Is a Montana Non-Resident Permit Valid in Illinois?

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).

ISP (official 2025 brochure): 'Illinois does not recognize concealed carry licenses from other states.' Sole carve-out: a resident of another state with a valid concealed carry license from their home state may carry a concealed firearm within a vehicle while traveling through Illinois; if the vehicle is left unattended the firearm must be stored in a locked vehicle or locked container out of plain view (430 ILCS 66).

Carry rules in Illinois

Crossing into Illinois swaps the rulebook. Here is what changes for a visiting carrier.

• Disclosure is on-demand only: upon an officer's request during a stop, the licensee or qualifying non-resident must disclose that they possess a concealed firearm, present the license on request, identify the firearm's location, and permit the officer to secure it for the stop (ISP brochure, per the Concealed Carry Act).
• Illinois limits magazine capacity to 15 rounds — a limit that applies to visitors, and one of the easiest laws to break by accident.
• Illinois is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Illinois recognizes.
• Illinois CCL holders may carry loaded and concealed in a vehicle; non-residents with a valid home-state license may carry loaded/concealed only within a vehicle; everyone else must transport firearms unloaded and enclosed in a case (or broken down / not immediately accessible).

Off-limits places in Illinois

Illinois bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• Schools and school property
• All state government buildings (posted prohibited areas), courts

See all 6 places you can't carry in Illinois →

Montana vs Illinois: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Montana into Illinois changes 4 rules: permitless carry (Yes → No); magazine limit (None → 15 rounds); out-of-state permits honored (43 states → None); open carry (Yes, no permit → No).

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

Driving on from Illinois

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

• Indiana — No such permit issued
• Iowa — No such permit issued
• Kentucky — No such permit issued
• Missouri — No such permit issued
• Wisconsin — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Illinois honor a Montana resident permit?

Not recognized. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Illinois treats the two permit types differently.

Can an Illinois 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 Illinois'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.