Is a Montana Non-Resident Permit Valid in West Virginia?

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).

W. Va. Code § 61-7-6a: an out-of-state permit is valid in WV only if the holder is 21+, has the permit in immediate possession, is NOT a West Virginia resident, and the issuing state recognizes WV CHLs (governor notification or written reciprocity agreement). The issuing state's permit need not be a resident permit, so qualifying non-resident permits count. Recognition is largely academic for visitors 21+, who may carry permitless anyway; under-21 out-of-state permit holders are NOT covered. Honored list derived from the AG's official reciprocity map (as of Oct 1, 2025): every permit-issuing state recognizes WV CHLs except CA, CT, HI, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI and WA (Vermont issues no permits).

Carry rules in West Virginia

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

• No proactive duty-to-inform appears in WV statute, the AG's guide or the AG's FAQ; out-of-state holders must have the permit in immediate possession (§ 61-7-6a(a)(2)).
• West Virginia sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• West Virginia allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• Permitless carry (21+, non-prohibited) extends to loaded handguns in vehicles. A lawfully possessed firearm may be kept locked and out of view in a vehicle in any parking lot (§ 61-7-14) and on the State Capitol Complex (§ 61-6-19(b)).

Off-limits places in West Virginia

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

• State Capitol Complex (W. Va. Code § 61-6-19(b); locked-vehicle exception)
• Regional jails, detention facilities and Division of Corrections facilities (§ 61-5-8(c))

See all 5 places you can't carry in West Virginia →

Montana vs West Virginia: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Montana into West Virginia changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes → Yes (18+)); out-of-state permits honored (43 states → 36 states).

Going the other way, a West Virginia non-resident permit in Montana: recognized — and permitless carry applies.

Permits that do work in West Virginia

These non-resident permits are honored in West Virginia, 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 West Virginia

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

• Kentucky — No such permit issued
• Maryland — No such permit issued
• Ohio — No such permit issued
• Pennsylvania — No such permit issued
• Virginia — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does West Virginia honor a Montana resident permit?

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

Can a West Virginia 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 West Virginia'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.