Resident permit · MI → AZ
Is a Michigan Resident Permit Valid in Arizona?
Legal, yes. Arizona honors the permit, and permitless carry for adults 21+ applies there too. Either way, Arizona's carry rules — not Michigan's — control while you're in the state.
Why
- Arizona recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Arizona allows permitless carry for eligible adults 21+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
A.R.S. § 13-3112(Q): Arizona recognizes any other state's permit if it is valid in the issuing state and the holder is legally present and not prohibited — no resident-only condition, so non-resident permits qualify. But out-of-state permit holders under 21 may not carry concealed in Arizona (§ 13-3112(S)).
The permit (Michigan)
- Permit
- Michigan Concealed Pistol License (CPL)
- Issued by
- County clerk
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
The destination (Arizona)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (21+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Arizona
Recognition is only half the question. Once you're inside Arizona, its carry rules apply to you exactly as they do to locals.
- No proactive duty, but if an officer asks whether you are carrying a concealed deadly weapon you must answer accurately (A.R.S. § 13-3102(A)(1)(b)); permit holders must present the permit for inspection on request (§ 13-3112(A), civil penalty up to $300).
- Arizona sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Arizona allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Anyone 21+ who may lawfully possess may carry a loaded handgun, concealed, in a vehicle without a permit; under-21s are limited to visible-holster or cased transport.
Off-limits places in Arizona
Arizona bans carry in 5 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- School grounds (K-12)
- Polling places on election day
Michigan vs Arizona: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Michigan into Arizona changes 3 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes (21+)); duty to inform police (Yes → No); out-of-state permits honored (All (resident permits only) → All states).
| Rule | Michigan | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | No | Yes (21+) |
| Duty to inform police | Yes | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All (resident permits only) | All states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, an Arizona resident permit in Michigan: recognized — carry with your permit.
Driving on from Arizona
How a Michigan resident permit fares in the states bordering Arizona:
- California — Not recognized
- Nevada — Not recognized
- New Mexico — Recognized — carry with your permit
- Utah — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does Arizona honor a Michigan non-resident permit?
- Michigan does not issue non-resident carry permits (michigan residents only: applicant must have resided in Michigan for at least 6 months (waivable for emergency licenses and for new residents who hold a valid CPL from another state); active-duty military with Michigan as home of record, or permanently stationed in Michigan, count as residents), so the question does not arise.
- Can an Arizona resident permit holder carry in Michigan?
- Recognized — carry with your permit. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Michigan's law, not Arizona's.
- Where does Arizona publish its official reciprocity list?
- Arizona 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
- Arizona DPS — Concealed Weapons and Permits (reciprocity, non-resident applications, age) — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3112 (Arizona Legislature) — permit issuance and out-of-state permit recognition — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3102 (Arizona Legislature) — misconduct involving weapons; permitless carry, duty to answer, prohibited places — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3111 — minors prohibited from carrying or possessing firearms (AZ Legislature) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Michigan State Police — Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- Michigan State Police — Concealed Pistol License Requirements — accessed 2026-08-08
- Michigan State Police — Prohibited Premises (MCL 28.425o) — accessed 2026-08-08
- MCL 750.231a — exceptions incl. license issued by state of residence; vehicle transport — accessed 2026-08-08
- MCL 28.425f — duty to disclose to peace officer — accessed 2026-08-08
- Michigan State Police — Concealed Pistol Application and Instructions — accessed 2026-09-27
- MCL 28.425j — Pistol training or safety program requirements — accessed 2026-09-27
- MCL 28.425l — License validity, duration and renewal — accessed 2026-09-27
- MCL 750.234f — Possession of firearm by person under 18 — accessed 2026-09-27
- Michigan Attorney General — Informational letter to Rep. Chatfield on open carry of firearms (Feb. 1, 2018) — accessed 2026-09-27