Non-Resident permit · GA → PA
Is a Georgia Non-Resident Permit Valid in Pennsylvania?
No such permit is issued. Georgia restricts its carry permits to residents (georgia.gov requires applicants to be a Georgia resident and apply at the probate court (county of domicile); 18-20 only for military members with basic training completed. Out-of-state residents cannot get a WCL, but under SB 319 they may carry without one if they would otherwise qualify), so this page exists to say exactly that and point you to alternatives that Pennsylvania does recognize.
Why
- Georgia does not issue carry permits to non-residents (georgia.gov requires applicants to be a georgia resident and apply at the probate court (county of domicile); 18-20 only for military members with basic training completed. out-of-state residents cannot get a wcl, but under sb 319 they may carry without one if they would otherwise qualify).
AG rule: where Pennsylvania grants reciprocity, ONLY individuals who are both residents of the issuing state AND 21 or older may carry in Pennsylvania — non-resident permits are never recognized. Several states are recognized only for specific license classes (see overrides). Virginia became the 30th recognized state in Feb 2026. Not recognized: CA, CT, DE, DC, HI, IL, ME, MD, MA, MN, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, OR, RI, SC, VT, WA.
The permit (Georgia)
- Permit
- Georgia Weapons Carry License (WCL)
- Issued by
- Judge of the probate court of the applicant's county of domicile
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- No — Georgia.gov requires applicants to be a Georgia resident and apply at the probate court (county of domicile); 18-20 only for military members with basic training completed. Out-of-state residents cannot get a WCL, but under SB 319 they may carry without one if they would otherwise qualify.
The destination (Pennsylvania)
- Recognition policy
- Honors a named list of 30 states
- Permitless carry
- No
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Pennsylvania
Recognition is only half the question. Once you're inside Pennsylvania, its carry rules apply to you exactly as they do to locals.
- No Pennsylvania statute requires a carrier to proactively inform police; carry the license and produce it on lawful demand.
- Pennsylvania sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Pennsylvania is not a permitless-carry state: concealed carry there requires a permit Pennsylvania recognizes.
- Carrying a firearm in any vehicle, loaded or unloaded, requires a valid LTCF or a recognized reciprocal license (18 Pa.C.S. § 6106).
Off-limits places in Pennsylvania
- Court facilities (18 Pa.C.S. § 913)
- Elementary and secondary school buildings, grounds and buses (18 Pa.C.S. § 912; statutory 'other lawful purpose' defense)
- Correctional institutions and detention facilities
Frequently asked questions
- Is a Georgia non-resident permit valid in Pennsylvania?
- No such permit is issued. Georgia restricts its carry permits to residents (georgia.gov requires applicants to be a Georgia resident and apply at the probate court (county of domicile); 18-20 only for military members with basic training completed. Out-of-state residents cannot get a WCL, but under SB 319 they may carry without one if they would otherwise qualify), so this page exists to say exactly that and point you to alternatives that Pennsylvania does recognize.
- Do I have to tell police in Pennsylvania that I am carrying?
- No Pennsylvania statute requires a carrier to proactively inform police; carry the license and produce it on lawful demand.
- Does Pennsylvania limit magazine capacity?
- Pennsylvania sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Does Georgia issue non-resident carry permits?
- No. Georgia issues carry permits to residents only (georgia.gov requires applicants to be a Georgia resident and apply at the probate court (county of domicile); 18-20 only for military members with basic training completed. Out-of-state residents cannot get a WCL, but under SB 319 they may carry without one if they would otherwise qualify). Non-residents who want multi-state coverage usually obtain a non-resident permit from a state that offers one, such as those listed in our non-resident permit guide.
Official sources
- PA Office of Attorney General — Concealed Carry Reciprocity (per-state map data) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Pennsylvania State Police — Carrying Firearms in Pennsylvania — accessed 2026-08-08
- PA OAG press release — Virginia becomes 30th reciprocity state — accessed 2026-08-08
- Georgia Attorney General - Firearms License Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- Georgia.gov - Apply for a Firearms License — accessed 2026-08-08
- Georgia General Assembly House Budget & Research Office - Constitutional Carry in Georgia (SB 319 policy brief) — accessed 2026-08-08
- Georgia Department of Public Safety - Georgia's Firearm Permit Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08