he 2004 Virginia General Assembly amended § 18.2-308, Code of Virginia, to authorize nonresidents of Virginia to apply for a concealed handgun permit. Nonresidents of the Commonwealth 21 years of age or older may apply in writing to the Virginia State Police for a five-year permit to carry a concealed handgun. The application shall be made under oath before a notary or other person qualified to take oaths on a form provided by the Virginia State Police, requiring only that information necessary to determine eligibility for the permit. If the permittee is later found by the Virginia State Police to be disqualified, the permit shall be revoked and the person shall return the permit after being so notified by the Department of State Police.
§ 18.2-308 - Prohibits the carrying of any pistol, revolver, or other weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind by action of an explosion of any combustible material; any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, machete, razor, slingshot, spring stick, metal knucks, or blackjack; any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain; any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart; or any weapon of like kind by any person hidden from common observance about his person. Any of the enumerated weapons shall be seized and forfeited to the Commonwealth. A weapon shall be deemed to be hidden from common observation when it is observable but is of such deceptive appearance as to disguise the weapon's true nature.
Based on the statute and decisions rendered by the Supreme Court, a weapon is considered to be concealed at any time it is placed in a location as to be within reach of the person, without the person being required to make an overt act to retrieve such weapon, when such weapon is hidden from common observation. Placing a weapon under the seat, on the seat hidden from common observation, or at any location from which the weapon can readily be retrieved is considered to be concealed. A person carrying a weapon in the unlocked glove compartment of an automobile, if the person does not have a permit or otherwise fall within any statutory exemption, is a violation of § 18.2-308(A), unless some particular fact or circumstance renders the weapon inaccessible.
How to Apply
Request an Application Package by contacting the Virginia State Police Firearms Transaction Center in writing at the below address or on-line at
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. All written requests must include the applicant’s complete name and mailing address. A telephone number is also requested. Send written requests to:
Firearms Transaction Center
Nonresident CHP Permits
Criminal Justice Information Services Division
Department of State Police
P.O. Box 85141
Richmond, VA 23285-5141
The Application Package will include a Concealed Handgun Permit Application, requirement and qualification information, a fingerprint card, a brochure on Virginia Firearms Safety and Laws, and a return envelope for the completed application.
Exceptions to the Permit Requirement
Persons Not Qualified to Obtain a Permit
Carry and Notification Requirements
Permit Renewal
Change of Address
Replacement Permits
Permit Revocation
Where Unlawful to Carry
Appeal Procedure
Contact Us
Nonresident Concealed Handgun Permit Application
The form (SP-248 Application for Concealed Handgun Permit) will be provided in the Application Package. Additional copies may be downloaded and/or printed from this web site by visiting the Virginia State Police Forms page.
The application shall be made under oath before a notary or other person qualified to take oaths.
The application must be completed in its entirety. Illegible applications will not be processed.
Documentation of Competence with a Handgun
The applicant shall demonstrate competence with a handgun by one of the following:
- Completing a hunter education or hunter safety course approved by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries or a similar agency of another state.
- Completing any National Rifle Association firearms safety or training course.
- Completing any firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a law-enforcement agency, junior college, college, or private or public institution or organization or firearms training school utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association or the Department of Criminal Justice Services or a similar agency of another state.
- Completing any law-enforcement firearms safety or training course or class offered for security guards, investigators, special deputies, or any division or subdivision of law enforcement or security enforcement.
- Presenting evidence of equivalent experience with a firearm through participation in organized shooting competition approved by the Department of State Police or current military service or proof of an honorable discharge from any branch of the armed services.
- Obtaining or previously having held a license to carry a firearm in this Commonwealth or a locality thereof, unless such license has been revoked for cause.
- Completing any firearms training or safety course or class, including an electronic, video, or on-line course, conducted by a state-certified or National Rifle Association-certified firearms instructor.
- Completing any governmental police agency firearms training course and qualifying to carry a firearm in the course of normal police duties.
- Completing any other firearms training that the Virginia Department of State Police deems adequate.
A photocopy of a certificate of completion of any such course or class, an affidavit from the instructor, school, club, organization, or group that conducted or taught such course or class attesting to the completion of the course or class by the applicant, or a copy of any document which shows completion of the course or class or evidences participation in firearms competition shall satisfy the requirement for demonstration of competence with a handgun.
Fingerprint Based Criminal History Record Information Check
The Application Package will contain a Virginia State Police Fingerprint Card.
The applicant shall submit fingerprints on the card provided by the Virginia State Police for the purpose of obtaining the applicant's state or national criminal history record.
The Virginia State Police, Firearms Transaction Center, will submit the prints through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the purpose of obtaining criminal history record information regarding the applicant and obtaining fingerprint identification information from federal records pursuant to criminal investigations by state and local law-enforcement agencies.
Upon submission of the fingerprint impressions, the applicant will be required to provide a telephone number of the law enforcement individual taking the prints to facilitate this Department’s validation of print authenticity.
Incomplete cards will be returned to the applicant for completion.
Illegible impressions will cause the cards to be returned to the applicant for re-printing purposes.
Photograph Requirements
Every applicant for a nonresident concealed handgun permit must submit two photographs for inclusion on the permit.
Your photographs must be:
- 2 x 2 inches in width and height
- Identical
- Taken within the past 6 months.
- Color or black and white.
- Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background with the head centered in the frame. The applicant's head, including both face and hair, should be shown from the crown of the head to the tip of the chin on top and bottom and from hairline side-to-side. Side or angled views are not accepted.
- Background must be plain white or off-white. Photos with dark, busy, or patterned backgrounds will not be accepted.
- Taken in normal street attire. Uniforms should not be worn in photographs except religious attire that is worn daily. Do not wear a hat or headgear. If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture. Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons. A medical certificate may be required. A photograph depicting a person wearing a traditional facemask or veil that does not permit adequate identification is not acceptable.
- Digitally reproduced photographs must be reproduced without discernible pixels or dot patterns.
- Photocopied photographs are NOT accepted.
- Photographs will not be returned in instances of denied applications.
Proof of Identification
The applicant must provide a legible photocopy of a valid photo-ID issued by a governmental agency.
Application Fee
All completed application packages must include a money order or cashier’s check in the amount of $100.00, made payable to the Virginia State Police. Receipt of the application without payment will cause the unprocessed application package to be returned to the applicant.
The application fee is non-refundable regardless of the final determination of eligibility.
Application Check List
Assemble everything:
- Completed, signed, and notarized application.
- Money order or cashier’s check in the amount of $100.00 made payable to the Virginia State Police.
- Two photographs meeting required specifications.
- Completed fingerprint card signed by the applicant and the law enforcement individual taking the prints, and including the telephone number of the law enforcement individual taking the prints to facilitate validation of authenticity.
- Proof of training meeting required specifications.
- Photocopy of a valid photo-ID issued by a governmental agency.
- Place return address on the envelope.
- Apply appropriate postage.
Exceptions to the Permit Requirement
A permit is not necessary in the following circumstances for lawfully qualified persons:
- Any person while in his own place of abode or the curtilage thereof.
- Any person while in his own place of business.
- Any law-enforcement officer wherever such law-enforcement officer may travel in the Commonwealth.
- Any regularly enrolled member of a target shooting organization who is at, or going to or from, an established shooting range, provided that the weapons are unloaded and securely wrapped while being transported.
- Any regularly enrolled member of a weapons collecting organization who is at, or going to or from, a bona fide weapons exhibition, provided that the weapons are unloaded and securely wrapped while being transported.
- Any person carrying such weapons between his place of abode and a place of purchase or repair, provided the weapons are unloaded and securely wrapped while being transported.
- Any person actually engaged in lawful hunting, as authorized by the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries, under inclement weather conditions necessitating temporary protection of his firearm from those conditions, provided that possession of a handgun while engaged in lawful hunting shall not be construed as hunting with a handgun if the person hunting is carrying a valid concealed handgun permit.
- Any State Police officer retired from the Department of State Police, any local law-enforcement officer retired from a police department or sheriff's office within the Commonwealth, any special agent retired from the State Corporation Commission or the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, any game warden retired from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and any Virginia Marine Police officer retired from the Law Enforcement Division of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (i) with a service-related disability (ii) following at least 15 years of service with any such law-enforcement agency, board or any combination thereof; or (iii) who has reached 55 years of age, other than an officer or agent terminated by cause, provided such officer carries with him written proof of consultation with and favorable review of the need to carry a concealed handgun issued by the chief law-enforcement officer of the last such agency from which the officer retired or, in the case of special agents, issued by the State Corporation Commission or the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. A copy of the proof of consultation and favorable review shall be forwarded by the chief or the Board to the Department of State Police for entry into the Virginia Criminal Information Network. The chief law-enforcement officer shall not without cause withhold such written proof if the retired law-enforcement officer otherwise meets the requirements of this section. For purposes of applying the reciprocity, any person granted the privilege to carry a concealed handgun, while carrying the proof of consultation and favorable review required, shall be deemed to have been issued a concealed handgun permit.
Persons Not Qualified to Obtain a Permit
- An individual who is ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to §§ 18.2-308.1:1, 18.2-308.1:2 or § 18.2-308.1:3 or the substantially similar law of any other state or of the United States.
- An individual who was ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to § 18.2-308.1:1 and who was discharged from the custody of the Commissioner pursuant to § 19.2-182.7 less than five-years before the date of his application for a concealed handgun permit.
- An individual who was ineligible to possess a firearm pursuant to § 18.2-308.1:2 and whose competency or capacity was restored pursuant to former § 37.1-134.1 or § 37.1-134.16 less than five-years before the date of his application for a concealed handgun permit.
- An individual who was ineligible to possess a firearm under § 18.2-308.1:3 and who was released from commitment less than five-years before the date of this application for a concealed handgun permit.
- An individual who is subject to a restraining order or to a protective order and prohibited by § 18.2-308.1:4 from purchasing or transporting a firearm.
- An individual who is prohibited by § 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.
- An individual who has been convicted of two or more misdemeanors within the five-year period immediately preceding the application, if one of the misdemeanors was a Class 1 misdemeanor, but the agency shall have the discretion to deny a permit for two or more misdemeanors that are not Class 1. Traffic infractions or reckless driving shall not be considered for purposes of this disqualification.
- An individual who is addicted to, or is an unlawful user or distributor of, marijuana or any controlled substance.
- An individual who has been convicted of a violation of § 18.2-266 or a substantially similar local ordinance or of public drunkenness within the three-year period immediately preceding the application, or who is a habitual drunkard as determined pursuant to § 4.1-333.
- An alien other than an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States.
- An individual who has been discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States under dishonorable conditions.
- An individual who is a fugitive from justice.
- An individual, who it is alleged, in a sworn written statement submitted by the sheriff, chief of police or attorney for the Commonwealth in the opinion of such sheriff, chief of police or attorney for the Commonwealth, is likely to use a weapon unlawfully or negligently to endanger others. The statement of the sheriff, chief of police or the attorney for the Commonwealth shall be based upon personal knowledge or upon the sworn written statement of a competent person having personal knowledge.
- An individual who has been convicted of any assault, assault and battery, sexual battery, discharging of a firearm in violation of § 18.2-280 or § 18.2-286.1 or brandishing of a firearm in violation of § 18.2-282 within the three-year period immediately preceding the application.
- An individual who has been convicted of stalking.
- 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 under the laws of any state, the District of Columbia, the United States or its territories. For purposes of this disqualifier, only convictions occurring within sixteen-years following the later of the date of (i) the conviction or adjudication or (ii) release from any incarceration imposed upon such conviction or adjudication shall be deemed to be "previous convictions."
- An individual who has a felony charge pending or a charge pending for an offense listed in 14 or 15.
- An individual who has received mental health treatment or substance abuse treatment in a residential setting within five-years prior to the date of his application for a concealed handgun permit.
- An individual not otherwise ineligible pursuant to this section, who, within the three-year period immediately preceding the application for the permit, was found guilty of any criminal offense set forth in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of this title or of a criminal offense of illegal possession or distribution of marijuana or any controlled substance, under the laws of any state, the District of Columbia, or the United States or its territories.
- An individual, not otherwise ineligible pursuant to this section, with respect to whom, within the three-year period immediately preceding the application, upon a charge of any criminal offense set forth in Article 1 (§ 18.2-247 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of this title or upon a charge of illegal possession or distribution of marijuana or any controlled substance under the laws of any state, the District of Columbia, or the United States or its territories, the trial court found that the facts of the case were sufficient for a finding of guilt and disposed of the case pursuant to § 18.2-251 or the substantially similar law of any other state, the District of Columbia, or the United States or its territories.
Carry and Notification Requirements
The person to whom the permit is issued shall have such permit on his person at all times when he or she is carrying a concealed handgun in the Commonwealth and shall display the permit on demand by a law-enforcement officer. The person shall also present, upon request, a valid photo-identification issued by a government agency or by the United States Department of Defense or United States State Department.
Permit Renewal
The renewal process is identical to the processes and costs associated with the original permit, including the submission of fingerprint impressions, photos, and proof of competence with a handgun. It is suggested that all renewal application packages be submitted at least 60 days prior to expiration of the existing permit.
Request a packet for the renewal process by contacting the Virginia State Police Firearms Transaction Center in writing at the below address or on-line at
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. All written requests must include the applicant’s complete name, mailing address; telephone number and original Virginia nonresident permit file number. Send written requests to:
Firearms Transaction Center
Nonresident CHP Permits
Criminal Justice Information Services Division
Department of State Police
P.O. Box 85141
Richmond, VA 23285-5141
Change of Address
Permit holders are requested to notify the Virginia State Police, Firearms Transaction Center (FTC) of changes of address. Notification may be made in writing to the FTC at P.O. Box 85141, Richmond, VA, 23285-5141 or on-line at
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, and must include the permit file number or a photocopy of the permit. A change of address card will be provided to the permit holder, to be retained with the original permit.
Replacement Permits
A replacement permit may be requested, in writing, addressed to the FTC at P.O. Box 85141, Richmond, VA, 23285-5141. All requests for replacement must include a cashier’s check or money order in the amount of $5.00 made payable to the Virginia State Police, and one of the following:
- the permit file number
- a photocopy of the permit
- a photocopy of a valid photo-ID issued by a governmental agency
A replacement permit will have the same expiration date as the permit originally issued.
Permit Revocation
If the permittee is later found by the Virginia State Police to be disqualified, the permit shall be revoked and the person shall return the permit after being so notified by the Department of State Police.
Where Unlawful to Carry
§18.2-308 (J.3.): No person shall carry a concealed handgun onto the premises of any restaurant or club as defined in § 4.1-100 for which a license to sell and serve alcoholic beverages for on-premises consumption has been granted by the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board under Title 4.1 of the Code of Virginia, nothing herein shall prohibit any sworn law-enforcement officer from carrying a concealed handgun on the premises of such restaurant or club or any owner or event sponsor or his employees from carrying a concealed handgun while on duty at such restaurant or club if such person has a concealed handgun permit.
§18.2-308 (O.): Private property when prohibited by the owner of the property, or where posted as prohibited.
§18.2-283: To a place of worship while a meeting for religious purposes is being held at such place, without good and sufficient reason.
§18.2-283.1: Courthouse.
§18.2-308.1: School property. Exemptions to this statute include a person who has a valid concealed handgun permit and possesses a concealed handgun while in a motor vehicle in a parking lot, traffic circle, or other means of vehicular ingress or egress to the school.
§18.2-287.01: Carrying weapon in air carrier airport terminal.
Appeal Procedure
If you are denied a nonresident concealed handgun permit and do not believe that you have a previous conviction or other disqualification that renders you ineligible, you may contact the Firearms Transaction Center to discuss the ineligible determination and/or to provide additional information deemed pertinent to the final determination of eligibility.
Any person denied a permit and not satisfied with the explanation provided by the Firearms Transaction Center may appeal such denial to the Superintendent of State Police provided that any such action is initiated within 30-days of the denial by the State Police. Such appeal must be in writing, setting forth any grounds, which the applicant wishes to be considered. The Superintendent of State Police shall consider each such appeal, and will notify the applicant in writing of his decision within five (5) business days after the day on which the appeal is received.
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