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Guide Intro
Last verified against the official Texas DPS reciprocity chart, Texas DPS reciprocity FAQs, Texas Government Code Chapter 411, and the current LTC-16 on March 31, 2026.
This guide is a Texas-focused travel snapshot for Texas License to Carry holders. Reciprocity changes over time, some states recognize only resident permits or only permit holders 21 and older, and recognition never lets you ignore the destination state's carry rules.
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As of March 31, 2026, the official Texas DPS reciprocity page shows 35 states that honor a Texas LTC.
Texas DPS currently shows 33 reciprocal states and 2 unilateral states that honor a Texas LTC: Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Texas Government Code Section 411.173(b) says a valid handgun license issued by any other state is recognized in Texas, but that does not mean the other state automatically recognizes a Texas LTC.
Texas DPS warns that reciprocity agreements and recognition statutes vary and should be carefully reviewed before carrying.
Think of this guide as a verified travel briefing, not a substitute for checking the destination state's official carry page before you cross the state line.
Compare
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, and Louisiana.
Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania.
South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Minnesota: Texas DPS says Minnesota recognition is unilateral and became effective April 29, 2025.
Wisconsin: Texas DPS lists Wisconsin as unilateral, meaning Wisconsin recognizes certain Texas permits but Texas does not recognize Wisconsin handgun licenses.
Texas DPS does not currently show Texas-LTC recognition in California, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, or Washington.
The DPS page also shows no agreement for American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
No agreement on the Texas page is not the same thing as a full answer to every carry question in that destination. It only means Texas DPS is not listing Texas-LTC reciprocity or recognition there.
Warning
Some states on the Texas DPS page do honor a Texas LTC, but only under conditions that matter a lot if you hold a nonresident Texas LTC or if you are under 21.
Texas DPS specifically notes resident-of-the-issuing-state and/or age-21 conditions in states such as Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
Indiana recognition on the Texas DPS page is conditioned on the holder not being a resident of Indiana.
Because Texas can issue an LTC to certain nonresidents under Government Code Section 411.173, you should never assume another state honors a nonresident Texas LTC just because it honors Texas resident licenses.
If you are 18 to 20 and you lawfully hold a Texas LTC, the destination state's age rules still control once you leave Texas.
The resident-vs-nonresident question is one of the easiest ways to make a reciprocity mistake.
Checklist
Texas DPS says that if you carry in another state under reciprocity or recognition, you must follow that state's laws, not Texas carry rules.
Recognition can differ on prohibited places, duty to inform police, vehicle carry, alcohol-related restrictions, posted-sign rules, and whether local governments can regulate carry.
A reciprocal agreement does not automatically authorize carry in every circumstance. Texas DPS says the specific agreement or statute should be reviewed carefully.
Some states may allow carry under their own permitless-carry law even when the Texas DPS page shows no reciprocity. That is a different legal basis and must be checked under that state's own law.
Do not treat "Texas LTC recognized" as shorthand for "Texas rules follow me there." They do not.
Eligibility
Texas recognizes a valid handgun license issued by any other state under Government Code Section 411.173(b).
That is why the Texas DPS page can list some states as unilateral: Texas recognizes their license, but they do not recognize a Texas LTC.
Texas DPS reciprocity FAQs say the same travel rule runs both directions: visitors in Texas must follow Texas law, and Texans in another state must follow that other state's law.
Steps
Use the Texas DPS reciprocity chart as your first screen. Confirm that the destination state currently appears as reciprocal or unilateral in Texas-LTC's favor.
Texas DPS links many state statutes and state-agency reciprocity pages directly from the chart. Read the destination state's own source, not just the Texas summary.
Make sure the destination state honors your exact license situation: Texas resident LTC, Texas nonresident LTC, age category, and any special permit designation.
Before the trip, identify where carry is prohibited in that state and whether you must notify law enforcement during a stop.
Recognition can change. Recheck the official sources close to your departure date, especially if you last looked weeks or months ago.
Location
Assuming a permitless-carry state is the same thing as Texas-LTC reciprocity.
Assuming every state that honors Texas resident permits also honors nonresident Texas permits.
Forgetting that some recognition rules are limited to holders who are 21 or older.
Relying on an old blog post, training slide, or forum chart instead of the current official state page.
Checking recognition but forgetting to check the destination state's prohibited-places and signage rules.
Most reciprocity mistakes happen in the details after the headline answer looks favorable.
Important
This guide is educational only. It is not legal advice, and TX Carry Compass is not a law firm.
Reciprocity is especially change-sensitive. A state can change recognition rules, resident-only conditions, age limits, or prohibited-place rules after this guide is published.
Before carrying in another state, verify recognition and carry rules using official state sources on or near your actual travel date.
Resources