Non-Resident permit · TX → NM
Is a Texas Non-Resident Permit Valid in New Mexico?
Carrying in New Mexico on your Texas non-resident permit is legal. The state recognizes the permit; local carry rules still apply to you.
Why
- New Mexico's official reciprocity list includes Texas.
DPS defines reciprocity as permission for 'an out of state license issued to a person who is not a New Mexico resident' to be used while visiting or passing through — the holder need not reside in the issuing state, but NM affords no reciprocity to any out-of-state license held by a New Mexico resident (10.8.2.29(H) NMAC). Several states that honor NM licenses (AL, AK, ID, MN, MT, TN, UT, WV, WI) are NOT honored by NM.
The permit (Texas)
- Permit
- Texas License to Carry a Handgun (LTC)
- Issued by
- Texas Department of Public Safety (Handgun Licensing Program)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Non-resident licenses available — Tex. Gov't Code 411.173(a) requires DPS to establish a procedure for legal residents of other states who meet all other eligibility requirements to obtain an LTC.
The destination (New Mexico)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 20 states
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in New Mexico
Crossing into New Mexico swaps the rulebook. Here is what changes for a visiting carrier.
- No proactive duty; a licensee carrying in public must display the license upon demand by a peace officer (10.8.2.16(D) NMAC). Consuming alcohol while carrying is prohibited (10.8.2.16(B)).
- New Mexico sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- New Mexico is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit New Mexico recognizes.
- Anyone not otherwise prohibited may carry a loaded concealed firearm in a private vehicle (including motorcycles and bicycles) without a license, per the DPS FAQ.
Off-limits places in New Mexico
New Mexico bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Schools and preschools (limited private-vehicle exception)
- University premises
Texas vs New Mexico: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Texas into New Mexico changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (21+) → No); out-of-state permits honored (All states → 20 states).
| Rule | Texas | New Mexico |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (21+) | No |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | 20 states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a New Mexico non-resident permit in Texas: no such permit issued.
Driving on from New Mexico
How a Texas non-resident permit fares in the states bordering New Mexico:
Frequently asked questions
- Does New Mexico honor a Texas resident permit?
- Recognized — carry with your permit. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can a New Mexico non-resident permit holder carry in Texas?
- New Mexico does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in Texas.
- Where does New Mexico publish its official reciprocity list?
- New Mexico 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
- NM Department of Public Safety — Concealed Carry Licenses (reciprocity table by state, prohibited places, vehicle carry FAQ) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NM DPS — Concealed Handgun Carry Act booklet with NMSA 29-19 and 10.8.2 NMAC (updated, effective 12/9/2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NM DPS — Concealed Carry Handgun Application (packet with fees) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Texas DPS — State Reciprocity Information (chart NOT updated for SB 706; superseded by statute) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Texas DPS — Firearm Carry Act of 2021 (HB 1927 permitless carry) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Texas DPS — LTC Eligibility FAQs (18-20-year-old applicants after FPC v. McCraw) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Texas DPS — Laws that Relate to Carrying FAQs (vehicle carry, 46.03 places) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Texas Legislature — HB 1927 enrolled text (Penal Code 46.02, 46.03) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Texas Gov't Code 411.173 as amended by Acts 2025 ch. 483 (current statute text) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Texas Legislature — SB 706 (89R) enrolled text, amending Gov't Code 411.173(b), repealing (c)-(d) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Texas Legislature — SB 706 (89R) bill history (signed 2025-06-20, effective 2025-09-01) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Texas Gov't Code 311.005(7) — "state" includes any district, commonwealth, territory — accessed 2026-09-27
- Texas DPS — 89th Legislation (SB 706 effective September 1, 2025) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Texas DPS — LTC Application FAQs (fee, validity, training) (via Wayback 2025-12-16) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Texas DPS — LTC Training Requirements FAQ (via Wayback 2026-01-17) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Texas DPS — Licensing & Registration (how to apply, fee schedule) (via Wayback 2026-07-04) — accessed 2026-09-27