Massachusetts offers no general carry reciprocity and does not honor another state's license or permit for carrying a handgun. Under Section 129C, it does recognize a home-state permit, card, or license whose requirements the Colonel of State Police has determined to be substantially similar to a Massachusetts firearm identification card, allowing a non-resident to possess rifles and shotguns that are not large capacity or semi-automatic, and it honors a valid home-state hunting license for hunting in season. To carry a handgun, or to possess firearms beyond those limited exemptions, non-residents must obtain a temporary license from the Firearms Records Bureau (FRB) within the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, as provided by MGL Chapter 140, Section 131F[1].
Eligibility
Non-residents must meet the same eligibility requirements as Massachusetts residents, including not being a prohibited person under state or federal law. The applicant must have a valid firearms license or permit from their home state.
Application Process
- Submit a completed non-resident application form to the FRB[2]
- Include a copy of your current home-state firearms license or permit
- Provide two recent passport-style photographs
- Submit proof of residency in your home state
- Pay the $100 application fee
- Undergo a background check through CJIS
Duration and Renewal
The non-resident temporary LTC is generally valid for one year from the date of issue. However, certain categories of applicants — including bank employees, public utility workers, armed services members, and federally licensed manufacturers or dealers — may receive a license valid for up to two years. The license may be renewed by submitting a renewal application and fee before the expiration date. There is no limit on the number of renewals.
Limitations
The non-resident temporary LTC carries narrower rights than a resident LTC. It may not be used to purchase firearms in the Commonwealth, it is valid for one year rather than up to six, and it permits carrying a large-capacity firearm only if that entitlement is clearly indicated on the license itself. However, the FRB may impose restrictions on the license based on the specific purpose stated in the application.
Constitutional Challenge Resolved: Donnell/Marquis
The constitutionality of the non-resident licensing framework was challenged in two related cases -- Commonwealth v. Donnell and Commonwealth v. Marquis -- which reached the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
On March 11, 2025, the SJC issued its rulings in both cases.[3] In Commonwealth v. Donnell, the SJC affirmed the dismissal of charges against a New Hampshire man, holding that the pre-Bruen "may issue" non-resident licensing scheme was unconstitutional as applied. In Commonwealth v. Marquis (SJC-13562), the SJC reversed the trial court, holding that the current post-Chapter 135 "shall issue" non-resident licensing framework is constitutional under the Second Amendment.
Marquis petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court for certiorari (Docket No. 25-5280) in July 2025, and New Hampshire and 24 other states filed an amicus brief in support of the petition. In January 2026, the Supreme Court declined to hear the case.[4]
The practical effect: the current non-resident licensing framework under Section 131F is settled law. The pre-Bruen "may issue" system was struck down, but that ruling is now moot because the legislature replaced it with the current "shall issue" framework through Chapter 135. The current framework has been upheld by the state's highest court, and the U.S. Supreme Court has declined to intervene.
See also: Analysis: Impact of Bruen on Massachusetts Firearms Licensing