Non-Resident permit · VA → TN
Is a Virginia Non-Resident Permit Valid in Tennessee?
Recognized — and permitless carry appliesVerified 2026-09-27
Yes. Tennessee recognizes the Virginia non-resident permit — and because Tennessee has permitless carry for adults 21+, a permit isn't strictly required for eligible carriers anyway.
Why
- Tennessee recognizes valid carry permits from every US state.
- Tennessee allows permitless carry for eligible adults 21+, which extends to visitors who may legally possess a handgun.
'A facially valid handgun permit, firearms permit, weapons permit or license issued by another state shall be valid in this state according to its terms' — handguns only; the permit must be in the holder's possession at all times while carrying; new Tennessee residents must obtain a TN permit within six months.
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 (Tennessee)
- 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 Tennessee
Your Virginia habits may not match Tennessee's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.
- No proactive duty. A permit holder carrying where only the permit allows it must have the permit in immediate possession and display it on demand of a law enforcement officer (TCA 39-17-1351(n)(1) and 39-17-1366(e) as amended by Public Chapter 108, 2021).
- Tennessee sets no state magazine-capacity limit for handguns.
- Tennessee allows permitless concealed carry from age 21 for people who may legally possess a handgun, including eligible visitors.
- Permit holders and permitless-qualified carriers under TCA 39-17-1307(g) may transport and store firearms in their motor vehicle in any public or private parking area, kept from ordinary observation (locked in trunk/glove box/interior when unattended) (TCA 39-17-1313).
Off-limits places in Tennessee
Tennessee bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:
- School buildings, buses, campuses and school activities (TCA 39-17-1309)
- Certain public parks, playgrounds and civic centers (TCA 39-17-1311)
Virginia vs Tennessee: what changes at the state line
Crossing from Virginia into Tennessee changes one rule: permitless carry (No → Yes (21+)).
| Rule | Virginia | Tennessee |
|---|---|---|
| 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, a Tennessee non-resident permit in Virginia: recognized — carry with your permit.
Driving on from Tennessee
How a Virginia non-resident permit fares in the states bordering Tennessee:
- Alabama — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Arkansas — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Georgia — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Kentucky — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Mississippi — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- Missouri — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
- North Carolina — Recognized — carry with your permit
Frequently asked questions
- Does Tennessee 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 a Tennessee 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 Tennessee's.
- Where does Tennessee publish its official reciprocity list?
- Tennessee 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
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Reciprocity — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Permit FAQ — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Related Laws — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Public Chapter 108 (2021) — permitless carry, vehicle carry, display-on-demand — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Public Chapter 356 (2025) — permit age lowered to 18 — accessed 2026-08-08
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Permit Fees — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Handgun Permit Types — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — How To Apply — accessed 2026-09-27
- TN Dept. of Safety & Homeland Security — Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit Training Requirements (PDF) — 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