Non-Resident permit · WY → RI
Is a Wyoming Non-Resident Permit Valid in Rhode Island?
None issued, so none recognized. Wyoming keeps its permits resident-only (residents only — the DCI FAQ answers 'Can a non-resident obtain a concealed firearm permit in Wyoming?' with 'No.' Active-duty Wyoming military stationed out of state may still apply; a permit remains valid if the holder later moves away but cannot be renewed). Your route to carrying in Rhode Island runs through a permit you are eligible to obtain elsewhere.
Why
- Wyoming does not issue carry permits to non-residents (residents only — the dci faq answers 'can a non-resident obtain a concealed firearm permit in wyoming?' with 'no.' active-duty wyoming military stationed out of state may still apply; a permit remains valid if the holder later moves away but cannot be renewed).
No reciprocity for carrying within the state. Sole exception (§ 11-47-8(a)): a holder of a valid carry license from another state may transport a handgun through Rhode Island in a vehicle only while merely passing through, with no intent to stop or remain in the state.
The permit (Wyoming)
- Permit
- Wyoming Concealed Firearm Permit (CFP)
- Issued by
- Wyoming Attorney General through the Division of Criminal Investigation (applications filed with the sheriff of the applicant's county of residence)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- No — Residents only — the DCI FAQ answers 'Can a non-resident obtain a concealed firearm permit in Wyoming?' with 'No.' Active-duty Wyoming military stationed out of state may still apply; a permit remains valid if the holder later moves away but cannot be renewed.
The destination (Rhode Island)
- Recognition policy
- Honors no out-of-state permits
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- 10 rounds
Carry rules in Rhode Island
Recognition is only half the question. Once you're inside Rhode Island, its carry rules apply to you exactly as they do to locals.
- No Rhode Island statute imposes a duty to proactively inform police that you are carrying; licenses must be carried and produced on demand.
- Rhode Island limits magazine capacity to 10 rounds — a limit that applies to visitors, and one of the easiest laws to break by accident.
- Rhode Island is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Rhode Island recognizes.
- Carrying a loaded handgun in a vehicle requires a Rhode Island carry license; an out-of-state permit holder may only transport through the state without stopping (§ 11-47-8(a)).
Off-limits places in Rhode Island
Rhode Island bans carry in 2 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Elementary and secondary school premises (R.I.G.L. § 11-47-60)
- Courthouses (barred by judicial administrative order rather than statute)
Wyoming vs Rhode Island: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Wyoming into Rhode Island changes 3 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → No); magazine limit (None → 10 rounds); out-of-state permits honored (35 states → None).
| Rule | Wyoming | Rhode Island |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (18+) | No |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | 10 rounds |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 35 states | None |
Going the other way, a Rhode Island non-resident permit in Wyoming: permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Rhode Island
How a Wyoming non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Rhode Island:
- Connecticut — No such permit issued
- Massachusetts — No such permit issued
Frequently asked questions
- Does Rhode Island honor a Wyoming resident permit?
- Not recognized. That differs from the non-resident permit on this page, because Rhode Island treats the two permit types differently.
- Can a Rhode Island non-resident permit holder carry in Wyoming?
- Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Wyoming's law, not Rhode Island's.
- Does Wyoming issue non-resident carry permits?
- No. Wyoming issues carry permits to residents only (residents only — the DCI FAQ answers 'Can a non-resident obtain a concealed firearm permit in Wyoming?' with 'No.' Active-duty Wyoming military stationed out of state may still apply; a permit remains valid if the holder later moves away but cannot be renewed). 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
- RI Attorney General — Pistol Permits (BCI) — accessed 2026-08-08
- R.I.G.L. § 11-47-8 — Carrying of weapons (out-of-state pass-through exception) — accessed 2026-08-08
- R.I.G.L. § 11-47-11 — License or permit to carry concealed (municipal shall-issue, non-resident eligibility) — accessed 2026-08-08
- R.I.G.L. § 11-47.1-3 — Large capacity feeding devices prohibited (10-round limit, eff. 2022-06-20) — accessed 2026-08-08
- RI Attorney General — Concealed-Carry Permit Guidance (AG 2022-01, post-Bruen) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Town of Middletown, RI — Concealed Carry Permits — accessed 2026-09-27
- City of East Providence — Weapons Carry and Permit Package (rev. 04/2019) — accessed 2026-09-27
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-12 (license fee; term) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Wyoming DCI — Concealed Firearm Permits FAQ (permitless carry, reciprocity list, prohibited places) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wyoming DCI — Concealed Firearm Permits (program page) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wyoming Legislature — 2026 HB0096, Carrying of concealed weapons-age requirement (21 -> 18, effective July 1, 2026) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wyoming Legislature — 2025 HB0172 Enrolled Act No. 24, Wyoming Repeal Gun Free Zones Act (effective July 1, 2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Wyoming Legislature — Title 6 compiled statutes (W.S. 6-8-104(a)(iv), (b)(ii) as amended) — accessed 2026-09-27