Missouri reciprocity is governed by Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.030.5 and Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.121. The provisions, read together, make Missouri...
Reviewed by Will Luker, Founder of CCW Hub. USCCA Training Counselor, USCCA Certified Instructor, NRA Certified Instructor, Law Enforcement.
Missouri reciprocity is governed by Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.030.5 and Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.121. The provisions, read together, make Missouri one of the most permissive recognizing states in the country.
Under Section 571.030.5: "Any concealed carry permit or endorsement issued by any other state or political subdivision of another state shall be recognized as valid in this state." The statute is categorical. Missouri does not maintain a list of recognized states or enter into bilateral reciprocity agreements; it simply recognizes any valid concealed carry permit issued by any other state.
This is in contrast to most states, which maintain published reciprocity tables, enter into formal agreements, or recognize only states that have substantially similar permitting requirements.
The Section 571.030.5 recognition extends to:
The recognition is not contingent on the issuing state recognizing Missouri's CCP in return. Missouri's recognition is unilateral and unconditional.
The statute requires a "valid" concealed carry permit. A permit that has been suspended, revoked, or has expired is not valid and is not recognized. A permit issued to a person who is now a federally prohibited person (under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)) is not "valid" in the sense Missouri requires, because the holder cannot lawfully possess a firearm.
Missouri also does not recognize foreign permits issued by other countries.
A non-resident carrying in Missouri on an out-of-state permit is subject to Missouri law as to:
The non-resident's home-state law governs the validity of the permit itself, the type of firearm covered, and any home-state restrictions; Missouri law governs everything that happens once the carrier is in Missouri.
Missouri's recognition of out-of-state permits is unilateral; other states' treatment of Missouri CCPs is mixed.
States that generally recognize the Missouri CCP (the carrier should always verify before traveling, as state reciprocity tables change):
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
States that historically have NOT recognized the Missouri CCP include:
California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, and the District of Columbia.
The list of recognizing states changes from time to time. The Missouri Attorney General's office maintains general reciprocity guidance at ago.mo.gov. The destination state's own attorney general or state police website is the most reliable single source.
Important verification note: Reciprocity tables change. A Missouri carrier traveling out of state should verify reciprocity with the destination state within 30 days of departure. Apps such as CCW Concealed Carry and USCCA Reciprocity Map are helpful for quick lookups, but the destination state's government website is the authoritative source.
Constitutional carry has expanded substantially since 2010. As of May 2026, approximately 29 states (including Missouri) authorize permitless carry for residents. The list typically includes:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida (effective 2023), Georgia (effective 2022), Idaho, Indiana (effective 2022), Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana (effective 2024), Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska (effective 2023), New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio (effective 2022), Oklahoma, South Carolina (effective 2024), South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont (always permitless), West Virginia, and Wyoming.
A Missouri resident may carry in many of these states on permitless authority alone (the constitutional-carry state typically recognizes both its own permitless residents and visiting U.S. citizens age 18 or older who are not prohibited persons). However, several constitutional-carry states still require a permit for non-residents, and the rules vary. A Missouri carrier traveling out of state should confirm the destination state's rules.
When a Missouri carrier travels with a firearm to another state:
Firearms Owners Protection Act (FOPA), 18 U.S.C. Section 926A. A lawfully possessed firearm may be transported through any state in the United States, including states that do not recognize the carrier's permit, if the firearm is unloaded and locked in a container separate from ammunition, and if the carrier is traveling between two states where the firearm may be lawfully possessed. The transport must be reasonably continuous; an overnight stop is typically permitted but does not extend to a multi-day stay.
Gun-Free School Zones Act, 18 U.S.C. Section 922(q). A Missouri CCP holder is exempt under Section 922(q)(2)(B)(ii) only within Missouri (the state issuing the permit). When traveling in another state on reciprocity, the carrier is NOT covered by the federal exemption, because the federal exemption requires a permit issued "by the State in which the school zone is located." A Missouri CCP holder in Iowa, for example, is subject to the federal 1,000-foot school-zone rule.
National Park Service. Concealed carry in national parks is permitted by 2010 federal law (the "Coburn Amendment" to the Credit CARD Act of 2009), subject to the law of the state in which the park is located. A Missouri carrier may carry concealed in Mark Twain National Forest (subject to Missouri law) but must comply with Tennessee law if carrying in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Missouri resident driving to Illinois. Illinois does not recognize the Missouri CCP. The carrier must comply with FOPA (firearm unloaded, separated from ammunition, locked) or leave the firearm at home.
Missouri resident driving to Kansas. Kansas recognizes the Missouri CCP and is itself a constitutional-carry state. The carrier may carry concealed in Kansas under either authority.
Missouri resident driving to Arkansas. Arkansas recognizes the Missouri CCP. The carrier may carry concealed in Arkansas under the reciprocity.
Missouri resident driving to Tennessee. Tennessee recognizes Missouri's enhanced/standard CCPs. The carrier may carry concealed in Tennessee under reciprocity, subject to Tennessee law (including the more restrictive park rules).
Missouri resident flying out of Lambert St. Louis Airport. The carrier may carry concealed up to the TSA checkpoint (Section 571.107.1(6) prohibits carry only in the secure area). The firearm must then be declared, unloaded, and packed in checked luggage in a locked container in accordance with 49 C.F.R. Section 1540 and 49 U.S.C. Section 46505.
| Statute | Subject |
|---|---|
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.030.5 | Categorical recognition of all out-of-state CCPs |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.121 | Reciprocity recognition; driver's license notation |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.107 | Prohibited carry locations (applies to non-residents) |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 571.030.1(5) | Intoxication restriction |
| Mo. Rev. Stat. Section 21.750 | State preemption; local open-carry carve-out |
| 18 U.S.C. Section 926A | FOPA interstate transport protection |
| 18 U.S.C. Section 922(q) | Federal Gun-Free School Zones Act |
| 49 U.S.C. Section 46505 | TSA / air-travel firearms rules |
This section reflects Missouri law as of May 2026. Reciprocity tables in other states change. Verify with the destination state before traveling.
This page covers one part of our Missouri concealed carry guide.
Read the complete Missouri 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.