Concealed Pistol License Reciprocity

The Attorney General’s Office periodically reviews the laws of other states to determine whether those laws meet the requirements for Washington to reciprocally recognize a concealed pistol license or permit issued by those states. The Attorney General is required by law to publish a list of states with which Washington has reciprocity. That list is below.

To gather this information, we send out an annual survey to each state. As we obtain updated responses, we revise the list of reciprocal states and their laws.

For another state’s concealed pistol license or permit to be recognized in Washington, Washington’s reciprocity law (RCW 9.41.073) requires that the other state:

1. Recognize and give effect to concealed pistol licenses issued by Washington;
2. Not issue concealed pistol licenses or permits to persons under age 21; and
3. Require a mandatory fingerprint-based background check for criminal and mental health history. 

Washington’s law recognizing concealed pistol licenses or permits from other states is clear, unambiguous, and confers no discretion on the Attorney General or any other Washington entity to ignore or waive any of its requirements.

With certain qualifications as indicated, the following table lists the states which will recognize a Washington concealed pistol license as long as the pistol is carried in accordance with the law of the state, and from which a concealed pistol license or permit issued by those states will be recognized in Washington so long as the pistol is carried in accordance with Washington law. 

Some states may recognize a Washington concealed pistol license, even though Washington doesn't recognize theirs. If so, the pistol must be carried in accordance with the law of the state you are visiting. Be sure to check the laws of the other state before traveling there with your pistol.

This list is updated regularly, but it may not reflect very recent changes to the law. The last update was on 07/17/24.

The following table lists all of the states and the District of Columbia and indicates whether there is reciprocity between Washington and each jurisdiction and if not, why not. This list is updated regularly, but it may not reflect very recent changes to the law. The last update was on 07/17/24.