Non-Resident permit · VA → AZ
Is a Virginia Non-Resident Permit Valid in Arizona?
Recognized — and permitless carry appliesVerified 2026-09-27
Carrying in Arizona is legal for you. Your Virginia non-resident permit is recognized, and Arizona additionally allows permitless concealed carry for adults 21+ for those who qualify.
Why
- Arizona recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Arizona allows permitless carry for eligible adults 21+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
A.R.S. § 13-3112(Q): Arizona recognizes any other state's permit if it is valid in the issuing state and the holder is legally present and not prohibited — no resident-only condition, so non-resident permits qualify. But out-of-state permit holders under 21 may not carry concealed in Arizona (§ 13-3112(S)).
The permit (Virginia)
- Permit
- Concealed Handgun Permit (CHP)
- Issued by
- Clerk of the circuit court of the applicant's county or city (resident permits); Virginia State Police (nonresident permits)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Nonresidents 21+ may apply in writing to the Virginia State Police for a five-year nonresident CHP (fingerprint card and demonstrated handgun competence required).
The destination (Arizona)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (21+)
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Arizona
Arizona's rules control while you're there. These are the ones travelers trip over most.
- No proactive duty, but if an officer asks whether you are carrying a concealed deadly weapon you must answer accurately (A.R.S. § 13-3102(A)(1)(b)); permit holders must present the permit for inspection on request (§ 13-3112(A), civil penalty up to $300).
- Arizona sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Arizona allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Anyone 21+ who may lawfully possess may carry a loaded handgun, concealed, in a vehicle without a permit; under-21s are limited to visible-holster or cased transport.
Off-limits places in Arizona
Arizona bans carry in 5 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- School grounds (K-12)
- Polling places on election day
Virginia vs Arizona: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Virginia into Arizona changes one rule: permitless carry (No → Yes (21+)).
| Rule | Virginia | Arizona |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | No | Yes (21+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | No |
| Magazine limit | None | None |
| Out-of-state permits honored | All states | All states |
| Open carry | Yes, no permit | Yes, no permit |
Going the other way, an Arizona non-resident permit in Virginia: recognized — carry with your permit.
Driving on from Arizona
How a Virginia non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Arizona:
- California — Not recognized
- Nevada — Recognized — carry with your permit
- New Mexico — Recognized — carry with your permit
- Utah — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does Arizona honor a Virginia resident permit?
- Recognized — and permitless carry applies. The answer is the same as for the non-resident permit on this page.
- Can an Arizona non-resident permit holder carry in Virginia?
- Recognized — carry with your permit. Reciprocity is decided by the destination state, so the answer in this direction depends on Virginia's law, not Arizona's.
- Where does Arizona publish its official reciprocity list?
- Arizona publishes its recognition policy on an official state page, linked in the sources on this page. That page is the authority — check it shortly before travel, because recognition lists change without much notice.
Official sources
- Arizona DPS — Concealed Weapons and Permits (reciprocity, non-resident applications, age) — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3112 (Arizona Legislature) — permit issuance and out-of-state permit recognition — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3102 (Arizona Legislature) — misconduct involving weapons; permitless carry, duty to answer, prohibited places — accessed 2026-08-08
- A.R.S. § 13-3111 — minors prohibited from carrying or possessing firearms (AZ Legislature) — accessed 2026-09-27
- Virginia State Police — Reciprocity and Recognition — accessed 2026-08-08
- Virginia State Police — Firearms/Concealed Weapons FAQ — accessed 2026-08-08
- Virginia State Police — Nonresident Concealed Handgun Permits — accessed 2026-08-08
- Virginia State Police — Resident Concealed Handgun Permits — accessed 2026-08-08
- Code of Virginia § 18.2-308.014 — both versions (until / from July 1, 2027), 2026 c. 879 — accessed 2026-09-27
- Virginia General Assembly — SB 115 (2026) enrolled text incl. enactment clauses 2-3 — accessed 2026-09-27
- Code of Virginia § 18.2-308.03 — Fees for resident and nonresident concealed handgun permits — accessed 2026-09-27
- Code of Virginia § 18.2-287.4 (carrying loaded firearms in public areas; both versions) — accessed 2026-09-27