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LOS ANGELES, CA — As of April 23, 2025, California has officially opened its concealed carry permit application process to nonresidents. This change follows legal action brought by the California Rifle & Pistol Association (CRPA) in CRPA v. LASD, which successfully challenged the state’s longstanding refusal to allow nonresidents to apply for a California concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit.
The ruling does not establish reciprocity—California still does not recognize permits issued by other states—but it does mandate that nonresidents must be given the opportunity to apply for a California CCW permit under specific guidelines.
Several counties have already updated their websites to reflect this change and are actively accepting applications:
Key Requirements for Nonresident Applicants:
- Membership Requirement: Applicants must be a member of CRPA, the Second Amendment Foundation, Gun Owners of America, or Gun Owners of California.
- Jurisdictional Application: Applicants must apply through the sheriff or police chief of a California county or city they intend to visit within the next 12 months. Each jurisdiction may have different processing times, requirements, and fees.
- Application Portal: Most departments offer online CCW application portals. Nonresidents may enter their home state’s driver’s license or ID number in place of a California-specific ID.
- Residency Verification: Applicants must provide proof of current residence, such as a state-issued ID with current address, utility bills, or a home-state CCW permit.
- Remote Interviews and Fingerprinting: The required police interview may be conducted via video, and fingerprints may be submitted by mail using FBI Form FD-258.
- Training Requirements: Applicants must complete a 16-hour training course. While local departments have approved instructor lists, online courses approved by any department in California are also acceptable.
- Live-Fire Qualification: Applicants must qualify with each handgun they intend to carry. Local departments must approve live-fire instructors within 75 miles of the applicant’s residence or provide alternatives.
- Psychological Exam: Some jurisdictions require psychological evaluations. These may be done virtually unless an in-person provider is available within 75 miles. CRPA advises avoiding departments that mandate this due to additional costs.
- Compliance with California Gun Laws: Carried handguns must comply with California law—including restrictions on threaded barrels and magazine capacity limits (10 rounds or fewer).
- Restricted Locations: Even with a valid permit, carry is prohibited in certain “sensitive places.” Some SB2 restrictions have been blocked, but others remain in effect.
Once approved, nonresident CCW permits will be mailed to the applicant’s provided address.
In the five years I’ve lived in Nevada, I haven’t stepped foot in California once. That said, I may be heading there later this year—and since it’s right next door, I figured it’s a good time to apply for a non-resident CCW permit. Not only will it allow me to legally carry if I end up going, but it also gives me a chance to walk you through the process and see how long it actually takes. I’ll be starting the application soon and will post updates along the way on our social media channels, so make sure to follow along to see how it all plays out.
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This is a significant shift in policy and marks a win for Second Amendment advocates who argue that the right to self-defense should not end at state borders. While the process remains more involved than in many other states, applicants no longer need to be California residents—or travel there—to begin the process.
Stay tuned as more jurisdictions update their policies and systems to accommodate nonresident applicants in the coming weeks.
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