Is a Virginia Resident Permit Valid in Pennsylvania?

Why

• Pennsylvania's official reciprocity list includes Virginia.
• The agreement covers only permits issued to Virginia residents.

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.

Carry rules in Pennsylvania

Crossing into Pennsylvania swaps the rulebook. Here is what changes for a visiting carrier.

• 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

Pennsylvania bans carry in 3 kinds of places. The first on the list:

• 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)

See all 3 places you can't carry in Pennsylvania →

Virginia vs Pennsylvania: what changes at the state line

Crossing from Virginia into Pennsylvania changes one rule: out-of-state permits honored (All states → 30 states).

Going the other way, a Pennsylvania resident permit in Virginia: recognized — carry with your permit.

Driving on from Pennsylvania

How a Virginia resident permit fares in the states bordering Pennsylvania:

• Delaware — Not recognized
• Maryland — Not recognized
• New Jersey — Not recognized
• New York — Not recognized
• Ohio — Recognized — and permitless carry applies
• West Virginia — Recognized — and permitless carry applies

Check a whole route with the Trip Checker →

Frequently asked questions

Does Pennsylvania honor a Virginia non-resident permit?

Not recognized. That differs from the resident permit on this page, because Pennsylvania treats the two permit types differently.

Can a Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania's.

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.