Non-Resident permit · NH → MS
Is a New Hampshire Non-Resident Permit Valid in Mississippi?
Yes. Mississippi recognizes the New Hampshire non-resident permit — and because Mississippi has permitless carry for adults 18+, a permit isn't strictly required for eligible carriers anyway.
Why
- Mississippi recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Mississippi allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
Miss. Code 45-9-101(19): 'Any person holding a valid unrevoked and unexpired license to carry stun guns, concealed pistols or revolvers issued in another state shall have such license recognized by this state' — no residency condition, so non-resident permits from any state are also recognized.
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 (Mississippi)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Mississippi
Your New Hampshire habits may not match Mississippi's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.
- No proactive duty: a licensee must display the license and identification upon demand by a law enforcement officer; failure is a $25 noncriminal violation (Miss. Code 45-9-101(1)(b)).
- Mississippi sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Mississippi allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Loaded vehicle carry is generally lawful without a permit for adults who may lawfully possess a handgun, under the permitless-carry provisions (Miss. Code 45-9-101(24), 97-37-1).
Off-limits places in Mississippi
Mississippi bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Police, sheriff or highway patrol stations (45-9-101(13))
- Detention facilities, prisons and jails
New Hampshire vs Mississippi: what changes at the state line
Crossing from New Hampshire into Mississippi changes one rule: permitless carry (Yes → Yes (18+)).
| Rule | New Hampshire | Mississippi |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | All states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Mississippi non-resident permit in New Hampshire: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Mississippi
How a New Hampshire non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Mississippi:
Frequently asked questions
- Does Mississippi honor a New Hampshire resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can a Mississippi 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 Mississippi's.
- Where does Mississippi publish its official reciprocity list?
- Mississippi 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
- Mississippi DPS Driver Service Bureau — Firearm Permit Laws and Codes (hosts 45-9-101 as amended) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Miss. Code 45-9-101 as amended by HB 786 (2016) — official enrolled text, Mississippi Legislature — accessed 2026-08-08
- Mississippi DPS — Miss. Code 97-37-1 (concealed carry; holster and 18+ exemptions) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Mississippi DPS — Miss. Code 97-37-7 (enhanced carry endorsement; reciprocal agreements) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Mississippi DPS — Firearm Permit Applications & Forms (how to apply) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Mississippi DPS — Individual Firearm Permit Application Instructions (fees; rev. 3/24/22) — 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