Is a California Resident Permit Valid in New Hampshire?

Why

• New Hampshire recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
• New Hampshire allows permitless carry, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.

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.

Carry rules in New Hampshire

Whatever your permit status, New Hampshire law governs how you carry inside the state. The rules below matter most on a short trip.

• 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)

See all 3 places you can't carry in New Hampshire →

California vs New Hampshire: what changes at the state line

Crossing from California into New Hampshire changes 4 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes); magazine limit (10 rounds → None); out-of-state permits honored (None → All states); open carry (Restricted → Yes, no permit).

Going the other way, a New Hampshire resident permit in California: not recognized.

Driving on from New Hampshire

How a California resident permit fares in the states bordering New Hampshire:

• Maine — Permit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
• Massachusetts — Not recognized
• Vermont — Recognized — and permitless carry applies

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does New Hampshire honor a California non-resident permit?

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the resident permit on this page.

Can a New Hampshire resident permit holder carry in California?

Not recognized. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on California's law, not New Hampshire's.

Where does New Hampshire publish its official reciprocity list?

New Hampshire 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.