Massachusetts does not recognize any other state's concealed carry permit. A non-resident must obtain a Massachusetts Non-Resident License to Carry...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
Massachusetts does not recognize any other state's concealed carry permit. A non-resident must obtain a Massachusetts Non-Resident License to Carry under M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131F before lawfully carrying a handgun in the Commonwealth. This is the most restrictive reciprocity posture in the United States as of early 2026.
The Massachusetts LTC framework in M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131 and Section 131F authorizes concealed carry only for the holder of a Massachusetts-issued license:
A valid concealed carry permit from any other state - Texas LTC, Florida Concealed Weapon Permit, Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms, etc. - does not authorize the holder to carry a handgun in Massachusetts. A traveler arriving at Logan or driving through Massachusetts with another state's permit, but without a Massachusetts LTC, is subject to prosecution under M.G.L. c. 269, Section 10(a) for unlicensed carry.
A non-resident who wants to lawfully carry in Massachusetts has two options under M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131F:
Both non-resident LTC types authorize carry in Massachusetts to the same extent as the resident LTC, subject to the same sensitive-place restrictions, storage requirements, and other state-law overlays.
A Massachusetts LTC is recognized by some other states' concealed carry permit programs. Recognition varies state-by-state and changes from time to time:
Massachusetts does not maintain a list of "states that recognize the Massachusetts LTC" because Massachusetts does not engage in formal reciprocity agreements. Recognition by other states is each receiving state's unilateral decision.
The federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA), 18 U.S.C. 926B and 18 U.S.C. 926C, authorizes qualified active and retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed nationwide, regardless of state reciprocity arrangements. LEOSA preempts most state location restrictions but does not override certain federal sensitive-place rules (federal buildings, courthouses) or certain state sensitive-place rules (Massachusetts courthouses, schools).
A qualified LEOSA carrier in Massachusetts:
LEOSA is the practical exception to Massachusetts's non-recognition of other state permits.
The federal Firearm Owners Protection Act, 18 U.S.C. 926A, provides a partial preemption that protects a person transporting an unloaded firearm in a locked container, with ammunition stored separately, between two states where possession is lawful at origin and destination. FOPA applies to interstate journeys and does not authorize:
A non-resident driving through Massachusetts en route to Maine or New Hampshire with a firearm secured per FOPA is lawfully transiting; the same non-resident stopping at a Massachusetts hotel as the destination loses FOPA protection and must comply with Massachusetts law.
A non-resident concealed carry permit holder flying to Logan Airport from Texas, Florida, or another state must either:
There is no "land at Logan, get a permit, carry today" path. The Non-Resident LTC requires advance application processing.
A non-resident driving on I-90, I-95, or another interstate through Massachusetts with a firearm secured per FOPA (unloaded, locked container, ammunition separate) is lawfully transiting if the journey is incidental to travel between two states where possession is lawful. The driver must not stop in Massachusetts as the destination and must not remove the firearm from FOPA-compliant storage.
A non-resident who regularly visits Massachusetts (family, business, vacation home) should obtain a Massachusetts Non-Resident LTC. The one-year version at $100 is the appropriate vehicle for repeated visits. The 90-day version is for one-time short-term trips.
A Massachusetts LTC holder traveling to another state should verify whether the destination state recognizes the Massachusetts permit. If recognition exists, carry per the destination state's rules; if not, leave the firearm at home or transport per FOPA.
This is a directional summary; verify against current state-by-state data before travel.
| Massachusetts recognizes | Massachusetts LTC recognized by (representative) |
|---|---|
| No other state's permit | Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Utah (with limits), various others; not New York, NJ, CT, MD, IL, CA, HI |
A non-resident applicant for the Massachusetts Non-Resident LTC must:
The Colonel of State Police makes the issuance decision. Denials are appealable to the District Court for the judicial district where the FRB office is located under M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131(f).
| Statute | Subject |
|---|---|
| M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131 | Resident LTC |
| M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131F | Non-Resident LTC |
| M.G.L. c. 140, Section 131P | Basic Firearms Safety Course |
| M.G.L. c. 269, Section 10 | Unlicensed carry penalty |
| 18 U.S.C. 926A | FOPA interstate transport |
| 18 U.S.C. 926B | LEOSA active law enforcement |
| 18 U.S.C. 926C | LEOSA qualified retired law enforcement |
Massachusetts has the strictest reciprocity posture in the United States - it recognizes no other state's concealed carry permit. Visitors who need to carry in Massachusetts must obtain a Massachusetts Non-Resident LTC in advance. FOPA protects interstate transit but not carry while in Massachusetts. LEOSA is the only federal exception for qualified active or retired law enforcement officers.
This page covers one part of our Massachusetts concealed carry guide.
Read the complete Massachusetts guideBrowse local instructors offering state-approved training in your area. Book online, complete your training, and get one step closer to your concealed carry permit.