Non-Resident permit · WV → PA
Is a West Virginia Non-Resident Permit Valid in Pennsylvania?
Not recognizedVerified 2026-08-08
No — leave it holstered and cased. Your West Virginia non-resident permit has no legal effect in Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania offers no permitless path for visitors either.
Why
- Pennsylvania's official reciprocity list includes West Virginia.
- The agreement covers only permits issued to West Virginia residents.
- A non-resident permit from West Virginia therefore does not qualify — the holder is not an West Virginia resident.
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 (West Virginia)
- Permit
- Concealed Handgun License (CHL)
- Issued by
- County sheriff (residents apply in their county of residence; non-residents may apply to any county sheriff)
- Issue policy
- Shall-issue
- Issued to non-residents?
- Yes — Since early-2021 law changes, non-residents may obtain a WV CHL by applying to any county sheriff of their choice with the same requirements as residents (live-fire training, fees). Provisional CHLs (18-20) are limited to WV residents.
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
Your West Virginia habits may not match Pennsylvania's law. Check these three areas before you carry there.
- 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 West Virginia non-resident permit valid in Pennsylvania?
- No — leave it holstered and cased. Your West Virginia non-resident permit has no legal effect in Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania offers no permitless path for visitors either.
- 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.
- Where does Pennsylvania publish its official reciprocity list?
- Pennsylvania 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
- 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
- WV Attorney General — Gun Reciprocity Frequently Asked Questions — accessed 2026-08-08
- WV Attorney General — On The Mark: A Guide to Concealed Handgun Laws in West Virginia (July 2024, incl. full text of W. Va. Code § 61-7-6a) — accessed 2026-08-08
- WV Attorney General — Concealed Carry Reciprocity Map, as of October 1, 2025 — accessed 2026-08-08