Non-Resident permit · VT → NH
Is a Vermont Non-Resident Permit Valid in New Hampshire?
No Vermont permit exists — the state issues none at all. For carry in New Hampshire, what matters is another state's permit you can actually obtain, checked against New Hampshire's recognition rules.
Why
- Vermont does not issue carry permits at all (vermont issues no carry permits to anyone, resident or non-resident — there is no permit system at all. vermont residents who need a permit recognized elsewhere must obtain a non-resident permit from another state that issues them) — there is no Vermont permit to recognize.
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.
The permit (Vermont)
- Permit
- None — Vermont issues no carry permits
- Issued by
- None — Vermont has no permit system
- Issue policy
- Does not issue permits
- Issued to non-residents?
- No — Vermont issues no carry permits to anyone, resident or non-resident — there is no permit system at all. Vermont residents who need a permit recognized elsewhere must obtain a non-resident permit from another state that issues them.
The destination (New Hampshire)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in New Hampshire
Crossing into New Hampshire swaps the rulebook. Here is what changes for a visiting carrier.
- 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)
Vermont vs New Hampshire: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Vermont into New Hampshire changes one rule: magazine limit (15 rounds → None).
| Rule | Vermont | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes | Yes |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | 15 rounds | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | All states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a New Hampshire non-resident permit in Vermont: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
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 Vermont non-resident permit fares in the states bordering New Hampshire:
- Maine — No such permit issued
- Massachusetts — No such permit issued
Frequently asked questions
- Does New Hampshire honor a Vermont resident permit?
- Vermont does not issue resident carry permits, so the question does not arise.
- Can a New Hampshire non-resident permit holder carry in Vermont?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Vermont's law, not New Hampshire's.
- Does Vermont issue carry permits at all?
- No — to anyone. Vermont has no carry-permit system; carry there is permitless. Vermont residents who want reciprocity coverage elsewhere obtain a non-resident permit from a state that issues one.
Official sources
- NH RSA Chapter 159 — Pistols and Revolvers (159:4 repealed, 159:6, 159:6-d, 159:19) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NH State Police — Pistol and Revolver Licensing (incl. outbound reciprocity list) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Vermont Statutes Online — 13 V.S.A. § 4021 (large capacity ammunition feeding devices) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Vermont Statutes Online — 13 V.S.A. § 4004 (weapons in schools) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Vermont Statutes Online — 13 V.S.A. § 4016 (weapons in court) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Vermont Statutes Online — Title 13 chapter 85 (weapons; no licensing provision exists) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Vermont Statutes Online — 13 V.S.A. § 4003 (carrying dangerous weapons) (via Wayback 2026-08-11) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Vermont Statutes Online — 13 V.S.A. § 4008 (possession of firearms by children) (via Wayback 2025-11-14) — accessed 2026-09-27