Is an Indiana Resident Permit Valid in Louisiana?
Yes, but not for every holder. Louisiana recognizes an Indiana resident permit for holders 21 and older. Louisiana also allows permitless carry for adults 18+ if you qualify. Holders under 21 are not covered by this recognition, but Louisiana's permitless carry from age 18 still applies if they qualify.
Why
- Louisiana's official reciprocity list includes Indiana.
- Louisiana honors out-of-state permits only for holders 21 and older; Indiana's minimum permit age is not verified.
- Louisiana allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
R.S. 40:1379.3(T)(2): a current, valid permit issued by another state to a holder aged 21+ is valid in Louisiana only if Louisiana's permit is valid in that state (mutual recognition - LSP publishes the list of 37 states). The statute does not require the holder to be a resident of the issuing state. (T)(4): an out-of-state permit is invalid for a LOUISIANA resident. Since July 4, 2024 any non-prohibited person 18+ may carry permitless regardless of permits.
The permit (Indiana)
- Permit
- Indiana License to Carry a Handgun (LTCH)
- Issued by
- Indiana State Police
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
The destination (Louisiana)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 37 states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- Yes — proactive
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Louisiana
Louisiana's rules control while you're there. These are the ones travelers trip over most.
- Louisiana imposes a duty to inform: you must tell an officer you are carrying. R.S. 40:1379.3(I)(2): a permittee - and anyone carrying under permitless R.S. 14:95(M) - must notify any police officer who approaches in an official manner that they have a weapon, submit to a pat-down and allow the officer to temporarily disarm them. Failure triggers automatic 6-month permit suspension for permittees.
- Louisiana sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Louisiana allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Carrying a handgun in a motor vehicle is legal under most circumstances (LSP FAQ), and the 18+ permitless-carry provision applies in vehicles; the statutory duty to inform applies on any official police contact.
Off-limits places in Louisiana
Louisiana bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- Law enforcement offices, stations or buildings; detention facilities, prisons and jails (R.S. 40:1379.3(N))
- Courthouses and courtrooms
Indiana vs Louisiana: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Indiana into Louisiana changes 2 rules: duty to inform police (No → Yes); out-of-state permits honored (All states → 37 states).
| Rule | Indiana | Louisiana |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes (18+) | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | Yes |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | 37 states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Louisiana resident permit in Indiana: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Louisiana
How an Indiana resident permit fares in the states bordering Louisiana:
- Arkansas — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Mississippi — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Texas — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does Louisiana honor an Indiana non-resident permit?
- Recognized — holders 21+ only & not for Louisiana residents; permitless carry applies, if Indiana issues one (unverified). The verdict matches the resident permit on this page, but the conditions differ.
- Can a Louisiana resident permit holder carry in Indiana?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Indiana's law, not Louisiana's.
- Where does Louisiana publish its official reciprocity list?
- Louisiana 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
- Louisiana State Police - Reciprocity (list read from Internet Archive snapshot 2025-10-28 of this official URL; page is script-rendered) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Louisiana State Police - Concealed Handgun Permit Laws and Administrative Rules booklet (full text of R.S. 40:1379.3 and R.S. 14:95) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Louisiana State Police - Concealed Handgun FAQs — accessed 2026-08-08
- Louisiana State Police - CHP Fees — accessed 2026-09-27
- IN.gov FAQ - Does Indiana honor handgun licenses from other states? (IC 35-47-2-21(b)) — accessed 2026-08-08
- IN.gov FAQ - Places where carry is illegal even with a valid license — accessed 2026-08-08
- IN.gov FAQ - Handgun carry at Indiana State Parks — accessed 2026-08-08
- IN.gov FAQ - How do I apply for a handgun license? (ISP issues; online portal) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Georgia General Assembly policy brief (supporting: lists Indiana among the 25 permitless-carry states as of 2022) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Indiana State Police - Permitless Carry website messaging (PDF) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Indiana State Police - Firearms Handgun Licensing Application Fees — accessed 2026-09-27
- Indiana State Police - Apply for a New License to Carry — accessed 2026-09-27