Virginia Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map & Gun Laws

An applicant must:

• Be at least 21 years old;
• Reside in the county in which the application is submitted;
• Demonstrate competence with a handgun;
• Be an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States;
• Not have been dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States;
• Not be a fugitive from justice;
• Not be ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to Section 18.2-308.1:1, 18.2-308.1:2, 18.2-308.1:3, 18.2-308.1:6, 18.2-308.1:7, 18.2-308.1:8 or a similar law of any other state;
• Not be ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to Section 18.2-308.1:1 and who was discharged from the custody of the Commissioner less than 5 years before the date of this application;
• Not be ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to Section 18.2-308.1:2 and whose competency or capacity was restored less than 5 years before the date of this application;
• Not be ineligible to possess a firearm under Section 18.2-308.1:3 and who was released from commitment less than 5 years before the date of this application;
• Not be subject to a restraining order, a protective order, an emergency substantial risk order or substantial risk order and prohibited by Section 18.2-308.1:4 or Section 18.2-308.1:6 from purchasing or transporting a firearm;
• Not be prohibited by Section 18.2-308.2 from possessing or transporting a firearm, except that a permit may be obtained in accordance with subsection C of that section;
• Not have been convicted of two or more misdemeanors within the 5-year period immediately preceding the application, if one of the misdemeanors was a Class 1 misdemeanor, but the judge shall have the discretion to deny a permit for two or more misdemeanors that are not Class 1;
• Not be addicted to, or an unlawful user or distributor of, marijuana or any controlled substance;
• Not have been convicted of a violation of Section 18.2-266 or a substantially similar local ordinance, or of public drunkenness, anywhere in the United States, or its territories within the 3-year period immediately preceding the application;
• Not be an individual who the court finds is likely to use a weapon unlawfully or negligently to endanger others (The sheriff, chief of police, or attorney for the Commonwealth may submit to the court a sworn written statement indicating that the applicant is likely to use a weapon unlawfully or negligently to endanger others. The statement shall be based upon personal knowledge of such individual or of the specific acts);
• Not have been convicted of, or have a charge pending of any assault, assault and battery, sexual battery, discharging of a firearm in violation of Section 18.2-280, Section 18.2-286.1 or brandishing of a firearm within the 3-year period preceding the application;
• Not be an individual who has been convicted of, or have a charge pending of stalking;
• Not be an individual whose previous convictions or adjudications of delinquency were based on an offense which would have been at the time of conviction a felony if committed by an adult;
• Not have received mental health treatment or substance abuse treatment in a residential setting within 5 years of this application;
• Not be otherwise ineligible pursuant to this section, who, within the 3-year period prior to the application, found guilty of any criminal offense set forth in Section 18.2-247 or of a criminal offense of illegal possession or distribution of marijuana or any controlled substance;
• Not have been found guilty of any criminal offense set forth in Section 18.2-247 or a charge of illegal possession or distribution of marijuana or any controlled substance, or a substantially similar law of any other state within the 3-year period immediately preceding the application; and
• Meet federal law requirements.

In addition, as of July 1, 2021:

• Any person enrolled into the Voluntary Do Not Sell Firearms List pursuant to Chapter 12 (§ 52-50 et seq.).

*Consult with an attorney if you have any questions about your eligibility. If you don’t have an attorney, you can find one by contacting the State Bar of Virginia.

Initial and renewals for residents $50 ($15 for King William County residents)

Initial permit for non-residents $100

There are no fees for retired law enforcement officers with 15 years of service

5 years

45 days

Please note, as of June, 2021, the Virginia State Police website indicates the following.
** DUE TO A HIGH VOLUME OF APPLICATIONS, THE CURRENT PROCESSING TIME FOR NONRESIDENT CONCEALED HANDGUN PERMITS IS 5 TO 6 MONTHS.**

Link to application

Applicants who do not reside in Virginia can apply by mail. An application package can be obtained by emailing the Virginia state police at [email protected] or writing to them at the following address:

Firearms Transaction Center 
Nonresident Concealed Handgun Permits
Criminal Justice Information Services Division
Department of State Police
P.O. Box 85141 
Richmond, VA 23285-5141

The application package will provide requirement and qualification information, a Virginia State Police fingerprint card, a return envelope for the completed application and a checklist to ensure that all necessary information is provided. Further information can be viewed on the Virginia State Police Nonresident Concealed Handgun Permit webpage. 

The processing time for nonresident concealed handgun permits can be 3 to 6 months.

You must complete this form and submit it to the Firearms Transaction Center (FTC) at P.O. Box 85141, Richmond, Virginia, 23285-5141, or submit it by email to [email protected], and pay a $10 fee.

If your concealed handgun permit has been destroyed, mutilated, stolen or lost, you may apply for a replacement permit. Contact your county sheriff. Some counties have replacement applications online. The cost is $5.

Moving to Virginia and interested in applying for a resident permit? How soon can you apply?
Virginia issues resident and non-resident permits, so you can apply for your permit at any time. If you have a permit issued by a state in which Virginia has established concealed handgun permit reciprocity or recognition, it will be honored in Virginia as long as the permit remains valid regardless of the change of address. However, you should confirm the validity of the permit with the issuing agency based on the change of address.

Moving from Virginia and have a Virginia resident permit? Does that permit transfer to your new state? Is there a grace period during which your Virginia permit remains valid?
If a person with a Virginia handgun permit establishes residency in another state, the permit is valid in Virginia until it expires, provided you submit the above referenced Name/Address change form.