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:

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.

Read the original story: Now Everyone Can Pack in California — Out-of-Staters Finally Allowed to Apply for Concealed Carry Permits