Is an Idaho Resident Permit Valid in Alaska?
It depends on who holds the permit. Alaska accepts the Idaho resident permit for holders 21 and older. Alaska also allows permitless carry for adults 21+ if you qualify. Holders under 21 have no lawful way to carry concealed there: this recognition does not cover them, and Alaska's permitless carry starts at 21.
Why
- Alaska recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Alaska honors out-of-state permits only for holders 21 and older, and Idaho issues this permit from age 18.
- Alaska allows permitless carry for eligible adults 21+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
Under AS 18.65.748 a person holding a valid permit from another state is treated as an Alaska permittee (no resident-only condition); in practice recognition matters little because anyone 21+ who may legally possess may carry permitless. Under-21 carriers are NOT covered even with an out-of-state permit.
The permit (Idaho)
- Permit
- Idaho Concealed Weapons License (CWL)
- Issued by
- County sheriff
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
The destination (Alaska)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (21+)
- Duty to inform
- Yes — proactive
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Alaska
Whatever your permit status, Alaska law governs how you carry inside the state. The rules below matter most on a short trip.
- Alaska imposes a duty to inform: you must tell an officer you are carrying. DPS FAQ: when contacted by a law enforcement officer while carrying concealed you must IMMEDIATELY inform the officer that you possess the firearm; failure to do so is a criminal offense (AS 11.61.220).
- Alaska sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Alaska allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- A loaded concealed handgun may be carried in a vehicle without a permit by anyone 21+ who may lawfully possess; the immediate duty to inform applies on any police contact.
Off-limits places in Alaska
Alaska bans carry in 4 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- K-12 schools and school grounds
- Child care facilities
Idaho vs Alaska: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Idaho into Alaska changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → Yes (21+)); duty to inform police (No → Yes).
| Rule | Idaho | Alaska |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (18+) | Yes (21+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | Yes |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | All states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, an Alaska resident permit in Idaho: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Alaska honor an Idaho non-resident permit?
- Recognized — holders 21+ only; permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the resident permit on this page.
- Can an Alaska resident permit holder carry in Idaho?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Idaho's law, not Alaska's.
- Where does Alaska publish its official reciprocity list?
- Alaska 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
- Alaska DPS — Concealed Handgun Permits (permit rules, AS 18.65.748 recognition, permitless 21+) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Alaska DPS — Frequently Asked Firearms Questions (duty to inform, permitless carry, prohibited places) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Idaho Office of the Attorney General - Concealed Weapons — accessed 2026-08-08
- Idaho Code 18-3302 (Issuance of licenses to carry concealed weapons) — accessed 2026-09-27