Firearms Licensing

Frequently Asked Questions

Canadian Firearms Program

• Is the Possession-Only Licence (POL) still available?
• How do I renew my firearms licence?
• My licence has expired but I never received a renewal application. Why not?
• What happens if I do not renew my licence?
• When I renew my Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), do I need to resend a copy of my safety training certificates?
• Can I submit a licence application online?
• How do I upgrade from a Possession-Only Licence (POL) to a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)?
• How do I upgrade my PAL so that I can acquire restricted as well as non-restricted firearms?
• I have a valid firearms licence. If I apply for a new licence to upgrade my licence privileges, do I need to pay the full licence fee for my new licence?
• How do I replace a lost, stolen or destroyed licence?
• I do not own firearms but I am storing firearms for someone else. Do I need a licence?
• Do I need to carry my licence and registration certificates with me when I take my firearms out hunting?
• If my licence application is turned down or if my licence is revoked, how do I make an appeal?
• Do the licensing and registration requirements apply to bows?
• If I have a Minor’s Licence, what do I do when I turn 18?
• If I have had a Minor’s Licence, do I need to pay for a Possession and Acquisition Licence?
• Can I use a handgun if I am a minor?

Q. Is the Possession-Only Licence (POL) still available?

The POL was only available to firearm owners aged 18 and older who applied before January 1, 2001. Individuals who have a POL may renew it if they have at least one firearm registered in their name and they apply before their licence expires. Otherwise, only the Possession and Acquisition Licence is available.

Q. How do I renew my firearms licence?

If you have a Possession-Only Licence (POL) or a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), a partially completed renewal application (form CAFC 979) will be sent to you at least 90 days before your licence expires. If you currently have a valid Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC), the form you receive will be an application for a new Possession and Acquisition Licence. (form CAFC 921). Please complete and return your application as quickly as possible to enable it to be processed before your current licence expires.

If your licence or FAC is about to expire and you have not received a form to renew or replace it, please call 1 800 731-4000 to confirm that we have your correct address on file. At the same time, you may request a form or you may download the form from our Website. If you download the form from our website, please make sure you download the correct form. Use form CAFC 979 to renew a POL or PAL that has not yet expired. Use form 921 if your licence has already expired.

If you had a POL but it expired before it was renewed, please note that you are only eligible for a PAL and must meet the safety-training requirements.

Q. My licence has expired but I never received a renewal application. Why not?

Since the Fall of 2003, application forms have been sent to every licence holder whose licence was scheduled to expire within the next 90 days. If you did not receive your application form, call 1 800 731-4000 to confirm that we have your correct address on file. You can request a form at the same time, or download a form from our Website.

It is important to notify us of any change of address. You can do this online or by calling 1 800 731-4000.

Q. What happens if I do not renew my licence?

To be able to possess firearms lawfully, you need a valid licence authorizing you to possess the firearm and a valid registration certificate for the firearm. If you only possess non-restricted firearms and did not renew your licence before it expired, an amnesty protects you from penalties under the Criminal Code until May 16, 2010. This will give you time to comply with the law.

In all other cases, if your licence expires, your registration certificates may be revoked. Therefore, it is very important to renew your licence before it expires in order to minimize the risk of penalties under the Criminal Code for illegal possession of a firearm.

If you have prohibited firearms, your grandfathering privileges to possess those firearms only apply if you continuously hold a valid registration certificate for those categories of prohibited firearms. To be able to keep your registration certificates valid, you need to keep your licence valid.

If you have a Possession-Only Licence (POL), you will be able to renew it only if you apply before it expires and you hold a valid registration certificate for at least one firearm in each class that you are licensed to possess. If your POL expires before you renew it, the only licence you will be able to get is the Possession and Acquisition Licence, which requires you to meet certain safety-training requirements.

Q. When I renew my Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), do I need to resend a copy of my safety training certificates?

You do not have to resend safety training information if you are renewing a PAL with the same acquisition privileges. If you are applying for a licence with new privileges -- for example, if you are currently licensed only for non-restricted firearms but wish also to be licensed for restricted firearms -- you will need to include proof that you have met the additional safety training requirements unless you passed the Canadian Firearms Safety Course prior to February 1999, when it included restricted firearms.

Q. Can I submit a licence application online?

It is not possible to submit a licence application online because we need original signatures and an original photo. However, the application form for a Possession and Acquisition Licence (form CAFC 921) can be downloaded and filled out electronically, then printed and mailed to our Central Processing Site.

Q. How do I upgrade from a Possession-Only Licence (POL) to a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL)?

You will need to complete and submit a new application on CAFC 921 and a new photo, as well as evidence that you have met the safety training requirements.

If you want to be licensed for restricted firearms, you must also have passed the tests for the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CFRSC). If you successfully completed the CFSC before February 1, 1999, when it included information on restricted firearms, you are deemed to have completed both courses.

If you took a firearm safety course but are not sure if it is the one you need, or if you need help in finding out where to take the tests or course and tests in your area, call 1 800 731-4000. You can generally take the tests without taking the courses.

Q. I have a valid firearms licence. If I apply for a new licence to upgrade my licence privileges, do I need to pay the full licence fee for my new licence?

The fee to upgrade from a Possession-Only Licence to a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) or to upgrade firearm privileges on a PAL has been waived until May 16, 2010.

Q. How do I upgrade my PAL so that I can acquire restricted as well as non-restricted firearms?

You will need to complete and submit a new application on form CAFC 921 and a new photo, as well as evidence that you have met the additional safety-training requirements.

If you took a firearm safety course but are not sure if it is the one you need, or if you need help in finding out where to take the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course or the tests for the course, call 1 800 731-4000. You can generally take the tests without taking the course.

Q. How do I replace a lost, stolen or destroyed licence?

To replace a lost, stolen or destroyed licence, submit a Firearms Documents Replacement Request (form CAFC 718). The replacement fee is $25 for a POL or PAL or $10 for a Minor’s Licence.

You have a legal obligation to report the loss of a firearms licence to your local police and to the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of your province or territory.

Q. I do not own firearms but I am storing firearms for someone else. Do I need a licence?

As a general rule, if you are in possession of a firearm, you need a licence even if you are not the owner and never handle the firearm. However, the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of your province may make an exception at their discretion if the CFO is satisfied that the firearms are stored in such a way that you do not have access to them -- for example, if they are securely locked in a cabinet and you do not have a key. You can contact your CFO by calling 1 800 731-4000. The registration certificates should be stored with the firearms.

Q. Do I need to carry my licence and registration certificates with me when I take my firearms out hunting?

The Criminal Code states that you must be able to produce a valid licence and registration certificate for the inspection of a peace officer if you have a firearm in your possession. If you do not have these documents with you, the peace officer may seize the firearms. If that was the only reason the firearms were seized, and you can produce the required documents for inspection within 14 days, the police are required to return the firearms to you.

Q. If my licence application is turned down or if my licence is revoked, how do I make an appeal?

You may refer the matter to a provincial court judge in your jurisdiction within 30 days of receiving the notice of refusal or revocation (or by any other date allowed by the judge.) Please contact the court for procedures on how to make a reference. The phone number should be in your phone book.

Q. Do the licensing and registration requirements apply to bows?

Crossbows that can be aimed and fired with one hand and crossbows with an overall length of 500 mm (about 19.68 inches) or less are prohibited. Individuals cannot lawfully possess a prohibited crossbow. Licensed businesses may possess prohibited crossbows for a purpose set out in section 22 of the Firearms Licence Regulations for businesses.

Businesses and individuals do not need a licence or registration certificate under the Firearms Act to possess other types of bows, including crossbows that are longer than 500 mm and require the use of two hands.

If you plan to use a bow for hunting, you may need a hunting licence and there may be restrictions on the size and type of bow that may be used under provincial hunting regulations. For example, some provinces do not allow crossbows for hunting. For more information, please contact the applicable provincial government department. Information may be available on their web site.

Q. If I have a Minor’s Licence, what do I do when I turn 18?

Once you have turned 18, you can apply for a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) by completing and submitting form CAFC 921. This form can be filled out electronically, then printed and mailed to us with your photo and original signatures. If you cannot download the form from our web site, call 1 800 731-4000 and one will be mailed to you.

Since you had to pass the Canadian Firearms Safety Course to get your Minors’ Licence, you do not have to pass it again to get a PAL for non-restricted firearms. However, if you want to be licensed for restricted firearms (mainly handguns), you will have to pass the tests for the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course before you apply for a PAL.

Once you have your PAL, you can acquire firearms of your own. The firearms will be registered to you during the transfer process.

Q. If I have had a Minor’s Licence, do I need to pay for a Possession and Acquisition Licence?

Yes. Everyone has to pay for their first Possession and Acquisition Licence unless a Chief Firearms Officer has waived the fee because of the person’s need to hunt to sustain themselves or their family.

Q. Can I use a handgun if I am a minor?

The Minor’s Licence is only valid for non-restricted rifles and shotguns, but you may use a handgun if you are under the direct and immediate supervision of someone licensed to possess that class of firearm.