The problem: you live in a restrictive state
Roughly 100 million Americans live in states with highly restrictive concealed carry laws — California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Maryland, Connecticut, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia. Getting a carry permit from your home state may be difficult, expensive, or effectively impossible.
But here's what most people in these states don't realize: you may be able to legally carry in 30–40+ other states using a non-resident carry permit from a different state — without ever changing your address.
Several states issue concealed carry permits to residents of other states. The most valuable for this purpose are Utah, Arizona, and Florida, with Virginia and New Hampshire as additional options in specific situations. Each permit is honored in many other states, and combining two typically gives you legal carry coverage in roughly 35–40 states. One important caveat applies to all of them: Colorado, Michigan, and Pennsylvania only honor permits held by residents of the issuing state, so no non-resident permit works there (see the warning box below).
The five non-resident permits worth knowing
Utah Concealed Firearm Permit (CFP)
Honored in ~33 states as a non-resident permit · Fee: $49 · Processing: 30–60 daysThe Utah CFP is one of the most widely honored permits in the country. It is issued to non-residents by the Utah Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and is available to U.S. citizens 21 or older who are legally eligible to possess a firearm.
| Issuing agency | Utah BCI |
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Fee | $49 (non-resident initial) |
| Validity | 5 years |
| Training required | Yes — Utah-approved concealed carry course (available online or in-person) |
| Background check | Yes — fingerprint-based through BCI and FBI |
| Processing time | Approximately 30–60 days |
| Apply at | bci.utah.gov — Concealed Firearm ↗ |
Note: Utah does NOT require applicants to be Utah residents. The non-resident process is the same as the resident process.
Arizona Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP)
Honored in ~37 states as a non-resident permit · Fee: $60 · Processing: 60–75 daysArizona issues non-resident permits and has been a permitless carry state since 2010 — making their permitting program established and efficient. The AZ CWP overlaps significantly with the Utah CFP but covers some unique states not covered by Utah.
| Issuing agency | Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZ DPS) |
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Fee | $60 (initial) / $43 (renewal) |
| Validity | 5 years |
| Training required | Yes — AZ-approved firearms safety course (in-person live-fire required) |
| Background check | Yes — AZ DPS and FBI NICS |
| Apply at | azdps.gov — Weapons Permits ↗ |
Florida Concealed Weapon License — Non-Resident (CWL)
Honored in ~34 states as a non-resident permit · Fee: $97 · Processing: 50–90 daysThe Florida CWL is honored in more states than almost any other permit. Florida issues non-resident licenses to anyone who is not a Florida resident and is legally eligible to possess a firearm. It is particularly valuable because it covers some Midwest and Northeast states that Utah doesn't reach.
| Issuing agency | Florida FDACS (Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services) |
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Fee | $97 (initial) / $45 (renewal) |
| Validity | 7 years |
| Training required | Yes — proof of firearms safety training (NRA course, hunter ed, military service, etc.) |
| Background check | Yes — FDLE and FBI NICS |
| Processing time | 50–90 days (90-day statutory maximum) |
| Apply at | fdacs.gov — Concealed Weapon License ↗ |
Virginia Nonresident Concealed Handgun Permit
Honored in ~32 states as a non-resident permit · Fee: $100 · Processing: often 90+ daysVirginia issues nonresident permits through the Virginia State Police under Va. Code § 18.2-308.06. Its coverage largely overlaps with Utah and Florida, so for most people it adds little on top of those two — but it's a reasonable single-permit choice for East Coast residents who mainly travel in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Two real drawbacks: since January 1, 2021 Virginia no longer accepts online training certificates for the nonresident permit, and VSP processing has historically been slow (months, not weeks).
| Issuing agency | Virginia State Police (Firearms Transaction Center) |
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Fee | $100 (money order or cashier's check) |
| Validity | 5 years |
| Training required | Yes — in-person course (online certificates not accepted since Jan 1, 2021) |
| Background check | Yes — fingerprint-based |
| Processing time | Varies; VSP has posted multi-month backlogs — plan for 90+ days |
| Apply at | vsp.virginia.gov — Nonresident Concealed Handgun Permits ↗ |
New Hampshire Non-Resident Pistol/Revolver License
Honored in ~30 states as a non-resident permit · Fee: $100 · Processing: 14–30 daysNew Hampshire's non-resident license (RSA 159:6) is issued by the NH State Police, requires no training course, no fingerprints, and no photo, and by statute must be issued within 14 days of application. That makes it the fastest and simplest permit on this list. The catch: its recognition footprint is the narrowest of the five, and the application asks for a copy of your home-state carry permit or a letter from your local police department — an extra hurdle if you live in a state where you can't get a permit. It rarely adds coverage beyond a Utah + Arizona or Utah + Florida combination.
| Issuing agency | New Hampshire State Police (Permits and Licensing Unit) |
| Minimum age | None set by statute; destination states typically require 21+ |
| Fee | $100 (statutory, RSA 159:6) |
| Validity | 5 years |
| Training required | No |
| Documentation | Copy of home-state carry permit, or a letter from your local police department (Form DSSP 260) |
| Processing time | Issued within 14 days by statute; NHSP states applications are processed within 30 days of receipt |
| Apply at | nhsp.dos.nh.gov — Pistol and Revolver Licensing ↗ |
The optimal combination strategy
✅ Utah CFP + Florida CWL (or + Arizona CWP) ≈ 38–40 states covered
Combined cost under $160 + training. Combined processing time: 60–90 days. Together, two of these permits cover most of the country where carry is practically achievable — and 29 states have their own permitless carry, so you can carry there without any permit at all if you're 21+ and eligible. The exact best combination depends on your home state: run our Permit Value Calculator for numbers computed from verified reciprocity data rather than a one-size-fits-all claim.
⚠ Three states honor resident permits only — no non-resident permit works there
Regardless of which non-resident permits you collect, Colorado (C.R.S. § 18-12-213, per the Colorado Bureau of Investigation ↗), Michigan (MCL 28.432a, per Michigan law ↗ and State Police guidance), and Pennsylvania (per the PA Attorney General ↗) recognize an out-of-state permit only when the holder is a resident of the issuing state (and 21+). A Utah, Arizona, Florida, Virginia, or New Hampshire permit held by a non-resident is not valid in these three states. Florida has the same resident-only rule on paper (F.S. § 790.015), but its permitless carry law covers eligible visitors, so Florida remains reachable anyway. Our Permit Value Calculator already accounts for all of this.
States where you likely still CANNOT carry (even with both permits)
Even with a Utah CFP and Florida CWL, these highly regulated states generally will not honor either permit:
These states either do not recognize out-of-state permits at all, or have such extensive restrictions that practical carry is effectively unavailable to most people. Colorado, Michigan, and Pennsylvania (warning box above) are also unreachable with non-resident permits, though they do honor resident permits from many states. Verify the current status with each state's official source.
Getting your non-resident permits: step by step
Utah CFP (recommended first)
Complete a Utah-approved course. Must cover Utah law, use of force, safe storage, and include a live-fire component or be an approved online course. Many NRA instructors are Utah-approved. Online options are available. Search the BCI instructor list for approved courses near you.
Complete the BCI application online. Visit bci.utah.gov. You'll need a valid government ID, your course completion certificate, and payment of $49.
Submit fingerprints. Utah requires a fingerprint-based background check. You can submit fingerprints at any law enforcement agency or approved fingerprinting location.
Wait for processing. Processing typically takes 30–60 days. You'll receive your Utah CFP by mail.
Florida CWL — Non-Resident
Gather training documentation. Florida accepts many forms: NRA safety course, hunter education certificate, military DD-214, law enforcement service, or completion of a licensed Florida instructor's course. If you've done training for your Utah CFP, that certificate may qualify.
Complete the Florida application. Apply online or by mail through FDACS. Non-residents use the same application form. Fee: $97.
Fingerprinting. Required. Use an approved Livescan provider or mail in fingerprint cards. FDACS provides instructions on their website.
Wait 50–90 days. Florida law requires processing within 90 days. Approval comes by mail. The CWL is valid for 7 years.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a Utah or Florida permit if I live in California (or another restrictive state)?
Yes. Neither Utah nor Florida requires applicants to be residents of those states. You can apply as a non-resident from any U.S. state. Your home state's restrictions on carry do not prevent you from obtaining a non-resident permit from another state — they simply mean you cannot carry in your home state with those permits (since your home state doesn't recognize them).
Is this legal? Can I really get a permit from another state?
Yes, it is completely legal. Several states have always issued non-resident carry permits as part of their regular permit programs. Nothing in federal law prevents a resident of one state from obtaining a permit from another state. The practical limitation is that your home state's laws still apply within your home state — so a California resident with a Utah permit still cannot carry concealed in California.
What training is accepted for the Florida non-resident CWL?
Florida accepts: completion of any NRA firearms safety or training course; completion of a hunter education or hunter safety course; experience as a law enforcement officer; honorable military discharge (DD-214); or completion of a course offered by a Florida-licensed firearms instructor. If you've already taken a course for your Utah CFP, that NRA course certificate will likely qualify for Florida as well — you may not need separate training.
Do I need to renew these permits?
Yes. Utah CFP is valid for 5 years; Florida CWL is valid for 7 years. Both can be renewed before expiration through their respective agencies. Renewal fees are lower than initial fees. Set calendar reminders well in advance of expiration — carrying on an expired permit is the same as carrying without a permit in most states.
Can I still carry in Indiana, Vermont, or other permitless states without any non-resident permit?
Yes. States with permitless carry laws generally allow any person 21 or older (sometimes 18+) who is legally eligible to possess a firearm to carry without any permit. You do not need a non-resident permit to carry in those states — your eligibility is what matters, not your permit status. Check the eligibility requirements for each permitless state before relying on this.