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.
VirginiaConcealed Carry Permit & Reciprocity
Virginia is a shall-issue state — it is NOT a constitutional/permitless-carry state. To carry a handgun concealed you must hold a Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP); carrying a concealed handgun without a permit is a criminal offense under Va. Code § 18.2-308(A). The resident CHP is issued by the clerk of the circuit court of the applicant's county or city of residence (§§ 18.2-308.02, 18.2-308.03). Applicants must be 21 or older, must demonstrate competence with a handgun through one of several approved courses or qualifying experience (§ 18.2-308.02), and the permit is valid for five years (§ 18.2-308.010); the total resident application fee is capped at $50 (§ 18.2-308.03). Virginia issues a single permit class and a popular non-resident CHP through the Virginia Department of State Police (a five-year permit for nonresidents 21 or older, § 18.2-308.06). Open carry of a handgun is separately legal without a permit for any person 18 or older who may lawfully possess a handgun, subject to locality ordinances (§ 15.2-915). Under § 18.2-308.014 Virginia broadly recognizes valid concealed handgun/weapon permits from every other U.S. state (and DC/territories) so long as the holder is 21 or older, carries the permit and a government-issued photo ID, and displays both on demand — though a Virginia resident without a Virginia CHP may not use another state's permit within Virginia.
Virginia Virginia Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP)
- Issuing authority
- Clerk of the Circuit Court (of the applicant's county or city of residence); nonresident permits issued by the Virginia Department of State Police
- Carry regime
- shall issue
- Minimum age
- 21
- Fee
- $50
- Training
- Required
- Validity
- 5 years
Carry practicalities
Permitless carry
Not allowed
Virginia is NOT a permitless/constitutional-carry state. Carrying a handgun CONCEALED about the person requires a Concealed Handgun Permit; carrying a concealed handgun (hidden from common observation) without a permit is a criminal offense under Va. Code § 18.2-308(A) (a Class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense). Virginia is shall-issue — the circuit court must issue the CHP to a qualified applicant who is 21 or older, demonstrates competence with a handgun, and is not disqualified (§§ 18.2-308.02, 18.2-308.09). Open carry of a handgun is separately legal without a permit (see openCarry).
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Open carry
Permitless
Open carry of a handgun is legal in Virginia without a permit for any person 18 or older who may lawfully possess a handgun — no statute prohibits general open carry (§ 18.2-308 criminalizes only CONCEALED carry without a permit). Two limits apply: (1) localities may prohibit firearms in government buildings, public parks, recreation/community centers, and at or adjacent to permitted events by ordinance, with posted notice (§ 15.2-915); and (2) § 18.2-287.4 bars carrying certain loaded high-capacity semi-automatic rifles and shotguns in public places in a list of named cities and counties (Alexandria, Chesapeake, Fairfax, Falls Church, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, Virginia Beach, and Arlington, Fairfax, Henrico, Loudoun, and Prince William counties) — that section exempts CHP holders and does not reach handguns.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Duty to inform
Not required
Virginia imposes no statutory duty to proactively notify a law enforcement officer that you are armed. A CHP holder must carry the permit at all times while carrying a concealed handgun and must display the permit and a government-issued photo ID upon demand by a law enforcement officer (§ 18.2-308.01); failure to display carries only a $25 civil penalty, which a court may waive if valid credentials are later shown. There is no notify-on-contact requirement.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Off-limits locations
- K-12 school property, school buses, and school-sponsored events (a CHP holder may keep a concealed handgun in a vehicle in the parking area)
- courthouses
- air carrier (commercial) airport terminals, in the secured and non-secured areas
- state government buildings, public parks, recreation/community centers, and permitted events where the locality has adopted a prohibiting ordinance with posted notice
- the State Capitol, Capitol Square, and the surrounding restricted area
- restaurants and clubs licensed to serve alcohol on-premises — a permit does not authorize consuming an alcoholic beverage while carrying a concealed handgun there, nor carrying while under the influence
- places of worship, where local circumstances or the property owner restrict carry
- private property where the owner or lawful occupant prohibits firearms
- federal facilities and other places where federal law prohibits firearms
Curated key categories, not exhaustive. School property is restricted by § 18.2-308.1 (Class 6 felony, with a parking-lot exception for CHP holders and other enumerated exemptions); courthouses by § 18.2-283.1; air carrier airport terminals by § 18.2-287.01; locality-designated government buildings, parks, recreation centers, and permitted events by § 15.2-915. A CHP does not authorize carrying while under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or illegal drugs in a public place, nor consuming alcohol while carrying in an ABC on-premises establishment (§ 18.2-308.012). Federal facilities and private property where the owner prohibits carry are also off-limits.
official source · verified 2026-07-09
Virginia reciprocity summary
Virginia honors 49 states' permits · honored by 35 states
Where a Virginia permit is honored →Whose permits Virginia honors →
Last verified 2026-07-09 against Virginia State Police — Resident Concealed Handgun Permits.
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Virginia FAQ
- Does Virginia have constitutional carry?
- No. Virginia is a shall-issue state — a Virginia Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP) is required to carry concealed, and the issuing authority must issue one to any applicant who meets the statutory requirements.
- How much does a Virginia CHP cost?
- The CHP application fee in Virginia is $50. The total resident application fee is capped at $50 by § 18.2-308.03 — up to $10 to the clerk of court, up to $35 for the law-enforcement/FBI background investigation, and up to $5 to the State Police. The Department of State Police nonresident CHP costs up to $100 and requires fingerprints (§ 18.2-308.06).
- Does Virginia honor out-of-state concealed-carry permits?
- Virginia honors concealed-carry permits from 49 other states, subject to the qualifiers (resident-only or permit-class restrictions) noted on each reciprocity pair. See the full inbound list on the "who Virginia honors" page.
- Where is a Virginia CHP honored?
- A Virginia CHP is honored by 35 other states. See the full outbound reciprocity list for exactly which states and any resident-only or class restrictions.
- How long is a Virginia CHP valid?
- A Virginia CHP is valid for 5 years before renewal is required.