Is a West Virginia Resident Permit Valid in Minnesota?

Why

• Minnesota's official reciprocity list includes West Virginia.

DPS publishes the recognized-state list annually (Minn. Stat. 624.714 subd. 16); the statute recognizes 'a person holding a carry permit' from a qualifying state without requiring residency in the issuing state. NOT recognized (2026 list): Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Several states are recognized only conditionally — see overrides.

Carry rules in Minnesota

Your West Virginia habits may not match Minnesota's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.

• No proactive duty: the permit card and ID must be displayed upon lawful demand, and the holder must disclose whether they are carrying only upon a peace officer's request (Minn. Stat. 624.714 subd. 1b).
• Minnesota sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
• Minnesota is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Minnesota recognizes.
• A permit is required to carry a loaded pistol in a motor vehicle; without a permit, pistols must be transported unloaded and cased under the Minn. Stat. 624.714 transport exceptions.

Off-limits places in Minnesota

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

• School property, except in a vehicle or placing/retrieving from the trunk (Minn. Stat. 609.66 subd. 1d)
• Courthouse complexes, unless the permit holder has notified the sheriff (Minn. Stat. 609.66 subd. 1g)

See all 5 places you can't carry in Minnesota →

West Virginia vs Minnesota: what changes at the state line

Crossing from West Virginia into Minnesota changes 3 rules: permitless carry (Yes (18+) → No); out-of-state permits honored (36 states → 33 states); open carry (Yes, no permit → With a permit).

Going the other way, a Minnesota resident permit in West Virginia: recognized — and permitless carry applies.

Driving on from Minnesota

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

• Iowa — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• North Dakota — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• South Dakota — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• Wisconsin — Recognized — carry with your permit

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Minnesota honor a West Virginia non-resident permit?

Recognized — carry with your permit. The answer is the same as for the resident permit on this page.

Can a Minnesota resident permit holder carry in West Virginia?

Recognized — and permitless carry applies. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on West Virginia's law, not Minnesota's.

Where does Minnesota publish its official reciprocity list?

Minnesota 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.