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Concealed Carry Map

State profile · NH

New Hampshire Concealed Carry Laws & Reciprocity

A New Hampshire resident permit (New Hampshire Pistol/Revolver License) is honored in 31 of the other 50 US jurisdictions, and 3 more allow permitless carry even though they do not recognize the permit itself. In the other direction, New Hampshire recognizes valid carry permits from every US state. New Hampshire allows permitless concealed carry for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.

Open the interactive map for a New Hampshire permit →

New Hampshire concealed carry reciprocity map

Where a New Hampshire resident permit is valid. Each state links to the rules for that trip.

Alabama: recognized — and permitless carry appliesALAlaska: recognized — and permitless carry appliesAKArizona: recognized — and permitless carry appliesAZArkansas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesARCalifornia: not recognizedCAColorado: recognized — carry with your permitCOConnecticut: not recognizedCTDelaware: not recognizedDEDistrict of Columbia: not recognizedDCFlorida: recognized — and permitless carry appliesFLGeorgia: recognized — and permitless carry appliesGAHawaii: not recognizedHIIdaho: recognized — and permitless carry appliesIDIllinois: not recognizedILIndiana: recognized — and permitless carry appliesINIowa: recognized — and permitless carry appliesIAKansas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesKSKentucky: recognized — and permitless carry appliesKYLouisiana: recognized — and permitless carry appliesLAMaine: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMEMaryland: not recognizedMDMassachusetts: not recognizedMAMichigan: recognized — carry with your permitMIMinnesota: not recognizedMNMississippi: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMSMissouri: recognized — and permitless carry appliesMOMontana: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesMTNebraska: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesNENevada: not recognizedNVNew Hampshire (home state)NHNew Jersey: not recognizedNJNew Mexico: not recognizedNMNew York: not recognizedNYNorth Carolina: recognized — carry with your permitNCNorth Dakota: recognized — and permitless carry appliesNDOhio: recognized — and permitless carry appliesOHOklahoma: recognized — and permitless carry appliesOKOregon: not recognizedORPennsylvania: recognized — carry with your permitPARhode Island: not recognizedRISouth Carolina: permit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesSCSouth Dakota: recognized — and permitless carry appliesSDTennessee: recognized — and permitless carry appliesTNTexas: recognized — and permitless carry appliesTXUtah: recognized — and permitless carry appliesUTVermont: recognized — and permitless carry appliesVTVirginia: recognized — carry with your permitVAWashington: not recognizedWAWest Virginia: recognized — and permitless carry appliesWVWisconsin: recognized — carry with your permitWIWyoming: recognized — and permitless carry appliesWY
  • Permit honored
  • Honored + permitless carry
  • Permitless carry only
  • Not honored
  • Confirm case-by-case
  • New Hampshire

Which states honor a New Hampshire carry permit? (31)

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

Where a New Hampshire permit is not honored (19)

Permitless carry still applies (3): Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina

No lawful carry on this permit (16): California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington

Where a New Hampshire permit is honored, state by state

Click any destination for the full rules — duty to inform, magazine limits, off-limits places, and official sources.

DestinationResident permitNon-resident permit
AlabamaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
AlaskaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
ArizonaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
ArkansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
CaliforniaNot recognizedNot recognized
ColoradoRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
ConnecticutNot recognizedNot recognized
DelawareNot recognizedNot recognized
District of ColumbiaNot recognizedNot recognized
FloridaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
GeorgiaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
HawaiiNot recognizedNot recognized
IdahoRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
IllinoisNot recognizedNot recognized
IndianaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
IowaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
KansasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
KentuckyRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
LouisianaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MaineRecognized — and permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
MarylandNot recognizedNot recognized
MassachusettsNot recognizedNot recognized
MichiganRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
MinnesotaNot recognizedNot recognized
MississippiRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MissouriRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
MontanaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
NebraskaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
NevadaNot recognizedNot recognized
New JerseyNot recognizedNot recognized
New MexicoNot recognizedNot recognized
New YorkNot recognizedNot recognized
North CarolinaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
North DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OhioRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OklahomaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
OregonNot recognizedNot recognized
PennsylvaniaRecognized — carry with your permitNot recognized
Rhode IslandNot recognizedNot recognized
South CarolinaPermit not recognized — but permitless carry appliesPermit not recognized — but permitless carry applies
South DakotaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
TennesseeRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
TexasRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
UtahRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
VermontRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
VirginiaRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
WashingtonNot recognizedNot recognized
West VirginiaRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies
WisconsinRecognized — carry with your permitRecognized — carry with your permit
WyomingRecognized — and permitless carry appliesRecognized — and permitless carry applies

* a load-bearing fact could not be fully verified — confirm with the official source before carrying.

Whose permits New Hampshire honors

New Hampshire recognizes valid concealed-carry permits from every US state and DC.

New Hampshire has no inbound recognition statute because none is needed — no license is required to carry. Any out-of-state permit holder (or non-holder) who may lawfully possess a firearm may carry. RSA 159:6-d addresses only outbound reciprocity for NH licenses; the State Police publish the list of states honoring NH resident licenses.

New Hampshire at a glance

Permit
New Hampshire Pistol/Revolver License
Issued by
Local chief of police, selectmen or mayor (residents); NH State Police (non-residents)
Issue policy
Shall-issue
Resident minimum age
Not verified
Non-resident permits
Issued
Permitless carry
Yes
Duty to inform
No
Magazine limit
None

Can you carry in New Hampshire without a permit?

New Hampshire allows permitless concealed carry for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.

The license requirement for carrying a loaded concealed pistol (former RSA 159:4) was repealed effective Feb 22, 2017 (2017, 1:3). Anyone not prohibited by NH or federal law — resident or not — may carry openly or concealed without a license. No statutory minimum age; federal law restricts handgun possession under 18.

Is New Hampshire an open carry state?

Yes. New Hampshire allows open carry of a handgun without a permit for people who may legally possess one.

New Hampshire requires no license to carry a handgun, openly or concealed, for anyone who may legally possess one; the optional license mainly helps when traveling to states that honor it.

How to get a New Hampshire concealed carry permit

Apply to
Residents: the local police chief, selectmen or mayor (or the county sheriff in unincorporated places). Non-residents: New Hampshire State Police Permits and Licensing Unit, by mail.
Fee
$10 resident · $100 non-resident
Training
None required
Valid for
5 years
Issue policy
Shall-issue (must be granted if you qualify)

By law the license must be issued, or denied in writing, within 14 days of applying; renewal falls in the month of your fifth birthday after issue.

Does New Hampshire issue non-resident permits?

Yes. New Hampshire issues carry permits to non-residents, and a New Hampshire non-resident permit is honored in 26 other states. Non-resident licenses are issued by the NH State Police Permits and Licensing Unit ($100, 5 years); resident licenses by the local licensing authority ($10). RSA 159:6 sets no minimum age — federal law governs handgun possession by minors. NH-issued non-resident licenses are valid only in NH or states that recognize them.

Compare every state's non-resident permit →

Do you have to tell police you are carrying in New Hampshire?

No statutory duty to inform a police officer of carrying appears in RSA Chapter 159.

Carrying in a vehicle in New Hampshire

Since Feb 22, 2017, no license is required to carry a loaded pistol or revolver openly or concealed in a vehicle for anyone not prohibited from possessing firearms.

Where you can't carry in New Hampshire

Editor's verification notes

gc.nh.gov and nhsp.dos.nh.gov block this network; both official pages were read via Internet Archive snapshots (RSA 159 text shows 159:4 'Repealed by 2017, 1:3, eff. Feb. 22, 2017', confirming current permitless status). The State Police reciprocity section lists states honoring NH resident licenses (outbound) — AZ, CO, FL, WV and WY require the NH holder to be 21+.

Frequently asked questions

Which states honor a New Hampshire carry permit?
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
Does New Hampshire recognize out-of-state carry permits?
New Hampshire has no inbound recognition statute because none is needed — no license is required to carry. Any out-of-state permit holder (or non-holder) who may lawfully possess a firearm may carry. RSA 159:6-d addresses only outbound reciprocity for NH licenses; the State Police publish the list of states honoring NH resident licenses.

Official sources