Resident permit · WV → IN
Is a West Virginia Resident Permit Valid in Indiana?
Recognized — and permitless carry appliesVerified 2026-08-08
Both doors are open: Indiana accepts your West Virginia resident permit, and its permitless law covers eligible visitors for adults 18+ regardless of permits.
Why
- Indiana recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Indiana allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
Official IN.gov FAQ quoting IC 35-47-2-21(b): licenses issued by other states or foreign countries 'will be recognized according to the terms thereof but only while the holders are not residents of Indiana.' No issuing-state residency condition, so non-resident permits are honored per their terms; permitless carry independently covers most visitors 18+.
The permit (West Virginia)
- Permit
- Concealed Handgun License (CHL)
- Issued by
- County sheriff (residents apply in their county of residence; non-residents may apply to any county sheriff)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
The destination (Indiana)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Indiana
Your West Virginia habits may not match Indiana's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.
- No statutory proactive duty found; official IN.gov guidance recommends telling an officer 'in a non-threatening manner' that you are in possession of a firearm. Framed as a recommendation, not a legal requirement.
- Indiana sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Indiana allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Anyone eligible for permitless carry (18+, not a prohibited person) may carry a loaded handgun in a vehicle without a license since July 1, 2022.
Off-limits places in Indiana
- School property (IC 35-47-9)
- Commercial airports and aircraft (IC 35-47-6)
- Riverboat casinos (68 IAC 1-7-1)
- Army Corps of Engineers-leased properties at certain state reservoirs and Falls of the Ohio State Park
Frequently asked questions
- Is a West Virginia resident permit valid in Indiana?
- Both doors are open: Indiana accepts your West Virginia resident permit, and its permitless law covers eligible visitors for adults 18+ regardless of permits.
- Do I have to tell police in Indiana that I am carrying?
- No statutory proactive duty found; official IN.gov guidance recommends telling an officer 'in a non-threatening manner' that you are in possession of a firearm. Framed as a recommendation, not a legal requirement.
- Does Indiana limit magazine capacity?
- Indiana sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Can I carry in Indiana without any permit?
- Indiana allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Where does Indiana publish its official reciprocity list?
- Indiana 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
- 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
- WV Attorney General — Gun Reciprocity Frequently Asked Questions — accessed 2026-08-08
- WV Attorney General — On The Mark: A Guide to Concealed Handgun Laws in West Virginia (July 2024, incl. full text of W. Va. Code § 61-7-6a) — accessed 2026-08-08
- WV Attorney General — Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map, as of October 1, 2025 — accessed 2026-08-08