Firearm Owners Moving to Canada

This information is intended for Canadians who have been living out of the country and who are returning to Canada with firearms, or non-residents who are moving to Canada with firearms.

You cannot bring prohibited firearms or other prohibited items, including replica firearms, to Canada. For purposes of Canadian law, replica firearms are devices that resemble a real firearm, other than an antique firearm, with near precision but that cannot discharge projectiles or that can only discharge harmless projectiles.

Restricted firearms are only allowed for an approved purpose, such as target shooting or as part of a collection . They are not generally allowed for self-protection.

You must be at least 18 years old to be able to bring a restricted or non-restricted firearm to Canada.

Licensing and Registration Requirements

To be able to possess a firearm lawfully in Canada, you need a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) allowing you to possess that class of firearm and a valid registration certificate for the firearm.

You will probably need to wait until you arrive in Canada to apply for a PAL because, before you apply, you need to meet specific Canadian safety training requirements. A course from your own country would not meet the requirements of the law. However, as a temporary measure, you may bring the firearms to Canada and declare them in writing, using the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration (form CAFC 909). If you have more than three firearms, attach the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Continuation Sheet (form CAFC 910).

Once a customs officer has confirmed the declaration, it will have the effect of a licence for you and a registration certificate for all firearms listed on the declaration for up to 60 days, at a fee of $25 Canadian. The fee will cover all firearms listed on the declaration.

It will probably take you longer than 60 days to obtain your PAL and register your firearms, so you will need to renew your confirmed declaration before it expires. You can renew a confirmed declaration by calling the Chief Firearms Officer of the province in which you reside by calling 1 800  731-4000. There is no fee to renew a confirmed declaration.

Obtaining a PAL

To apply for a PAL, submit form CAFC 921 and include evidence that you have met the safety training requirements. Contact the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of the province where you will most likely be using the firearm for information on any other documents you need to provide from authorities in your country to assist with the background safety check.

You must also provide two references on your PAL application. It is not necessary that your references be from Canada. However, they must have known you for three years or more, and they will need to sign the form. Your spouse cannot be a reference.

Any spouses or conjugal partners with whom you have lived in the past two years must be notified or sign the application form before it will be approved.

The fee for an initial PAL is $60 for non-restricted firearms, or $80 for any combination of restricted and non-restricted firearms. A PAL must be renewed every five years for as long as you possess firearms. The fees to renew a PAL are waived until May 17, 2008.

On average, complete and accurate PAL applications are processed within 45 days, including a legislated minimum waiting period of 28 days before a licence can be issued.

Registering your Firearms

Upon receiving your PAL, your firearms must be verified by an approved verifier and registered. You will need to wait until you obtain your PAL to register your firearms.

For help to verify and register your firearms, call 1 800 731-4000 (Canada and the U.S.) or 1 506 624-5380 (outside Canada and the U.S.). There is no fee to verify or register a firearm.

If you have any questions for Canada Border Services Agency, please call them at 1 800 461-9999 (inside Canada); or, 1 (204) 983-3500 or 1 (506) 636-5064 (outside Canada).

Transporting Firearms

All firearms must be unloaded and transported in a safe and secure manner to deter loss, theft and accidents.

If you transport your firearms yourself, you will need to comply with the safe transportation rules for individuals.

If any of your firearms are restricted, you will need an Authorization to Transport (ATT) from the CFO of the province or territory where you enter Canada. You will need to show a copy of your ATT, along with your licence and registration certificate, to the customs officer.

A CFO can issue an ATT to enable you to bring a restricted firearm into Canada only if you have a valid Canadian licence and registration certificate or a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration that has been confirmed by a customs officer.

If you have a valid PAL and registration certificate, you will be able to apply in advance. If you will be bringing the firearms with you and declaring them with a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration, you will need to wait until your declaration has been confirmed, before you call the CFO to request an ATT. You can reach any of the CFOs Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time, by calling 1 800 731-4000. Keep these hours of operation in mind when making your travel arrangements. If you are unable to arrange your arrival time to coincide with the CFO office hours of operation, you may wish to call the CFO in advance to see if you can make other arrangements to obtain an ATT.

If you have your firearms shipped, they will need to be sent by licensed carrier. The firearms must be unloaded and packed in a sturdy, non-transparent container that cannot readily be broken open or into. To deter loss and theft, it is generally recommended that there be no markings on the outside of the container to indicate that there is a firearm inside. Instead, you may wish to attach an envelope labeled “customs documents” to the outside of the container, then put any documents needed to identify the contents for customs purposes inside.

Information

For more information, contact us by one of the following methods:

web site: www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca

e-mail: cfc-cafc@cfc-cafc.gc.ca

This fact sheet is intended to provide general information only. For legal references, please refer to the Firearms Act, the Criminal Code and the appropriate regulations.

Provincial, territorial and municipal laws, regulations and policies may also apply.

Le présent feuillet d’information est également disponible en français.

*All fees quoted in this document are in Canadian currency.

Revised May 2006