State profile · NM
New Mexico Concealed Carry Laws & Reciprocity
A New Mexico resident permit (New Mexico Concealed Handgun License) is honored in 33 of the other 50 US jurisdictions, and 4 more allow permitless carry even though they do not recognize the permit itself. In the other direction, New Mexico recognizes permits from 20 states on its official list. New Mexico is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit New Mexico recognizes.
New Mexico concealed carry reciprocity map
Where a New Mexico resident permit is valid. Each state links to the rules for that trip.
- Permit honored
- Honored + permitless carry
- Permitless carry only
- Not honored
- Confirm case-by-case
- New Mexico
Which states honor a New Mexico carry permit? (33)
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Where a New Mexico permit is not honored (17)
Permitless carry still applies (4): Louisiana, Maine, South Carolina, West Virginia
No lawful carry on this permit (13): California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington
Where a New Mexico permit is honored, state by state
Click any destination for the full rules — duty to inform, magazine limits, off-limits places, and official sources.
* a load-bearing fact could not be fully verified — confirm with the official source before carrying.
Whose permits New Mexico honors
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Delaware
- Florida
- Kansas
- Michigan
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Virginia
- Wyoming
DPS defines reciprocity as permission for 'an out of state license issued to a person who is not a New Mexico resident' to be used while visiting or passing through — the holder need not reside in the issuing state, but NM affords no reciprocity to any out-of-state license held by a New Mexico resident (10.8.2.29(H) NMAC). Several states that honor NM licenses (AL, AK, ID, MN, MT, TN, UT, WV, WI) are NOT honored by NM.
New Mexico at a glance
- Permit
- New Mexico Concealed Handgun License
- Issued by
- New Mexico Department of Public Safety (Concealed Carry Unit)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Resident minimum age
- 21
- Non-resident permits
- Not issued
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- No
- Magazine limit
- None
Can you carry in New Mexico without a permit?
New Mexico is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit New Mexico recognizes.
No permitless concealed carry on foot — a license is required (Concealed Handgun Carry Act, NMSA 29-19). Unlicensed loaded concealed carry is legal only in a private vehicle; open carry is outside this dataset's scope.
Is New Mexico an open carry state?
Yes. New Mexico allows open carry of a handgun without a permit for people who may legally possess one.
Carrying a loaded handgun openly is legal without a license, but it is still banned in places such as schools and federal buildings.
How to get a New Mexico concealed carry permit
- Minimum age
- 21
- Fee
- $100 (new, resident); New Mexico does not issue non-resident licenses
- Training
- At least 15 hours of classroom and range instruction with a DPS-approved instructor, including a live-fire demonstration; a refresher course is required at the two-year mark
- Valid for
- 4 years
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue (must be granted if you qualify)
DPS decides within 30 days once the application and background check are received, but background checks can take 90 days or longer.
Does New Mexico issue non-resident permits?
No. New Mexico does not issue carry permits to non-residents. 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.
Do you have to tell police you are carrying in New Mexico?
No proactive duty; a licensee carrying in public must display the license upon demand by a peace officer (10.8.2.16(D) NMAC). Consuming alcohol while carrying is prohibited (10.8.2.16(B)).
Carrying in a vehicle in New Mexico
Anyone not otherwise prohibited may carry a loaded concealed firearm in a private vehicle (including motorcycles and bicycles) without a license, per the DPS FAQ.
Where you can't carry in New Mexico
- Schools and preschools (limited private-vehicle exception)
- University premises
- Courts, without the presiding judge's consent (NMSA 29-19-11)
- Establishments licensed to dispense alcohol for on-premises consumption (limited restaurant exception)
- Public buses
- Tribal lands, unless authorized by the tribe
Editor's verification notes
Honored list parsed directly from the DPS reciprocity table ('New Mexico will accept concealed carry handgun license' = Yes for exactly the 20 states above; latest agreement effective dates 5-20-2024/8-26-2024 rows are outbound-only). Licensee may carry only one concealed handgun at a time, of the category/caliber on the license (10.8.2.16(A) NMAC).
Frequently asked questions
- Which states honor a New Mexico carry permit?
- Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. The table on this page links to the detailed rules for each destination.
- Does New Mexico recognize out-of-state carry permits?
- DPS defines reciprocity as permission for 'an out of state license issued to a person who is not a New Mexico resident' to be used while visiting or passing through — the holder need not reside in the issuing state, but NM affords no reciprocity to any out-of-state license held by a New Mexico resident (10.8.2.29(H) NMAC). Several states that honor NM licenses (AL, AK, ID, MN, MT, TN, UT, WV, WI) are NOT honored by NM.
Official sources
- NM Department of Public Safety — Concealed Carry Licenses (reciprocity table by state, prohibited places, vehicle carry FAQ) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NM DPS — Concealed Handgun Carry Act booklet with NMSA 29-19 and 10.8.2 NMAC (updated, effective 12/9/2025) — accessed 2026-08-08
- NM DPS — Concealed Carry Handgun Application (packet with fees) — accessed 2026-09-27