Resident permit · AR → WY
Is an Arkansas Resident Permit Valid in Wyoming?
Yes. Wyoming is a permitless-carry state that also honors Arkansas resident permits. Carrying on the permit keeps things simpler in some situations, such as school-zone rules under federal law.
Why
- Wyoming's official reciprocity list includes Arkansas.
- Wyoming allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
Statutory test, not a closed list: Wyoming honors an out-of-state permit if (1) the issuing state recognizes Wyoming permits and (2) the permit is valid statewide in the issuing state — holder residency in the issuing state is not required, so qualifying non-resident permits count. DCI publishes the 35-state list above 'for convenience only... this listing has no legal effect.' Largely academic for most visitors: permitless carry already covers any US resident who may lawfully possess a firearm.
The permit (Arkansas)
- Permit
- Concealed Handgun Carry License (CHCL)
- Issued by
- Arkansas State Police
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
The destination (Wyoming)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 35 states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Wyoming
Recognition is only half the question. Once you're inside Wyoming, its carry rules apply to you exactly as they do to locals.
- No proactive duty to inform. Permit holders must carry the permit with valid ID whenever carrying concealed and display both upon request of any peace officer (W.S. 6-8-104(b)).
- Wyoming sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Wyoming allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Permitless carry extends to vehicles — any US resident who may lawfully possess a firearm may carry a loaded handgun concealed in a vehicle without a permit.
Off-limits places in Wyoming
Wyoming bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Law enforcement facilities, without the chief administrator's written consent (W.S. 6-8-104(t))
- Detention facilities, prisons and jails
Arkansas vs Wyoming: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Arkansas into Wyoming changes 2 rules: duty to inform police (Yes → No); out-of-state permits honored (All states → 35 states).
| Rule | Arkansas | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (18+) | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | Yes | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | 35 states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Wyoming resident permit in Arkansas: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Wyoming
How an Arkansas resident permit fares in the states bordering Wyoming:
- Colorado — Recognized — carry with your permit
- Idaho — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Montana — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Nebraska — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- South Dakota — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Utah — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does Wyoming honor an Arkansas non-resident permit?
- Arkansas does not issue non-resident carry permits (requires Arkansas residency for 90+ continuous days (§ 5-73-309(2)); exception — active-duty US Armed Forces members and their spouses are exempt from the residency requirement), so the question does not arise.
- Can a Wyoming resident permit holder carry in Arkansas?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Arkansas's law, not Wyoming's.
- Where does Wyoming publish its official reciprocity list?
- Wyoming 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
- 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
- Arkansas State Police — Concealed Handgun Carry Licensing (recognition of all states since 2013) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ASP — Arkansas Concealed Handgun Carry Licensing Code §§ 5-73-301–329 (eligibility, § 5-73-321 recognition, § 5-73-315) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ASP — Weapons Possession and Use Code §§ 5-73-101–133 (Aug 1, 2025; § 5-73-120 permitless carry, § 5-73-119) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ASP — Locations Where Possession of a Handgun is Prohibited (July 31, 2023) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ASP — Code of Arkansas Rules, CHCL (July 8, 2025; notification duty on ID request) — accessed 2026-08-08