Indiana License to Carry: Reciprocity and Why It Matters

Which states’ permits does Indiana honor?

All of them. IC 35-47-2-21(b) says handgun carry licenses issued by other states or foreign countries are recognized in Indiana according to their terms, as long as the holder is not an Indiana resident. On top of that, since July 1, 2022, any visitor 18 or older who isn’t prohibited can carry without a license at all.

Which states honor the Indiana license to carry?

That’s up to each state, and the lists change. Some states honor every other state’s license, some honor only certain states, some require the holder to be 21, and some honor none. Before you travel, check the attorney general’s office or state police for every state you’ll drive through or visit, and check again each trip.

One clear example next door: Illinois doesn’t honor any other state’s license for general carry. It does let a non-resident keep a concealed firearm in their vehicle if they are eligible to carry in their home state and hold a carry license from that state (430 ILCS 66/40). A Hoosier carrying without a license doesn’t qualify for that vehicle rule.

Why get an Indiana license if carry is permitless?

• Travel. Permitless carry is an Indiana rule. Other states look for a license.
• It’s free. The state stopped charging for five-year licenses in 2020 and for all handgun licenses in 2021 (IC 35-47-2-3).
• Federal school zones. The federal Gun-Free School Zones Act (18 U.S.C. 922(q)) exempts people licensed by the state where the school zone is. Permitless carry isn’t a license.
• Peace of mind. The Indiana State Police run the background checks and say they can’t verify your eligibility if you don’t apply.

What “according to the terms” means for visitors

Indiana honors another state’s license on that license’s terms. If your home-state license is expired, suspended or revoked, it doesn’t count in Indiana. Visitors who are 18 or older and not prohibited can still carry under Indiana’s permitless carry law, but a revoked license may be a sign that something in your record makes you a prohibited person. Sort that out before you carry.

Before you travel: a quick checklist

1. List every state you’ll enter, including the ones you’ll only drive through.
2. Check each state’s official site for whether it honors the Indiana license and at what age.
3. Look up each state’s off-limits locations and rules about telling police you’re carrying.
4. If a state won’t honor your license, plan to transport the gun unloaded and locked away under 18 U.S.C. 926A while you pass through.
5. Check again before every trip, since reciprocity changes.

Five-year vs. lifetime Indiana license

Licenses issued before July 1, 2022 remain valid for their term (IC 35-47-2-1(d)). A license can be suspended, for example if a court finds you dangerous under Indiana’s red flag law (IC 35-47-14-6).

Who can get an Indiana license to carry?

You must be at least 18 and not prohibited from possessing or carrying a handgun. Indiana residents apply; non-residents can apply only if they have a regular place of business or employment in Indiana (IC 35-47-2-3).

How to apply

1. Start an application on the Indiana State Police Firearms License Application Portal.
2. Schedule and complete fingerprinting through the state’s vendor, IDEMIA.
3. Your application is reviewed and the background checks are completed.
4. Once approved, you receive your license.

Traveling with your gun

A license doesn’t cover everything. Even in states that honor Indiana’s license, their location rules apply to you, such as bans in bars, parks or government buildings. When you only need to pass through a state, the federal safe-passage law (18 U.S.C. 926A) protects you if the gun is unloaded and locked away as the law describes. See transporting guns in Indiana.

Moving to Indiana?

Your old state’s license stops counting in Indiana once you become a resident. You can carry under permitless carry right away if you qualify, and apply for an Indiana license for travel.

Gun laws change, and this guide is general information, not legal advice. Check the current Indiana Code or talk to an Indiana attorney about your specific situation.