Non-Resident permit · NH → FL
Is a New Hampshire Non-Resident Permit Valid in Florida?
You won't carry "on your permit" in Florida — the state doesn't honor it. You can still carry under Florida's permitless law for adults 21+ if you meet its eligibility rules.
Why
- Florida recognizes out-of-state permits only when the holder is a resident of the issuing state.
- A non-resident permit from New Hampshire therefore does not qualify — the holder is not a New Hampshire resident.
- Florida allows permitless carry for eligible adults 21+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
s. 790.015 (as amended by ch. 2023-18) recognizes a valid concealed carry license from ANY state provided it was 'issued to the nonresident in his or her state of residence' and the holder is 21+ (18+ if servicemember or honorably discharged veteran) - no reciprocal agreement required, but non-resident permits (license state != residence state) do not qualify; such holders may still carry permitless if eligible. A holder who establishes Florida residency keeps recognition for 90 days only. FDACS still publishes a legacy mutual-agreement list, but the statute controls.
The permit (New Hampshire)
- Permit
- New Hampshire Pistol/Revolver License
- Issued by
- Local chief of police, selectmen or mayor (residents); NH State Police (non-residents)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Non-resident licenses are issued by the NH State Police Permits and Licensing Unit ($100, 5 years); resident licenses by the local licensing authority ($10). RSA 159:6 sets no minimum age — federal law governs handgun possession by minors. NH-issued non-resident licenses are valid only in NH or states that recognize them.
The destination (Florida)
- Recognition policy
- Honors all states' permits, resident permits only
- Permitless carry
- Yes (21+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Florida
Your New Hampshire habits may not match Florida's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.
- No proactive duty. Licensees must carry the license plus valid ID and display both upon demand by a law enforcement officer (s. 790.06(1)); permitless carriers must carry and display valid ID on demand (s. 790.013) - violation is a $25 civil penalty.
- Florida sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Florida allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- A person eligible under s. 790.01 (or licensed) may carry a loaded concealed handgun on their person in a vehicle; independently, anyone 18+ in lawful possession may keep a handgun in a private conveyance if it is securely encased or not readily accessible for immediate use (s. 790.25(4)).
Off-limits places in Florida
Florida bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Police, sheriff or highway patrol stations
- Detention facilities, prisons and jails
New Hampshire vs Florida: what changes at the state line
Crossing from New Hampshire into Florida changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes → Yes (21+)); out-of-state permits honored (All states → All (resident permits only)).
| Rule | New Hampshire | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes | Yes (21+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | All (resident permits only) |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Florida non-resident permit in New Hampshire: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Florida
How a New Hampshire non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Florida:
Frequently asked questions
- Does Florida honor a New Hampshire resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Florida treats the two permit types differently.
- Can a Florida non-resident permit holder carry in New Hampshire?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on New Hampshire's law, not Florida's.
- Where does Florida publish its official reciprocity list?
- Florida publishes its recognition policy on an official state page, linked in the sources on this page. That page is the authority — check it shortly before travel, because recognition lists change without much notice.
Official sources
- FDACS - Concealed Weapon License Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- FDACS - Reciprocity and Traveling with a Firearm FAQ — accessed 2026-08-08
- Fla. Stat. 790.015 - Nonresidents; recognition of home-state licenses — accessed 2026-08-08
- Fla. Stat. 790.01 - Permitless concealed carry — accessed 2026-08-08
- Fla. Stat. 790.013 - ID requirement for unlicensed concealed carry — accessed 2026-08-08
- Fla. Stat. 790.06 - License to carry; criteria; prohibited places (subsection 12) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Fla. Stat. 790.25 - Lawful possession; private conveyance — accessed 2026-08-08
- FDACS — Concealed Weapon License (Important Notice re Eubanks v. State, 18+ licensing) — accessed 2026-09-27
- FDACS — Eligibility Requirements (Important Notice re Eubanks v. State) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Fla. Stat. 790.053 — open carrying of weapons (statute text still in 2026 Florida Statutes) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Florida Attorney General — Guidance Memorandum on open carry after McDaniels v. State (Sept 15, 2025) — accessed 2026-09-27
- NH RSA Chapter 159 — Pistols and Revolvers (159:4 repealed, 159:6, 159:6-d, 159:19) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NH State Police — Pistol and Revolver Licensing (incl. outbound reciprocity list) — accessed 2026-08-08