Is a North Carolina Non-Resident Permit Valid in New Hampshire?

Why

• North Carolina does not issue carry permits to non-residents (applicant must have been a north carolina resident for at least 30 days immediately preceding the application (g.s. 14-415.12(a)); no non-resident permits).

New Hampshire has no inbound recognition statute because none is needed — no license is required to carry. Any out-of-state permit holder (or non-holder) who may lawfully possess a firearm may carry. RSA 159:6-d addresses only outbound reciprocity for NH licenses; the State Police publish the list of states honoring NH resident licenses.

Carry rules in New Hampshire

Your North Carolina habits may not match New Hampshire's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.

• No statutory duty to inform a police officer of carrying appears in RSA Chapter 159.
• New Hampshire sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• New Hampshire allows permitless concealed carry for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• Since Feb 22, 2017, no license is required to carry a loaded pistol or revolver openly or concealed in a vehicle for anyone not prohibited from possessing firearms.

Off-limits places in New Hampshire

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

• Courtrooms and areas used by a court (RSA 159:19, class B felony)
• Federal facilities (federal law)

See all 3 places you can't carry in New Hampshire →

North Carolina vs New Hampshire: what changes at the state line

Crossing from North Carolina into New Hampshire changes 2 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes); duty to inform police (Yes → No).

Going the other way, a New Hampshire non-resident permit in North Carolina: recognized — carry with your permit.

Permits that do work in New Hampshire

These non-resident permits are honored in New Hampshire, 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 New Hampshire

How a North Carolina non-resident permit fares in the states bordering New Hampshire:

• Maine — No such permit issued
• Massachusetts — No such permit issued
• Vermont — No such permit issued

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does New Hampshire honor a North Carolina resident permit?

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

Can a New Hampshire non-resident permit holder carry in North Carolina?

Recognized — carry with your permit. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on North Carolina's law, not New Hampshire's.

Does North Carolina issue non-resident carry permits?

No. North Carolina issues carry permits to residents only (applicant must have been a North Carolina resident for at least 30 days immediately preceding the application (G.S. 14-415.12(a)); no non-resident permits). 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.