Importing and Exporting Firearms

Frequently Asked Questions

Canadian Residents

• Can I buy a firearm in another country and bring it Canada?
• Do I need an export permit to take or ship a firearm out of Canada?
• If I take a firearm out of Canada, what documents do I need to be able to bring it back into Canada?
• What do I need to do to import ammunition and ammunition components? Are there any limits to the amount of ammunition I may import?
• Can I import the parts I need to repair my firearm?
• Can I import an air soft gun?

Information for Non-residents, Including Canadian Citizens who have been Living Outside Canada

• Can a non-resident bring firearms into Canada?
• I tried to register online the firearms that I am planning to bring into Canada, but I don’t have a licence. What are my options?
• As a non-resident, can I obtain a five-year Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) and register my firearms in Canada for a longer term than 60 days?
• Do I need to complete the Non-Resident Firearms Declaration and pay the $25 fee if I have a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) and have registered my firearms in Canada?
• Is my carry permit valid in Canada?
• Is pepper spray allowed in Canada?
• I have been convicted of a DWI/DUI/criminal offence. Will this affect my ability to bring a firearm to Canada?
• Can a non-resident minor use firearms in Canada?
• I don’t own firearms but I would like to borrow one while I am visiting Canada. What do I need to do?
• I am moving to Canada. May I bring my firearms with me?

Canadian Residents

Q. Can I buy a firearm in another country and bring it Canada?

Firearm imports are controlled by the Canada Border Services Agency. As a general rule, the Firearms Act allows you to import a restricted or non-restricted firearm if you have a valid Possession and Acquisition Licence or Firearms Acquisition Certificate giving you acquisition privileges for that class of firearm. For more information, please refer to the fact sheet on importing firearms. You cannot bring a prohibited firearm into Canada as a new import even if you are licensed to acquire that class of firearm.

Please check the laws of the other country as well.

Q. Do I need an export permit to take or ship a firearm out of Canada?

If the firearm is being exported to the United States, you only need an export permit if the firearm is prohibited. When the export and import provisions in the Firearms Act and its supporting regulations come into effect, an export permit will also be required for restricted and non-restricted firearms.

An export permit is required for any class of firearm being exported to a country other than the United States, even if the export is only temporary -- for example, if you take a firearm to another country to hunt or to target shoot. When you apply for an export permit, you must include an import permit from the country of destination and from any other countries that the firearm will be travelling through en route.

To get an application and more information, please contact the Export Controls Division of the International Trade Canada at 1 800 267-8376 or (613) 996-2397, or by sending a fax to (613) 996-9933. If you send a fax, please include a mailing address where they can send an application form.

Please check with authorities of the country to which the firearms are being exported and any other countries that the firearms may be passing through, for information on requirements under their laws.

If the firearm is being exported permanently, you will need to notify the Registrar of Firearms in writing and provide evidence, such as a copy of an export document from Canada or an import document from another country, that the firearm is no longer in Canada. This can be mailed to the Canadian Firearms Registry, Canada Firearms Centre, Ottawa, ON K1A 1M6.

Q. If I take a firearm out of Canada, what documents do I need to be able to bring it back into Canada?

You need a valid firearms licence authorizing you to possess the firearm, and you need a valid registration certificate for the firearm. If the firearm is restricted or prohibited, you also need an Authorization to Transport (ATT). You can apply for an ATT by calling 1 800 731-4000. It is important to note that if you take a firearm to another country, you may need an export permit from the Export Controls Division of the Department of International Trade. A customs officer may ask to see a copy of that permit when you bring the firearm back to Canada.

Q. What do I need to do to import ammunition and ammunition components? Are there any limits to the amount of ammunition I may import?

Regular ammunition is regulated primarily by the Explosives Act, which is administered by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan). You can find more information on NRCan’s web site.

You can contact Canada Border Services Agency at 1 800 461-9999 or refer to their web site for information on declaration procedures and on applicable duty and taxes.

Q. Can I import the parts I need to repair my firearm?

All imports are controlled by the Canada Border Services Agency.As a general rule, you may import a frame/receiver of a restricted or non-restricted firearm if you have a Possession and Acquisition Licence that is valid for that class of firearm. You need to register the frame/receiver before you bring it into Canada.

You may need an import permit or an International Import Certificate from the Export Controls Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) for certain firearm parts, such as those made exclusively for a fully automatic firearm. For more information, call DFAIT at 1-;800-267-8376 or 1 613 996-2387, or send a fax to 1 613 996-9933.

Q. Can I import an air soft gun?

Air soft guns that meet the definition of a replica firearm are prohibited. Replica firearms are devices that resemble a real firearm (other than an antique firearm) with near precision but that cannot cause serious injury or death. Many of these devices have to be assessed case by case to determine if they are replicas.

Individuals cannot import replica firearms. A properly licensed business may be able to import a replica for an approved purpose such as for use in a film or theatrical production.

The Canada Border Services Agency is responsible for controlling the import of air soft guns that are not replicas -- for example, devices that resemble a generic firearm but not a specific make or model of firearm. For more information, please contact the Canada Border Services Agency.

Provincial regulations may also apply. For example, some provinces may set a minimum age for acquiring an air soft gun.

Information for Non-residents, Including Canadian Citizens who have been Living Outside Canada

Q. Can a non-resident bring firearms into Canada?

The Canada Border Services Agency is responsible for deciding whether to let a non-resident bring a firearm into Canada. As a general rule, non-residents may bring a non-restricted rifle or shotgun into Canada for approved purposes such as hunting, target shooting, wilderness protection or in-transit movement by a reasonably direct route to another point outside Canada.

Restricted firearms (mainly handguns and some semi-automatic long guns) can generally only be imported if the person can demonstrate a need for having the firearms in Canada – for example to take part in an organized target-shooting event.

For more information on the documents you will need to import a firearm, please refer to the fact sheet for firearm owners visiting Canada.

Q. I tried to register online the firearms that I am planning to bring into Canada, but I don’t have a licence. What are my options?

You can meet Canada’s licence and registration requirements by presenting a Non-resident Firearm Declaration (form 909), to a customs officer at your point of entry. If you have more than three firearms, attach the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration - Continuation Sheet (form 910) Once the customs officer has confirmed your declaration, it will serve as a temporary licence for you and a registration certificate for each firearm listed on the declaration for up to 60 days. A confirmed declaration costs a flat fee of $25 Canadian.

Q. As a non-resident, can I obtain a five-year Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) and register my firearms in Canada for a longer term than 60 days?

Yes, if you are 18 or older. To apply for a PAL, fill out form CAFC 921. With your application, please provide proof that you have passed the Canadian Firearms Safety Course. If you wish to be licensed to possess restricted firearms for an approved purpose such as target shooting, you must also include proof that you have passed the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course. If you have not yet passed the tests, you will need to do so before you apply for a PAL. A course from another country will not meet the requirements of the law. You can take the tests without taking the courses.

Before submitting the application, contact the Chief Firearms Officer of the province or territory where you will most likely be using the firearm to find out what documentation you need to provide from authorities in your country to confirm that you are not known to be a threat to public safety. The two references required to sign your application do not have to be Canadian citizens or persons in authority. An initial PAL costs $60 for non-restricted firearms only, or $80 for any combination of non-restricted and restricted firearms. The fee to renew a PAL has been waived until May 17, 2008.

Once you have obtained a licence, you can apply online to register your firearms. Alternatively, you may submit a paper application (form 998) to Central Processing Site, Box 1200, Miramichi, NB E1N 5Z3. Your firearms need to be verified by an approved verifier before they can be registered. For help to verify your firearms, call 1 800 731-4000 (Canada and the U.S.) or 1-506-624-5380 (outside Canada and the U.S.).

If you dispose of a firearm that is registered to you, please make sure to let us know by calling 1-800-731-4000 (from Canada or the US) or 1-506-624-5380 (from any other country), or send an e-mail with your name and firearms licence number, as well as the registration certificate number and a description of the firearm, to cfp-pcaf@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Q. Do I need to complete the Non-Resident Firearms Declaration and pay the $25 fee if I have a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) and have registered my firearms in Canada?

If you have your firearms licence and registration certificates with you, you just need to show those documents to the customs officer at your point of entry. Your declaration can be made orally rather than in writing and there is no fee.

Q. Is my carry permit valid in Canada?

No. As a general rule, individuals are not allowed to carry handguns for self-protection in Canada.

Q. Is pepper spray allowed in Canada?

Criminal Code Regulations prohibit Mace and similar products designed to injure, immobilize or incapacitate a person. Bear sprays and similarly devices clearly designed for protection from wild animals are allowed.

Q. I have been convicted of a DWI/DUI/criminal offence. Will this affect my ability to bring a firearm to Canada?

If you have been convicted of anything considered a criminal offence in Canada, including driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will need to get approval of rehabilitation or a temporary immigration permit from Canada’s Minister of Citizenship and Immigration before you can enter Canada.

Q. Can a non-resident minor use firearms in Canada?

A non-resident minor cannot bring a firearm to Canada, but they can use a firearm under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed adult aged 18 or older. Alternatively, they can apply for a Minors’ Licence that will allow them to borrow a non-restricted rifle or shotgun for purposes such as hunting to hunt with a properly licensed outfitter.

Q. I don’t own firearms but I would like to borrow one while I am visiting Canada. What do I need to do?

If you are over 18, you may apply for a Non-Resident Temporary Borrowing Licence for Non-Restricted Firearms (form 715) for purposes such as to hunt, to take part target shooting activities, for protection from wild animals during business or scientific activities in a wilderness area, to use in a film or theatrical production or publishing activities, or to use in a pageant or parade. You will need a sponsor associated with the intended activity, such as an outfitter or Canadian resident licensed to hunt in the province where you will be hunting. The sponsor can apply on your behalf. This licence is valid for 60 days and costs $30 Canadian.

If you are younger than 18, you may apply for a Minors’ Licence to borrow non-restricted rifles and shotguns if you have taken the Canadian Firearms Safety Course and have passed the written and practical tests for the course.

Regardless of your age, you do not need a licence to use borrowed firearms under the direct and immediate supervision of a properly licensed individual.

Q. I am moving to Canada. May I bring my firearms with me?

You may not bring a prohibited firearm to Canada. For information on what steps to take to bring other classes of firearms to Canada, please refer to the fact sheet for firearm owners moving to Canada.