Make sure you bring proper identification. To buy a gun in Virginia, you must be 21 for handguns, 18 for rifles and shotguns, pass a background check via the Virginia Firearms Transaction Program (VFTP) (using federal Form 4473 & state Form SP-65), show valid ID, and not be prohibited by law (felonies, domestic violence, etc.)
Legal Age to Purchase or Possess a Firearm?
- A person must be at least 18 years of age to purchase a rifle or shotgun from a licensed firearms dealer. To purchase a handgun from a licensed firearms dealer, you must be at least 21 years of age, pursuant to federal law.
Legal Age to Purchase or Possess Ammunition?
- Virginia law does not address age requirements for the purchase of ammunition. Federal law requires an individual to be at least 21 years of age to purchase handgun ammunition, and at least 18 years old to purchase rifle or shotgun ammunition
Military Personnel?
- Active military personnel permanently stationed in Virginia, including the Pentagon, are treated as Virginia residents.
- Identification and residency are established by the following:
- a military photo ID issued by the United State Department of Defense
- proof that Virginia is the permanent duty station via current military assignment orders
- If permanently assigned to a mobile unit in Virginia, and the homeport is listed as Virginia; the transaction may be processed as a Virginia resident the same as any other permanent military assignment to Virginia supported by military assignment orders. The individual is treated as a non-Virginia resident if the homeport is listed as any place other than Virginia.
Purchasing a Firearm - Non-VA-Residents
- Rifles and shotguns may be purchased from licensed firearms dealers by persons who are residents of other states upon the presentation of one photo-identification form issued by a governmental agency of the purchaser's state of residence and one other form of identification determined to be acceptable by the Department of Criminal Justice Services
- The following secondary forms of ID are acceptable:
- A current lease.
- Evidence of currently paid personal property tax or real estate tax.
- A current utility or telephone bill.
- A current voter registration card.
- A current bank check.
- A current passport (must include an address).
- A current automobile registration.
- A current hunting or fishing license