Non-Resident permit · NY → WA
Is a New York Non-Resident Permit Valid in Washington?
Your permit stops at the state line. Washington recognizes no New York non-resident permit, and without a Washington-issued license there is no lawful way for a visitor to carry concealed.
Why
- New York is not on Washington's official reciprocity list.
AG list as of 2026-07-10. Permit-class limits: Idaho ENHANCED permits only; Kansas standard licenses only; Montana ENHANCED permits only (not 18-20 restricted permits); North Dakota CLASS 1 permits only; South Dakota unrestricted ENHANCED and GOLD permits only; Utah permits recognized EXCLUDING provisional (under-21) permits. RCW 9.41.073 requires the issuing state to recognize WA CPLs, not license under-21s, and require a fingerprint-based criminal and mental-health background check; holder residency in the issuing state is not a statutory condition.
The permit (New York)
- Permit
- New York State Pistol/Revolver License — concealed carry class (Penal Law 400.00(2)(f))
- Issued by
- County or city licensing officer (county judge, sheriff or police commissioner depending on locality; NYPD License Division within New York City)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Official gunsafety.ny.gov FAQ: 'New York law does not require residency or in-state employment to apply for a firearm license... residency is not among the eligibility criteria'; applications go to the licensing officer where the applicant resides, is principally employed or has a principal place of business (PL 400.00(3)).
The destination (Washington)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 10 states
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Washington
Recognition is only half the question. Once you're inside Washington, its carry rules apply to you exactly as they do to locals.
- No statutory duty to proactively tell an officer you are carrying; the CPL must be in your possession while carrying a concealed pistol and presented on demand.
- Washington sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Washington is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Washington recognizes.
- A loaded pistol in a vehicle requires a CPL and must be on the licensee's person, or the licensee must remain in the vehicle, or the pistol must be locked in the vehicle and concealed from view when the licensee leaves; without a CPL the pistol must be unloaded, and if left in the vehicle, locked and hidden from view (RCW 9.41.050).
Off-limits places in Washington
- Restricted areas of jails, law enforcement facilities and courthouses/courtrooms (RCW 9.41.300)
- Licensed inpatient psychiatric facilities (RCW 9.41.300)
- Portions of bars/restaurants off-limits to persons under 21 (RCW 9.41.300 — applies even with a CPL)
- Areas beyond airport security checkpoints (RCW 9.41.300)
- Public and private K-12 school premises (RCW 9.41.280)
- Libraries, zoos, aquariums and transit stations — but CPL holders are EXEMPT from these four (RCW 9.41.300(14))
Frequently asked questions
- Is a New York non-resident permit valid in Washington?
- Your permit stops at the state line. Washington recognizes no New York non-resident permit, and without a Washington-issued license there is no lawful way for a visitor to carry concealed.
- Do I have to tell police in Washington that I am carrying?
- No statutory duty to proactively tell an officer you are carrying; the CPL must be in your possession while carrying a concealed pistol and presented on demand.
- Does Washington limit magazine capacity?
- Washington sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Where does Washington publish its official reciprocity list?
- Washington 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
- Washington Attorney General — Concealed Pistol License Reciprocity (list as of 07/10/2026) — accessed 2026-08-08
- RCW 9.41.070 — Concealed pistol license — accessed 2026-08-08
- RCW 9.41.050 — Carrying firearms — accessed 2026-08-08
- RCW 9.41.300 — Weapons prohibited in certain places — accessed 2026-08-08
- RCW 9.41.370 — Large capacity magazines — accessed 2026-08-08
- NY Penal Law 400.00 — Licenses (age 21, licensing officers, statewide validity/NYC exception, exhibit on demand) — accessed 2026-08-08
- gunsafety.ny.gov — FAQ: New Concealed Carry Law (sensitive locations, restricted private property, nonresident applications) — accessed 2026-08-08
- New York State Police — FAQ Regarding Recent Changes to NYS Gun Laws (sensitive-location list, vehicle storage) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NY Penal Law 265.00(23) — large capacity ammunition feeding device (>10 rounds) — accessed 2026-08-08