VIRGINIA · STUDENT GUIDE · CURRENT AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2026
How to Get a Virginia Concealed Handgun Permit
Virginia residents apply to the circuit court clerk where they live. The permit is good for five years, costs no more than $50, and the court must act within 45 days.
Overview
Virginia is a shall-issue state
If you meet the requirements, the court must issue the permit.
As of July 1, 2026, a resident can no longer carry concealed in Virginia on another state's permit. Active-duty service members and their spouses are excepted (SB115).
Eligibility
Who qualifies
You qualify if you are 21 or older, can legally possess a firearm, and none of the disqualifiers in Va. Code § 18.2-308.09 apply. The most common disqualifiers:
- Any status that bars you from possessing a firearm under state or federal law
- A felony conviction (generally within the past 16 years), or a pending felony charge
- Two or more misdemeanors in the past 5 years if one was Class 1 (traffic infractions and reckless driving don't count)
- A DUI or public drunkenness conviction in the past 3 years
- An assault, assault and battery, sexual battery, or brandishing conviction in the past 3 years; any stalking conviction
- A drug possession or distribution conviction, or a deferred disposition, in the past 3 years; being an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance
- Residential mental health or substance abuse treatment in the past 5 years
- An active protective order or substantial risk order
- Enrollment in the Virginia Voluntary Do Not Sell Firearms List
- A dishonorable discharge, or being a fugitive from justice
- Being a noncitizen other than a lawful permanent resident
The full list is on the VSP permit page. If you're unsure about something on your record, ask your circuit court clerk or an attorney before applying.
The Process
Steps to apply (Virginia residents)
Complete a qualifying handgun course
Pick one from the accepted training list below and keep the certificate. The course must be in person; online-only certificates are not accepted.
Download Form SP-248
Use the current version (revised 11-24-25) from the VSP website. Several clerks now reject older versions.
Fill out the form carefully
Incomplete forms are the most common cause of delays. Your Social Security number is optional. Some clerks also ask for a list of prior addresses if you've moved in the past five years.
Gather your documents
Valid photo ID issued by Virginia, the U.S. Department of Defense, or the U.S. State Department (passport), ideally showing your current address; a copy of your training certificate or other proof of competence — this will be provided by your instructor; and, if born outside the U.S., proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residence.
Check your local clerk's rules
Procedures vary by locality, and many clerks require first-time applicants to appear in person. Search "[your county] circuit court concealed handgun permit" for hours, accepted payment, and any extra requirements.
Submit the application and pay the fee
File it with the circuit court clerk in your county or city of residence.
Wait for the background check
Local law enforcement and the State Police review the application; you don't need to do anything else.
Receive your permit
The permit (or a notice of denial) is usually mailed to you. Carry it with your photo ID whenever you carry concealed, and show both if a law enforcement officer asks.
Training
Accepted proof of competence
You must show you demonstrated handgun competence in person; a permit from another state does not count. Proof never expires, and no extra test can be required. Any one of these works:
- A hunter education or hunter safety course approved by Virginia DWR or another state's equivalent agency
- An in-person course taught by a state-certified, NRA-certified, or USCCA-certified instructor (the most common route) — this will be provided by your instructor
- A public firearms safety course from a law enforcement agency, college, or training school using NRA, USCCA, or DCJS-certified instructors
- A law enforcement or security guard firearms course
- Organized shooting competition, current military service, or an honorable discharge (DD-214)
- A previous Virginia carry license that wasn't revoked for cause
- Other training the court deems adequate
The documentation can be a copy of the course certificate, an affidavit from the instructor or school, or another record showing completion.
This law would rewrite the course list to require coverage of self-defense outside the home, Virginia handgun law, and safe storage. Its training changes take effect only if the 2027 General Assembly reenacts it, so the list above still applies.
Fees
Fees and what happens after you apply
Resident fees are capped at $50 total, and the court must decide within 45 days.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Circuit court processing | $10 |
| Local law enforcement investigation | up to $35 |
| Virginia State Police processing | up to $5 |
| Total (resident) | $50 max |
| Change-of-address replacement permit | up to $10 |
| Nonresident permit (paid to VSP) | $100 |
Payment methods vary by clerk's office. Training course costs are separate.
- If 45 days pass with no decision, the clerk certifies your application and mails you a copy. That copy works as a temporary (de facto) permit for 90 days when carried with government photo ID.
- If you're denied, you'll get a written notice stating the reason. You have 21 days to request a hearing before the circuit court, and you can then petition the Court of Appeals within 60 days.
Nonresidents & Renewal
If you don't live in Virginia, or your permit's expiring
Nonresidents
Nonresidents (21+) apply by mail to the Virginia State Police, not a court. Request an application package from the Firearms Transaction Center at nonrespermit@vsp.virginia.gov. The package includes Form SP-248, a fingerprint card, and a checklist. Send it back with a photograph, your fingerprints, proof of in-person training (online certificates aren't accepted), and a $100 money order or cashier's check payable to the Virginia State Police (VSP nonresident page).
Renewal
You can renew by mail without appearing in person; the same fees and 45-day timeline apply. Apply 90 to 180 days before your permit expires so the new one starts the day the old one ends. If you move, file Form SP-248A with your issuing court for a replacement permit.
Know Before You Carry
Where you can't carry, even with a permit
- Courthouses
- K-12 school property (except inside your vehicle in the parking lot or driveway)
- Air carrier airport terminals
- Places of worship during religious services, without good and sufficient reason
- Private property where the owner prohibits it
- You may carry into a restaurant or club that serves alcohol, but you may not drink there; carrying while under the influence anywhere in public is a crime
The 2026 session added more restricted places and new rules for leaving a handgun in a vehicle (it must be out of sight in a locked container if unattended). Review the current list on the VSP site before you carry.
Ready to knock out Step 1? Book the Virginia CHP course.
Sources
Where this guide comes from
This is a general guide, not legal advice. Virginia firearm law changed significantly in 2026 and parts are still being litigated, so confirm details with your circuit court clerk or an attorney.
- Virginia State Police: Resident Concealed Handgun Permits
- Virginia State Police: Nonresident Concealed Handgun Permits
- Va. Code § 18.2-308.02: Application for a permit
- HB916 (2026): Demonstrated competence
- SB115 (2026): Reciprocity
- Hanover County Circuit Court: CHP instructions
- Arlington Circuit Court: CHP instructions
Not legal advice. This guide reflects Virginia's permitting process as currently known at the time of publishing and is a general summary — it is not guaranteed to be current. Before applying, verify current requirements directly with your circuit court clerk, the Virginia State Police, or a licensed attorney in Virginia.
NRA & USCCA affiliation. DMVCCW.com / MASC Holdings LLC is an independent training provider. Training courses, materials, and certificates offered under the National Rifle Association (NRA) curriculum or the U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) curriculum are managed as completely separate educational programs. NRA courses are taught by instructors holding valid, active NRA certifications; any non-NRA training, custom defensive courses, or state-specific CCW courses hosted on this platform are independent offerings and are not NRA-certified courses. USCCA courses are taught by instructors holding valid, active USCCA certifications, and USCCA logos and training materials are used with express permission under active instructor membership status. All corporate logos, trademarks, and brand names (including NRA and USCCA) belong to their respective owners. Use of instructor-specific badges or text credentials indicates personal instructor qualification and does not imply corporate endorsement, partnership, or sponsorship of DMVCCW.com / MASC Holdings LLC by either organization.