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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67217</law_id><section_number>18.2-308.06</section_number><catch_line>Nonresident concealed handgun permits</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-308.07</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Crimes Involving Health and Safety</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="6.1">Concealed Weapons and Concealed Handgun Permits</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Nonresidents of the Commonwealth 21 years of age or older may apply in writing to the Virginia Department of State Police for a five-year permit to carry a concealed <span class="dictionary">handgun</span>. The applicant shall submit a photocopy of one valid form of photo identification issued by a governmental agency of the applicant&#x2019;s state of residency or by the U.S. Department of Defense or U.S. State Department (passport). Every applicant for a nonresident concealed <span class="dictionary">handgun</span> permit shall also submit two photographs of a type and kind specified by the Department of State Police for inclusion on the permit and shall submit fingerprints on a card provided by the Department of State Police for the purpose of obtaining the applicant&#x2019;s state or national criminal history record. As a condition for issuance of a concealed <span class="dictionary">handgun</span> permit, the applicant shall submit to fingerprinting by his local or state <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency and provide personal descriptive information to be forwarded with the fingerprints through the Central Criminal Records Exchange to the U.S. 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 <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agencies. The application shall be on a form provided by the Department of State Police, requiring only that information necessary to determine eligibility for the permit. If the permittee is later found by the Department of 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. The permit requirement and restriction provisions of subsection C of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Application for a concealed handgun permit; Virginia resident or domiciliary" href="/18.2-308.02/">18.2-308.02</a> and &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Disqualifications for a concealed handgun permit" href="/18.2-308.09/">18.2-308.09</a> shall apply, <span class="dictionary">mutatis mutandis</span>, to the provisions of this subsection. <a id="paragraph-243654" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The applicant shall demonstrate competence with a <span class="dictionary">handgun</span> in person by one of the following: <a id="paragraph-243655" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Completing a hunter education or hunter safety course approved by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources or a similar agency of another state; <a id="paragraph-243656" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#B1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Completing any National Rifle Association or United States Concealed Carry Association firearms safety or training course; <a id="paragraph-243657" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#B2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Completing any firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement agency, institution of higher education, or private or public institution or organization or firearms training school utilizing instructors certified by the National Rifle Association, the United States Concealed Carry Association, or the Department of Criminal Justice Services or a similar agency of another state; <a id="paragraph-243658" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#B3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Completing any <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement firearms safety or training course or class offered for security guards, investigators, special deputies, or any division or subdivision of <span class="dictionary">law</span> enforcement or security enforcement; <a id="paragraph-243659" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#B4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Presenting <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> 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; <a id="paragraph-243660" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#B5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Obtaining or previously having held a license to carry a firearm in the Commonwealth or a locality thereof, unless such license has been revoked for cause; <a id="paragraph-243661" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#B6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Completing any in-person firearms training or safety course or class conducted by a state-certified, National Rifle Association-certified, or United States Concealed Carry Association-certified firearms instructor; <a id="paragraph-243662" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#B7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Completing any governmental police agency firearms training course and qualifying to carry a firearm in the course of normal police duties; or <a id="paragraph-243663" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#B8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> 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 <span class="dictionary">affidavit</span> 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 that shows completion of the course or class or <span class="dictionary">evidences</span> participation in firearms competition shall satisfy the requirement for demonstration of competence with a <span class="dictionary">handgun</span>. <a id="paragraph-243664" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#B9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> The Department of State Police may charge a fee not to exceed $100 to cover the cost of the background check and issuance of the permit. Any fees collected shall be deposited in a special account to be used to offset the costs of administering the nonresident concealed <span class="dictionary">handgun</span> permit program. <a id="paragraph-243665" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> The permit to carry a concealed <span class="dictionary">handgun</span> shall contain only the following information: name, address, date of birth, gender, height, weight, color of hair, color of eyes, and photograph of the permittee; the signature of the Superintendent of the Virginia Department of State Police or his designee; the date of issuance; and the expiration date. <a id="paragraph-243666" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The Superintendent of the State Police shall promulgate regulations, pursuant to the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.), for the implementation of an application process for obtaining a nonresident concealed <span class="dictionary">handgun</span> permit. <a id="paragraph-243667" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-308.06/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2013, c. 746; 2017, c. 237; 2020, cc. 390, 958, 1130; 2023, cc. 93, 94.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
