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 21 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

• 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))
• County courthouses and any facility housing a court, including family courts (§ 61-7-11a)
• Public and private K-12 schools, school buses and school-sponsored functions (§ 61-7-11a; limited CHL parking-lot exception)
• Municipally owned or operated buildings where prohibited by municipal ordinance (§ 8-12-5a)

Frequently asked questions

Is a Montana non-resident permit valid in West Virginia?

The premise fails at the first step. Montana issues no non-resident carry permit (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), so reciprocity with West Virginia never comes into play for this permit type.

Do I have to tell police in West Virginia that I am carrying?

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)).

Does West Virginia limit magazine capacity?

West Virginia sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.

Can I carry in West Virginia without any permit?

West Virginia allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.

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.