Is a New Mexico Resident Permit Valid in West Virginia?

Why

• New Mexico is not on West Virginia's official reciprocity list.
• West Virginia allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.

W. Va. Code § 61-7-6a: an out-of-state permit is valid in WV only if the holder is 21+, has the permit in immediate possession, is NOT a West Virginia resident, and the issuing state recognizes WV CHLs (governor notification or written reciprocity agreement). The issuing state's permit need not be a resident permit, so qualifying non-resident permits count. Recognition is largely academic for visitors 21+, who may carry permitless anyway; under-21 out-of-state permit holders are NOT covered. Honored list derived from the AG's official reciprocity map (as of Oct 1, 2025): every permit-issuing state recognizes WV CHLs except CA, CT, HI, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI and WA (Vermont issues no permits).

Carry rules in West Virginia

West Virginia's rules control while you're there. These are the ones travelers trip over most.

• No proactive duty-to-inform appears in WV statute, the AG's guide or the AG's FAQ; out-of-state holders must have the permit in immediate possession (§ 61-7-6a(a)(2)).
• West Virginia sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• West Virginia allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
• Permitless carry (21+, non-prohibited) extends to loaded handguns in vehicles. A lawfully possessed firearm may be kept locked and out of view in a vehicle in any parking lot (§ 61-7-14) and on the State Capitol Complex (§ 61-6-19(b)).

Off-limits places in West Virginia

West Virginia bans carry in 5 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• State Capitol Complex (W. Va. Code § 61-6-19(b); locked-vehicle exception)
• Regional jails, detention facilities and Division of Corrections facilities (§ 61-5-8(c))

See all 5 places you can't carry in West Virginia →

New Mexico vs West Virginia: what changes at the state line

Crossing from New Mexico into West Virginia changes 2 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes (18+)); out-of-state permits honored (20 states → 36 states).

Going the other way, a West Virginia resident permit in New Mexico: not recognized.

Permits that do work in West Virginia

These non-resident permits are honored in West Virginia, ranked by how many states honor each one. They are issued to people who live outside the issuing state, subject to its eligibility rules.

• North Dakota non-resident permit · honored in 33 states
• Ohio non-resident permit · honored in 33 states
• Idaho non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• Texas non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• Florida non-resident permit · honored in 32 states
• South Carolina non-resident permit · honored in 32 states

Driving on from West Virginia

How a New Mexico resident permit fares in the states bordering West Virginia:

• Kentucky — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• Maryland — Not recognized
• Ohio — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• Pennsylvania — Not recognized
• Virginia — Recognized — carry with your permit

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does West Virginia honor a New Mexico non-resident permit?

New Mexico does not issue non-resident carry permits (residents only (domiciled 90+ days), except members of the US armed forces permanently stationed in NM and their dependents (NMSA 29-19-4(A)(2)). New residents holding a license from a reciprocity state must transfer to a NM license within 90 days), so the question does not arise.

Can a West Virginia resident permit holder carry in New Mexico?

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

Where does West Virginia publish its official reciprocity list?

West Virginia 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.