Is a New Mexico Non-Resident Permit Valid in Iowa?

Why

• New Mexico does not issue carry permits to non-residents (residents only (domiciled 90+ days), except members of the us armed forces permanently stationed in nm and their dependents (nmsa 29-19-4(a)(2)). new residents holding a license from a reciprocity state must transfer to a nm license within 90 days).

Iowa Code 724.11A: a valid permit or license issued by another state to any nonresident of Iowa is treated as a valid Iowa permit to carry (it cannot be used by Iowa residents and does not satisfy the permit-to-acquire requirement of 724.15).

Carry rules in Iowa

Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter Iowa, these rules replace the ones you know from New Mexico.

• No proactive duty-to-inform provision in Iowa Code ch. 724; the former duty to carry and show the permit on demand (724.5) was repealed by the 2021 permitless-carry law.
• Iowa sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• Iowa allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• Since July 1, 2021 a non-prohibited adult may carry a loaded handgun, open or concealed, in a vehicle without any permit.

Off-limits places in Iowa

Iowa bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• K-12 school grounds (Iowa Code 724.4B - class D felony; narrow exceptions for unloaded/secured firearms in vehicles)
• Courthouses and court-occupied areas (Iowa Judicial Branch supervisory order, not statute)

See all 3 places you can't carry in Iowa →

New Mexico vs Iowa: what changes at the state line

Crossing from New Mexico into Iowa changes 2 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes (18+)); out-of-state permits honored (20 states → All states).

Going the other way, an Iowa non-resident permit in New Mexico: not recognized.

Permits that do work in Iowa

These non-resident permits are honored in Iowa, 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 Iowa

How a New Mexico non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Iowa:

• Illinois — No such permit issued
• Minnesota — No such permit issued
• Missouri — No such permit issued
• Nebraska — No such permit issued
• South Dakota — No such permit issued
• Wisconsin — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Iowa honor a New Mexico resident permit?

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

Can an Iowa non-resident permit holder carry in New Mexico?

Not recognized. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on New Mexico's law, not Iowa's.

Does New Mexico issue non-resident carry permits?

No. New Mexico issues carry permits to residents only (residents only (domiciled 90+ days), except members of the US armed forces permanently stationed in NM and their dependents (NMSA 29-19-4(A)(2)). New residents holding a license from a reciprocity state must transfer to a NM license within 90 days). 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.