Non-Resident permit · VA → AR
Is a Virginia Non-Resident Permit Valid in Arkansas?
Recognized — and permitless carry appliesVerified 2026-09-27
Yes. Arkansas recognizes the Virginia non-resident permit — and because Arkansas has permitless carry for adults 18+, a permit isn't strictly required for eligible carriers anyway.
Why
- Arkansas recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Arkansas allows permitless carry for eligible adults 18+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
Since Aug 16, 2013 Arkansas 'acknowledges all concealed handgun carry licenses lawfully issued by another state' (§ 5-73-321) — the statute covers any license issued to the person by another state, with no resident-only condition; out-of-state licensees are subject to Arkansas restrictions.
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 (Arkansas)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes (18+)
- Duty to inform
- Yes — proactive
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Arkansas
Your Virginia habits may not match Arkansas's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.
- Arkansas imposes a duty to inform: you must tell an officer you are carrying. ASP rule (Code of Arkansas Rules, CHCL): a licensee carrying a handgun who is asked by an officer for identification must present the CHCL AND notify the officer of the handgun — even if the officer never asks about weapons. No notification is required if not carrying, and § 5-73-315(b)(2) separately requires displaying the license on demand.
- Arkansas sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Arkansas allows permitless concealed carry from age 18 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- A loaded handgun may be carried in a private vehicle without a license — § 5-73-120(c)(1) presumes lawful purpose in one's own vehicle, and lawful carry extends to vehicles generally absent unlawful intent.
Off-limits places in Arkansas
Arkansas bans carry in 6 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- K-12 school property, school buses and designated bus stops
- Courthouses, courtrooms and county offices
Virginia vs Arkansas: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Virginia into Arkansas changes 2 rules: permitless carry (No → Yes (18+)); duty to inform police (No → Yes).
| Rule | Virginia | Arkansas |
|---|---|---|
| Permitless carry | No | Yes (18+) |
| Duty to inform police | No | Yes |
| 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 Arkansas non-resident permit in Virginia: no such permit issued.
Driving on from Arkansas
How a Virginia non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Arkansas:
- Louisiana — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Mississippi — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Missouri — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Oklahoma — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Tennessee — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Texas — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
Frequently asked questions
- Does Arkansas 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 Arkansas non-resident permit holder carry in Virginia?
- Arkansas does not issue non-resident carry permits, so there is no such permit to carry in Virginia.
- Where does Arkansas publish its official reciprocity list?
- Arkansas 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
- Arkansas State Police — Concealed Handgun Carry Licensing (recognition of all states since 2013) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ASP — Arkansas Concealed Handgun Carry Licensing Code §§ 5-73-301–329 (eligibility, § 5-73-321 recognition, § 5-73-315) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ASP — Weapons Possession and Use Code §§ 5-73-101–133 (Aug 1, 2025; § 5-73-120 permitless carry, § 5-73-119) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ASP — Locations Where Possession of a Handgun is Prohibited (July 31, 2023) — accessed 2026-08-08
- ASP — Code of Arkansas Rules, CHCL (July 8, 2025; notification duty on ID request) — accessed 2026-08-08
- 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