Registration of Firearms (individuals)

Before you can register your firearms, you must have a valid firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL). If you are a non-resident and do not have a valid PAL, refer to the section for non-residents for other options.

Canadian Firearms Program

The Government has announced its intention to simplify licence requirements for firearm owners and to remove the requirement to register non-restricted firearms. However, any changes to the Firearms Act must go through a legislative process and pass in Parliament. This will take time. In the meantime, firearm owners and users are required to comply with the current law. An amnesty protects some owners of non-restricted firearms while they acquire licences and registration certificates.

Registration Checklist

• What do I need to do before using this online registration system?
• Basic information for classifying your firearm
• Browser requirements
• Proceed to secure site to register your firearms
• About this service

What do I need to do before using this online registration system?

Use this application to register firearms that have never been registered in Canada (for example, new imports) and to re-register firearms that were registered to you under the former law (prior to December 1, 1998). Newly acquired firearms that are currently registered to another individual or business in Canada will be registered to you as part of the transfer process.

Before you can register your firearms, you must have a valid firearms Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL). If you are a non-resident and do not have a valid PAL, refer to the section for non-residents for other options.

Before you register your firearms, they must also be verified by an approved verifier:

• they are being registered for the first time; or
• they are being transferred to a new owner and have not previously been verified; or
• they have been modified so that their description has changed; or
• the Registrar requests that they be verified to confirm their description or classification.

Call 1 800 731-4000 for help to verify a firearm.

When registering online, you will be required to give your firearms licence number and other personal identification information. You will also need to provide the verifier's name and identification number, the date the firearm was verified, and the firearms reference table (FRT) number provided by the verifier.

Basic Information for Classifying Your Firearm

If after reviewing the following information, you cannot determine the class of your firearm, please call 1 800 731-4000 and ask to speak with a firearms technician.

The three classes of firearms are:

• Non-restricted: an ordinary rifle, shotgun or combination gun that is not described as being restricted or prohibited.
• Restricted
• Prohibited

Browser requirements

To access the secure website you must use a web browser that supports SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) with 128-bit 'strong' encryption.

The secure website is best viewed with:

• 128-bit Microsoft Internet Explorer® (version 5.x or higher)
• 128-bit Netscape NavigatorT (version 4.77 or higher - but not version 6.x)

You can link directly to these sites to upgrade your version of browser software.

Proceed to Secure Site to Register Your Firearms

About this service

Is my information secure?
The Canadian Firearms Information System website uses the Entrust SSL Security Solution which provides secure e-commerce on the Internet. Through its
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) web certificates, the solution identifies a website and encrypts communications between the browser and web server. The Entrust SSL Security Solution delivers strong web SSL security, trusted verification of the website's identity and 128-bit SSL data encryption during browser to web server transmission. This is based on the same technology as numerous internet banking sites and offers a high level of security.

Individual and business clients are further protected by PIN and BIN passwords to access their data. There are processes in place to detect hackers and prevent them from breaking into your information. In addition image verification security has been added to some areas of the website to enhance an already secure service.

Why can't I access the online service?
If you are using Internet Explorer and receive the error message "The page cannot be displayed" please verify your browser has 128-bit 'strong' encryption .

Notice to NETSCAPE users
Please be advised that Netscape browser software has not been fully tested for compatibility with our secure website, and as such, we are unable to provide support for this product.

Notice to Web TV users
Please be advised that Web TV has not been fully tested for compatibility with our secure website, and as such, we are unable to provide support for this product.

Where do I go if I have questions?

• If you have questions about the status of your application please contact the Central Processing Site at 1 800 731-4000.
• If you have technical difficulties, please contact E-Services Technical Help Desk at 1 800 731-4000 extension 1040 - Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) - or e-mail.