CarryReciprocity

This is not legal advice.Concealed-carry reciprocity changes frequently and carries serious legal consequences. Verify current law with the destination state's official source before you carry.

New JerseyConcealed Carry Permit & Reciprocity

Compiled and verified against primary sources by CarryReciprocity. How we source & verify →

New Jersey is a may-issue-in-practice state. Since the 2022 Bruen decision it no longer requires a showing of 'justifiable need,' but a Permit to Carry a Handgun is still difficult to obtain: the applicant must be at least 21, demonstrate thorough familiarity with the safe handling and use of handguns (training plus a qualification), supply references and endorsers, pass a 'good character' review by the chief of police (or the State Police for non-residents), be fingerprinted, and pay a $200 statutory fee ($226 all-in); the permit is valid for two years. New Jersey is not a permitless-carry state and does not authorize open carry. A permit holder who is stopped or detained by police while carrying, or with a handgun in the vehicle, must immediately disclose it and display the permit. It has no reciprocity with any state and recognizes no out-of-state permits — an out-of-state permit is not valid in New Jersey. New Jersey's 2022 carry law (Ch. 131) added an extensive list of sensitive places where carry is prohibited (much of it has been in active litigation).

New Jersey New Jersey Permit to Carry a Handgun (PTC)

Issuing authority
Chief of Police (residents) / New Jersey State Police (non-residents)
Carry regime
may issue in practice
Minimum age
21
Fee
$200
Training
Required
Validity
2 years

Full New Jersey permit requirements →

Carry practicalities

Permitless carry

Not allowed

New Jersey is NOT a permitless-carry state. Carrying a handgun in public requires a New Jersey Permit to Carry a Handgun; carrying without a permit is unlawful possession (N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5). There is no constitutional/permitless carry in New Jersey.

official source · verified 2026-09-17

Open carry

Permit required

New Jersey does not authorize license-free open carry. Carrying a handgun — practically, concealed — requires a Permit to Carry a Handgun (N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4); without a permit, carrying a handgun in public is a crime.

official source · verified 2026-09-17

Duty to inform

Required

Yes, on any stop. A permit holder who is stopped or detained by a law enforcement officer while carrying a handgun in public or travelling with a handgun in a motor vehicle must (1) immediately disclose that they are carrying a handgun or that one is stored in the vehicle, and (2) display the permit (N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.4(b)). Failing to disclose is a fourth-degree crime; failing to display is a disorderly-persons offense ($100 fine) for a first offense. If detained as part of a criminal investigation, the holder must also hand the handgun to the officer for inspection on request (2C:58-4.4(c)).

official source · verified 2026-09-17

Off-limits locations

  • schools, colleges, universities, and youth/child-care facilities
  • government buildings, courthouses, police stations, and correctional facilities
  • health-care facilities, including hospitals and nursing homes
  • public transportation hubs, buses, and trains
  • bars, restaurants serving alcohol, and entertainment venues
  • public gatherings, parks, beaches, and recreation facilities
  • stadiums, arenas, casinos, libraries, museums, and zoos
  • polling places and locations of government meetings
  • private property unless the owner has expressly authorized carry
  • places where carrying a firearm is prohibited by federal law

Curated key categories, not exhaustive. New Jersey's Ch. 131 of 2022 (N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.6) sets out an extensive list of sensitive places and a default no-carry rule for private property. Much of this law has been in active federal litigation (Koons v. Platkin), so it reflects the currently effective law — re-verify before relying on a specific location.

official source · verified 2026-09-17

New Jersey formally recognizes 0 states' permits · a New Jersey permit is honored by 25 states.

New Jersey reciprocity

Where New Jersey's permit is honored

Honored — no extra conditions (24)

Honored — resident permits only (1)

Not honored (24)

You may also carry without a permit in 1 permitless-carry state, where no permit is required at all.

Full sortable table & per-state detail →

Whose permits New Jersey honors

Not honored (50)

Full detail on whose permits New Jersey honors →

Last verified 2026-09-17 against New Jersey State Police — Concealed Carry Facts & FAQs.

Verify New Jersey rules on the official page →

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New Jersey FAQ

Does New Jersey have constitutional carry?
No. New Jersey is may-issue in practice — a New Jersey Permit to Carry a Handgun (PTC) is required, and issuance involves discretion, delays, or added requirements beyond the base statutory criteria.
How much does a New Jersey PTC cost?
The PTC application fee in New Jersey is $200. $226 total for a fingerprinted applicant: $200 statutory fee + $18 background-check fee + $8 service fee (NJSP instructions, 03/2026). Fingerprinting is not repeated on renewal.
Does New Jersey honor out-of-state concealed-carry permits?
New Jersey does not currently honor any other state's concealed-carry permit — a New Jersey PTC (or permitless carry, if eligible) is required to carry in New Jersey.
Where is a New Jersey PTC honored?
A New Jersey PTC is honored by 25 other states. See the full outbound reciprocity list for exactly which states and any resident-only or class restrictions.
How long is a New Jersey PTC valid?
A New Jersey PTC is valid for 2 years before renewal is required.

Sources