Non-Resident permit · WI → PA
Is a Wisconsin Non-Resident Permit Valid in Pennsylvania?
There is nothing to recognize: Wisconsin issues permits to its own residents only (issued only to Wisconsin residents (valid WI driver's license or ID required) or active-duty military stationed in Wisconsin (WI DOJ CCW FAQ)). If you don't live in Wisconsin, look at states that do sell non-resident permits and check which of those Pennsylvania honors.
Why
- Wisconsin does not issue carry permits to non-residents (issued only to wisconsin residents (valid wi driver's license or id required) or active-duty military stationed in wisconsin (wi doj ccw faq)).
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 (Wisconsin)
- Permit
- Wisconsin Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) License
- Issued by
- Wisconsin Department of Justice (Firearms Section)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- No — Issued only to Wisconsin residents (valid WI driver's license or ID required) or active-duty military stationed in Wisconsin (WI DOJ CCW FAQ).
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
Crossing into Pennsylvania swaps the rulebook. Here is what changes for a visiting carrier.
- 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)
Wisconsin vs Pennsylvania: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Wisconsin into Pennsylvania changes one rule: out-of-state permits honored (46 states → 30 states).
| Rule | Wisconsin | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | No | No |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 46 states | 30 states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Pennsylvania non-resident permit in Wisconsin: recognized — carry with your permit.
Driving on from Pennsylvania
How a Wisconsin non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Pennsylvania:
- Delaware — No such permit issued
- Maryland — No such permit issued
- New Jersey — No such permit issued
- New York — No such permit issued
- Ohio — No such permit issued
- West Virginia — No such permit issued
Frequently asked questions
- Does Pennsylvania honor a Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
- Recognized — carry with your permit. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Wisconsin's law, not Pennsylvania's.
- Does Wisconsin issue non-resident carry permits?
- No. Wisconsin issues carry permits to residents only (issued only to Wisconsin residents (valid WI driver's license or ID required) or active-duty military stationed in Wisconsin (WI DOJ CCW FAQ)). 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
- 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
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW Reciprocity (Out-of-State Licenses Recognized in Wisconsin) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wisconsin DOJ — Concealed Carry Weapon License — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW Frequently Asked Questions (PDF) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW License Information (apply, fees, renewal) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Wisconsin DOJ — CCW Training Requirements — accessed 2026-09-27
- Wis. Stat. § 948.60 — Possession of a dangerous weapon by a person under 18 (via Wayback 2026-08-11) — accessed 2026-09-27