Due to a regulation review, as of July 1, 2014, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources will no longer be accepting Social Security documentation as proof of disability for the disabled lifetime licenses (resident and non-resident). The new process will require a physician’s affidavit form to be completed and returned with the application in order to qualify for these licenses. The application and physician affidavit form is available at:

• Application and Physician Affidavit for Virginia Residents
• Application and Physician Affidavit for Non-Residents

Special Lifetime hunting and fishing licenses §29.1-302.1

A. Any resident or nonresident individual may apply for and receive from the Department, after payment of the appropriate fee, any of the following lifetime licenses which shall be valid for the life of the individual, nontransferable, and permit the person to engage in the licensed activity on any property in the Commonwealth according to restrictions and regulations of law:

C. Any resident who is permanently disabled, as defined in § 58.1-3217, who applies for either of the resident lifetime licenses authorized by this section shall receive such a license for a fee. The applicant shall provide proof of permanent disability acceptable to the Director of the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.

Disability definition as defined by Code of Virginia § 58.1-3217.

Permanently and totally disabled defined-For purposes of this article, the term “permanently and totally disabled” shall mean unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment or deformity which can be expected to result in death or can be expected to last for the duration of such person’s life.