Resident permit · MT → WY
Is a Montana Resident Permit Valid in Wyoming?
You're covered either way. Wyoming honors Montana resident permits, and its permitless-carry law also lets eligible visitors carry without any permit at all.
Why
- Wyoming's official reciprocity list includes Montana.
- 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 (Montana)
- Permit
- Montana Concealed Weapon Permit
- Issued by
- County sheriff
- 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
Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter Wyoming, these rules replace the ones you know from Montana.
- 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
Montana vs Wyoming: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Montana into Wyoming changes 2 rules: permitless carry (Yes → Yes (18+)); out-of-state permits honored (43 states → 35 states).
| Rule | Montana | Wyoming |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | Yes | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | 43 states | 35 states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, a Wyoming resident permit in Montana: recognized — and permitless carry applies.
Driving on from Wyoming
How a Montana resident permit fares in the states bordering Wyoming:
- Colorado — Recognized — carry with your permit
- Idaho — 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 a Montana non-resident permit?
- Montana does not issue non-resident carry permits (permit requires at least 6 months' Montana residency, US citizenship or lawful permanent residence, and Montana ID (MCA 45-8-321; MT DOJ). No non-resident permits are issued), so the question does not arise.
- Can a Wyoming resident permit holder carry in Montana?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Montana'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
- Montana DOJ — Concealed Weapons (AG recognition list) — accessed 2026-08-08
- MCA 45-8-329 — Concealed weapon permit reciprocity (MCA 2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- MCA 45-8-321 — Permit to carry concealed weapon (MCA 2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- MCA 45-8-316 — Carrying concealed weapons (MCA 2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- MCA 45-8-328 — Carrying concealed firearm in restricted government offices (MCA 2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- MCA 45-8-322 — Application, renewal, permit, and fees (MCA 2025) — accessed 2026-09-27
- MCA 45-8-351 — Restriction on local government regulation of firearms (MCA 2025) — accessed 2026-09-27