in a vehicle without a license.

Off-limits places in Idaho

Idaho bans carry in 4 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• Courthouses
• Juvenile detention facilities

See all 4 places you can't carry in Idaho →

Montana vs Idaho: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Montana into Idaho changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes → Yes (18+)); out-of-state permits honored (43 states → All states).

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

Permits that do work in Idaho

These non-resident permits are honored in Idaho, 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
• 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
• Arizona non-resident permit · honored in 31 states

Driving on from Idaho

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

• Nevada — No such permit issued
• Oregon — No such permit issued
• Utah — No such permit issued
• Washington — No such permit issued
• Wyoming — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Idaho honor a Montana resident permit?

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

Can an Idaho 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 Idaho'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.