West Virginia permit requirements

Official-source summary. Values we could not confirm are labelled, never filled with assumptions.

At a glance

Permit required to carry

Permit currently issued

Yes

Issuance structure

Constitutional

Issuing level

County

Minimum age

21 (provisional license: 18 to 20) Confirm with the issuing agency

Training

Required

Live fire

Required Confirm with the issuing agency

Application fee

Reported: Standard CHL (21+): $25.00 application/license fee + ~$25.00 fingerprint fee (~$50.00 total; fee waived for honorably discharged veterans). Provisional CHL (18-20): $25.00 fee. Confirm at the source

Permit term

5 years

Residency required

Yes. West Virginia resident for a county permit, or a non-resident who holds a valid permit from a reciprocal state. Confirm with the issuing agency

Processing time

45 days Confirm with the issuing agency

Some current details are not fully confirmed. Verify dates, fees, and requirements on the official page before relying on them.

Issuing agency: County Sheriff in applicant's county of residence

Source: West Virginia Legislature — last checked 2026-10-04

Check your status Renewing instead? Find a certified instructor in West Virginia

What to know in West Virginia

West Virginia is listed as a permitless carry state, so a permit is optional for eligible adults; the card is the Concealed Handgun License (CHL). For the optional permit, county offices handle permits, so the office you use depends on where you live. The issuing agency is County Sheriff in applicant's county of residence.

A training course is required before you apply in West Virginia. A new permit lasts 5 years.

We found no West Virginia rule that lets you keep carrying on an expired permit while a renewal is pending, so renew before the date on your card. A lost or stolen West Virginia permit is replaced with a request form sent to the issuing agency. After a move or name change, tell the issuing agency within 30 days. Confirm with the issuing agency

Official page: West Virginia Legislature · Reciprocity: where a West Virginia permit is honored

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