Montana Concealed Carry Reciprocity: States That Honor It

Reciprocity

Permitless Carry

Montana is a permitless carry (constitutional carry) state. Montana law allows any person to carry a concealed weapon without a concealed weapon permit, provided that the person is eligible to possess a firearm under state and federal law.

This applies to both residents and non-residents.

Recognition of Out-of-State Permits

Montana recognizes concealed weapon permits from other states under Montana Code Annotated § 45-8-329. For a non-resident's out-of-state permit to be valid in Montana, the following criteria must be met:

1. Background check requirement - The issuing state must require a criminal records background check before issuing the permit
2. Immediate possession - The permit must be in the holder's immediate possession while carrying
3. Photo identification - The permit holder must have photo identification

States Recognized by Montana

Pursuant to MCA § 45-8-329(2), the Montana Attorney General's Office has determined that concealed weapon permits from the following 43 states are recognized:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming

States NOT Recognized by Montana

Permits from the following jurisdictions are not recognized in Montana because their state laws do not expressly require background checks of permit applicants:

• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Hawaii
• Maine
• New Hampshire
• Rhode Island

Vermont does not issue concealed weapons permits and therefore has no permit to recognize.

States That Recognize Montana Permits

Because Montana is a permitless carry state and also issues concealed weapon permits (CWPs), Montana CWP holders may benefit from formal recognition when traveling to other states. Montana CWPs are widely recognized by states that honor permits from states requiring a criminal-records background check, and Montana itself recognizes any out-of-state permit issued under a comparable background-check requirement (MCA 45-8-329).

Many states that have broad recognition policies or permitless carry themselves - including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming - recognize Montana permits either through written agreements, statutory reciprocity, or unilateral recognition.

Key Statute

Montana Code Annotated § 45-8-329 - Governs recognition of out-of-state concealed weapon permits in Montana. Establishes the background check requirement as the primary criterion for recognition and authorizes the Attorney General to determine which states meet this standard.

Important Notes

• Even though Montana allows permitless carry, obtaining a Montana CWP remains valuable for reciprocity purposes when traveling to states that require a permit and recognize Montana's CWP.
• Permit holders from recognized states must still comply with all Montana laws regarding where firearms may be carried, prohibited locations, and other restrictions.
• Non-residents visiting Montana who hold permits from non-recognized states may still carry concealed under Montana's permitless carry provision, provided they are legally eligible to possess a firearm under both state and federal law.
• Reciprocity determinations are made by the Montana Attorney General's Office and are subject to change if other states modify their permitting laws.
• Always verify current reciprocity status before traveling, as agreements and state laws can change.