Non-Resident permit · TN → AZ
Is a Tennessee Non-Resident Permit Valid in Arizona?
Legal, yes. Arizona honors the permit, and permitless carry for adults 21+ applies there too. Either way, Arizona's carry rules — not Tennessee's — control while you're in the state.
Why
- Arizona recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Arizona allows permitless carry for eligible adults 21+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
A.R.S. § 13-3112(Q): Arizona recognizes any other state's permit if it is valid in the issuing state and the holder is legally present and not prohibited — no resident-only condition, so non-resident permits qualify. But out-of-state permit holders under 21 may not carry concealed in Arizona (§ 13-3112(S)).
The permit (Tennessee)
- Permit
- Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit
- Issued by
- Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Only the 8-year Enhanced permit, for out-of-state residents who prove employment in Tennessee of at least 30 hours per week for at least six consecutive months and who hold a current valid handgun permit from their home state (TN DOSHS FAQ).
The destination (Arizona)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (21+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Arizona
Whatever your permit status, Arizona law governs how you carry inside the state. The rules below matter most on a short trip.
- No proactive duty, but if an officer asks whether you are carrying a concealed deadly weapon you must answer accurately (A.R.S. § 13-3102(A)(1)(b)); permit holders must present the permit for inspection on request (§ 13-3112(A), civil penalty up to $300).
- Arizona sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Arizona allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Anyone 21+ who may lawfully possess may carry a loaded handgun, concealed, in a vehicle without a permit; under-21s are limited to visible-holster or cased transport.
Off-limits places in Arizona
Arizona bans carry in 5 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- School grounds (K-12)
- Polling places on election day
Tennessee vs Arizona: what changes at the state line
The core carry rules we track are the same in Tennessee and Arizona. Off-limits places still differ, so check the list above.
| Rule | Tennessee | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (21+) | Yes (21+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | All states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, an Arizona non-resident permit in Tennessee: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Arizona
How a Tennessee non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Arizona:
- California — Not recognized
- Nevada — Recognized — carry with your permit
- New Mexico — Not recognized
- Utah — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does Arizona honor a Tennessee resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can an Arizona non-resident permit holder carry in Tennessee?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Tennessee's law, not Arizona's.
- Where does Arizona publish its official reciprocity list?
- Arizona 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
- Arizona DPS — Concealed Weapons and Permits (reciprocity, non-resident applications, age) — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3112 (Arizona Legislature) — permit issuance and out-of-state permit recognition — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3102 (Arizona Legislature) — misconduct involving weapons; permitless carry, duty to answer, prohibited places — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3111 — minors prohibited from carrying or possessing firearms (AZ Legislature) — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Permit FAQ — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Related Laws — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Public Chapter 108 (2021) — permitless carry, vehicle carry, display-on-demand — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Public Chapter 356 (2025) — permit age lowered to 18 — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Permit Fees — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Permit Types — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — How To Apply — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit Training Requirements (PDF) — accessed 2026-09-27