Kansas concealed carry reciprocity runs in both directions: Kansas recognizes every valid concealed carry permit issued by another state or jurisdiction, provided the holder is not a Kansas resident, and 39 other states currently recognize the Kansas Concealed Carry Handgun License (CCHL) in return.1Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 75-7c03 – License to Carry Concealed Handgun, Issuance, Form, Recognition of Licenses Issued by Other Jurisdictions If you live in Kansas and plan to travel armed, the CCHL is what makes that legal across state lines; Kansas’s permitless carry law does not travel with you.
States That Recognize the Kansas CCHL
The Kansas Attorney General maintains the official list of states that have acknowledged recognition of the Kansas license. As of the most recent update, 39 states honor it:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.2Attorney General of Kansas. Out-of-State License Recognition
When you carry in one of those states, you follow that state’s rules, not Kansas rules. Prohibited locations, signage law, duty-to-inform requirements during a traffic stop, magazine limits, and school-zone exceptions all vary. A permit that is recognized is still a permit being used under local law.
Reciprocity lists change. States occasionally add or drop one another based on changes to training requirements, age thresholds, or statutory language. The Attorney General updates the published list, but confirming the current status before a trip is on you.
States That Do Not Recognize the Kansas License
Any state not on the Attorney General’s list treats a Kansas CCHL as no license at all. Notable states that do not recognize it include California, New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Oregon.2Attorney General of Kansas. Out-of-State License Recognition Carrying concealed in one of these states on a Kansas license can result in felony charges, substantial fines, or prison time depending on the jurisdiction.
A few of the non-recognizing states will issue a non-resident permit to a Kansas CCHL holder, but that is a separate application in each state. The Kansas license alone will not get you through the door.
Out-of-State Permits in Kansas
K.S.A. 75-7c03 recognizes any valid concealed carry license or permit issued by another state or jurisdiction, with one condition: the holder cannot be a Kansas resident.1Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 75-7c03 – License to Carry Concealed Handgun, Issuance, Form, Recognition of Licenses Issued by Other Jurisdictions Kansas residents don’t need a permit at all, so this provision is written for visitors.
If you are visiting Kansas on an out-of-state permit, Kansas law governs while you are in the state. Your permit covers concealed handguns only, not long guns or other weapons. You must honor Kansas prohibited-location and signage rules the same as a Kansas licensee.
One point that trips up younger visitors: Kansas permitless carry requires age 21, but a visitor aged 18 to 20 who holds a valid out-of-state permit may carry concealed in Kansas. The criminal carrying statute specifically exempts recognized out-of-state permit holders from the under-21 prohibition.3Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes. Kansas Code 21-6302 – Criminal Carrying of a Weapon Without a permit, an 18-to-20-year-old visitor cannot carry concealed in Kansas.4Attorney General of Kansas. Concealed Carry FAQs
Why Permitless Carry Does Not Travel
Since July 1, 2015, Kansas has allowed anyone 21 or older who can legally possess a firearm to carry concealed without a license.5Kansas Legislature. Summary of SB 45 That law stops at the state line.
Reciprocity works on paper. Missouri, Colorado, Oklahoma, and the other 36 states that honor Kansas carry licenses are honoring the physical license, not Kansas’s underlying policy. If you cross into a permit state with no license, you are an unlicensed carrier the moment your wheels touch the ground, regardless of the fact that you were acting lawfully a mile earlier. Penalties vary by state and can include felony charges, prison time, and permanent loss of firearm rights.
This is the single biggest reason Kansas residents still apply for a CCHL after permitless carry became law. The license costs $32.50 and lasts four years. If interstate travel with a firearm is even a possibility, the license is what makes the reciprocity map useful to you.
Interstate Transport Through Non-Recognizing States
The federal Firearm Owners’ Protection Act gives you a limited safe harbor when driving through a state where you are not licensed to carry, as long as you can legally possess and carry the firearm at both your origin and your destination. During transport, the firearm must be unloaded and stored where it is not readily accessible from the passenger compartment. If the vehicle has no separate trunk, the firearm must be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or center console.6Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC 926A – Interstate Transportation of Firearms
FOPA covers transport only. It does not authorize overnight stops, carrying on your person, or lengthy detours in a state that prohibits your possession. New York and New Jersey have a history of arresting travelers despite FOPA, so treat the protection as a legal defense rather than a travel pass.
Getting and Renewing a Kansas CCHL
To apply, you must be at least 21 (or 18 for a provisional license), a Kansas resident, and not prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law. Active-duty military stationed in Kansas and their dependents can apply even if their legal residence is elsewhere.4Attorney General of Kansas. Concealed Carry FAQs You must complete an approved eight-hour handgun safety and training course from a certified instructor before you apply.7Attorney General of Kansas. Concealed Carry Licensing
Submit the application and training certificate to the Sheriff in your county of residence. You will be fingerprinted at the appointment and pay a $32.50 processing fee. As of July 1, 2023, the separate Attorney General fee has been eliminated, so $32.50 is the full government cost. The Attorney General has 90 days to issue the license or send a written denial. Once approved, you visit a Kansas Driver’s License Station to have the concealed carry designation added to your state ID.7Attorney General of Kansas. Concealed Carry Licensing
The license is valid for four years. About 90 days before expiration, the Attorney General’s office mails a renewal notice. Renewal requires no additional training, no fingerprinting, and no fees to either the Sheriff or the Attorney General. Mail the notarized application with a current 2×2-inch photo and a copy of your driver’s license or state ID to the Attorney General, who runs another background check before approving. If you let the license lapse, you have a six-month grace period for late renewal at no penalty. After six months the license is permanently expired, and you start the full application over.7Attorney General of Kansas. Concealed Carry Licensing