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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>73144</law_id><section_number>46.2-221.3</section_number><catch_line>Grace period for business credentialing for armed forces personnel returning from duty outside the United States</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">General Provisions; Department of Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="2">Department of Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Powers and Duties of Department, Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p><span class="dictionary">Owners</span> or <span class="dictionary">operators</span> of businesses and other persons licensed or credentialed in the Commonwealth by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> who have served outside of the United States in the armed services of the United States shall have a 60-day grace period, beginning on the date they are no longer serving outside the United States, during which they may reopen the business or again perform credentialed activities prior to complying with the business license, certificate, permit, or other such business and professional credential requirements of this title.
		To be eligible for the grace period, persons qualifying under this section shall:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Have held a valid license, permit, certificate, or other such business or professional credential issued by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> at the time the person began service in the armed forces outside of the United States; and <a id="paragraph-263380" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-221.3/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Not operate the business or perform credentialed activities during the period of the person&#x2019;s military service.
			Prior to reopening the business or again performing credentialed activities during the 60-day grace period, persons qualifying under this section shall notify the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> of their intentions and verify that they are in compliance with all other requirements established by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> and set forth in this title relating to their business or profession. Such persons shall have in their <span class="dictionary">possession</span>, while operating the business or performing credentialed activities, (i) <span class="dictionary">orders</span> or other military documentation demonstrating that they are entitled to the benefits of this section, and (ii) the latest license, certificate, permit, or other such business or professional credential issued to them by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>.
			For the purposes of this section &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">service in the armed services</span>&#x201D; includes active duty service with the regular Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard or other reserve component. <a id="paragraph-263381" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-221.3/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2004, c. 975.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
