Non-Resident permit · ND → PA
Is a North Dakota Non-Resident Permit Valid in Pennsylvania?
No reciprocity exists on this route. Pennsylvania honors neither your permit nor any permitless claim by a visitor. Concealed carry there requires a permit Pennsylvania itself recognizes.
Why
- Pennsylvania's official reciprocity list includes North Dakota.
- The agreement covers only permits issued to North Dakota residents.
- A non-resident permit from North Dakota therefore does not qualify — the holder is not a North Dakota resident.
AG rule: where Pennsylvania grants reciprocity, ONLY individuals who are both residents of the issuing state AND 21 or older may carry in Pennsylvania — non-resident permits are never recognized. Several states are recognized only for specific license classes (see overrides). Virginia became the 30th recognized state in Feb 2026. Not recognized: CA, CT, DE, DC, HI, IL, ME, MD, MA, MN, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI, SC, VT, WA.
The permit (North Dakota)
- Permit
- North Dakota Concealed Weapon License — Class 1 Firearm License
- Issued by
- Director of the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (Office of Attorney General)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Non-residents qualify only if they are (a) full-time active military stationed in ND, or (b) a resident of a state that has reciprocity with ND who holds a valid home-state license (NDCC 62.1-04-03(1)(b)); all testing must be completed inside North Dakota.
The destination (Pennsylvania)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 30 states
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Pennsylvania
Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter Pennsylvania, these rules replace the ones you know from North Dakota.
- No Pennsylvania statute requires a carrier to proactively inform police; carry the license and produce it on lawful demand.
- Pennsylvania sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Pennsylvania is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Pennsylvania recognizes.
- Carrying a firearm in any vehicle, loaded or unloaded, requires a valid LTCF or a recognized reciprocal license (18 Pa.C.S. § 6106).
Off-limits places in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Court facilities (18 Pa.C.S. § 913)
- Elementary and secondary school buildings, grounds and buses (18 Pa.C.S. § 912; statutory 'other lawful purpose' defense)
North Dakota vs Pennsylvania: what changes at the state line
Crossing from North Dakota into Pennsylvania changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → No); out-of-state permits honored (39 states → 30 states).
| Rule | North Dakota | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (18+) | No |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 39 states | 30 states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Pennsylvania non-resident permit in North Dakota: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Pennsylvania
How a North Dakota non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Pennsylvania:
- Delaware — Recognized — carry with your permit
- Maryland — Not recognized
- New Jersey — Not recognized
- New York — Not recognized
- Ohio — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- West Virginia — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does Pennsylvania honor a North Dakota resident permit?
- Recognized — carry with your permit. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Pennsylvania treats the two permit types differently.
- Can a Pennsylvania non-resident permit holder carry in North Dakota?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on North Dakota's law, not Pennsylvania's.
- Where does Pennsylvania publish its official reciprocity list?
- Pennsylvania 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
- PA Office of Attorney General — Concealed Carry Reciprocity (per-state map data) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Pennsylvania State Police — Carrying Firearms in Pennsylvania — accessed 2026-08-08
- PA OAG press release — Virginia becomes 30th reciprocity state — accessed 2026-08-08
- Chester County Sheriff — PA License to Carry Firearms Information — accessed 2026-09-27
- Centre County Sheriff — License to Carry Firearms — accessed 2026-09-27
- City of Philadelphia — Application for a Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearm — accessed 2026-09-27
- ND Attorney General — Reciprocity with Other States (honors resident and non-resident licenses; Class 1/Class 2 lists) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ND Attorney General — Constitutional Concealed Carry (18+, any state/territory ID, inform-on-contact guidance) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ND Attorney General — Eligibility for a Concealed Weapon License (ages 18/21, residency and non-resident criteria) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NDCC Chapter 62.1-04 — Concealed Weapons (62.1-04-02, -03, -03.1, -04) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NDCC Chapter 62.1-02 — Possession of Weapons (liquor establishments, public gatherings, vehicle carry) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ND Attorney General — Online Application, New and Renewal — accessed 2026-09-27
- ND Attorney General — What Must Be Included With the Application — accessed 2026-09-27
- NDCC Chapter 62.1-03 — Handguns (62.1-03-01 carrying handgun) — accessed 2026-09-27