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Concealed Carry Map

Non-Resident permit · OK → SC

Is an Oklahoma Non-Resident Permit Valid in South Carolina?

No such permit issuedVerified 2026-08-08

Oklahoma doesn't put this permit on the table for non-residents (oklahoma residency (US citizen or lawful permanent resident with established Oklahoma residency) is required. Active-duty military stationed in Oklahoma and their spouses may apply using stationing orders in lieu of an Oklahoma ID; other non-residents cannot obtain an SDA license). See our non-resident permit guide for the states that do, and which of their permits South Carolina accepts.

Why

S.C. Code 23-31-215(N)(1) honors out-of-state permits only when 'held by a resident of a reciprocal state' whose permitting requires a background check and firearm training; Georgia and North Carolina permits are recognized automatically under (N)(2). Recognition covers handguns only. Largely moot for visitors 18+, who may carry permitless.

The permit (Oklahoma)

Permit
Oklahoma Self-Defense Act (SDA) Handgun License
Issued by
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (application filed through county sheriff)
Issue policy
Shall-issue
Issued to non-residents?
No — Oklahoma residency (US citizen or lawful permanent resident with established Oklahoma residency) is required. Active-duty military stationed in Oklahoma and their spouses may apply using stationing orders in lieu of an Oklahoma ID; other non-residents cannot obtain an SDA license.

The destination (South Carolina)

Recognition policy
Honors a named list of 2 states
Permitless carry
Yes (18+)
Duty to inform
No (present permit on demand)
Magazine limit
No state limit

Carry rules in South Carolina

South Carolina's rules control while you're there. These are the ones travelers trip over most.

Off-limits places in South Carolina

South Carolina bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:

See all 6 places you can't carry in South Carolina →

Oklahoma vs South Carolina: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Oklahoma into South Carolina changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (21+) → Yes (18+)); out-of-state permits honored (All states → 2 states).

RuleOklahomaSouth Carolina
Permitless carryYes (21+)Yes (18+)
Duty to inform policeNoNo
Magazine limitNoneNone
Out-of-state permits honoredAll states2 states
Open carryYes, no permitYes, no permit

Going the other way, a South Carolina non-resident permit in Oklahoma: recognized — and permitless carry applies.

Driving on from South Carolina

How an Oklahoma non-resident permit fares in the states bordering South Carolina:

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

See the full 50-state map for an Oklahoma non-resident permit →

Frequently asked questions

Does South Carolina honor an Oklahoma resident permit?
Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because South Carolina treats the two permit types differently.
Can a South Carolina non-resident permit holder carry in Oklahoma?
Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Oklahoma's law, not South Carolina's.
Does Oklahoma issue non-resident carry permits?
No. Oklahoma issues carry permits to residents only (oklahoma residency (US citizen or lawful permanent resident with established Oklahoma residency) is required. Active-duty military stationed in Oklahoma and their spouses may apply using stationing orders in lieu of an Oklahoma ID; other non-residents cannot obtain an SDA license). 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.

Official sources