Non-Resident permit · VA → MO
Is a Virginia Non-Resident Permit Valid in Missouri?
Recognized — and permitless carry appliesVerified 2026-08-08
You're covered either way. Missouri honors Virginia non-resident permits, and its permitless-carry law also lets eligible visitors carry without any permit at all.
Why
- Missouri recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Missouri allows permitless carry, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
RSMo 571.107.1 gives 'a concealed carry endorsement or permit issued by another state or political subdivision of another state' the same statewide effect as a Missouri permit; the AG confirms Missouri recognizes permits from every state that issues them. No issuing-state residency condition.
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 (Missouri)
- Recognition policy
- Honors permits from all states
- Permitless carry
- Yes
- Duty to inform
- No (present permit on demand)
- Magazine limit
- No state limit
Carry rules in Missouri
Carry law is state law. From the moment you enter Missouri, these rules replace the ones you know from Virginia.
- No proactive duty to inform. Permit holders must carry the permit plus photo ID and display them on a peace officer's request (RSMo 571.121); failure is a civil citation up to $35, not a crime.
- Missouri sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Missouri allows permitless concealed carry for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Any person 19+ (18 if military or honorably discharged) may carry a loaded concealable firearm in the passenger compartment of a vehicle without a permit (RSMo 571.030.3).
Off-limits places in Missouri
- Police, sheriff or highway patrol stations
- Within 25 feet of a polling place on election day
- Adult or juvenile detention facilities, prisons and jails
- Courthouses and courtrooms
- Schools, school buses and school functions
- Churches and places where people assemble for worship
Frequently asked questions
- Is a Virginia non-resident permit valid in Missouri?
- You're covered either way. Missouri honors Virginia non-resident permits, and its permitless-carry law also lets eligible visitors carry without any permit at all.
- Do I have to tell police in Missouri that I am carrying?
- No proactive duty to inform. Permit holders must carry the permit plus photo ID and display them on a peace officer's request (RSMo 571.121); failure is a civil citation up to $35, not a crime.
- Does Missouri limit magazine capacity?
- Missouri sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Can I carry in Missouri without any permit?
- Missouri allows permitless concealed carry for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Where does Missouri publish its official reciprocity list?
- Missouri 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
- Missouri Attorney General — Concealed Carry Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- RSMo 571.101 — Concealed carry permits, application requirements — accessed 2026-08-08
- RSMo 571.030 — Unlawful use of weapons, exceptions — accessed 2026-08-08
- RSMo 571.107 — Permit does not authorize concealed firearms, where — accessed 2026-08-08
- RSMo 571.121 — Duty to carry and display permit — 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