The Types of Firearms Licences in
Canada
Under the new gun laws there are various levels of Firearms
Licences. You need a licence to legally possess the firearms you
already own, to acquire new ones, to purchase ammunition and to borrow
firearms. If you possess a firearm without a licence, you are
committing criminal offences punishable by up to 5 years in prison and
your firearm will be subject to confiscation.
Possession Only (POL)
Changes to the Firearms Act in 2015 converted all existing unexpired
POLs to PALs. This type of licence is no longer available.
Non-Restricted Long Guns:
Possession & Acquisition
If you have no interest in restricted firearms (e.g. many handguns,
some military looking semi-automatic rifles) but you still wish to be
able to acquire typical sporting long guns, you will need this
Possession & Acquisition Licence (PAL).
You will be required to pass the Canadian Firearms Safety Course.
The fee is about $60 for a 5 year licence. At present the processing
time for this licence is typically a couple of months. You can download
the licence application form here.
Restricted Firearms: Possession
& Acquisition
This licence will allow you to purchase non-restricted and
restricted firearms, plus any classes of prohibited firearms that you
are eligible to acquire.
You must pass both the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course
and the Canadian Firearms Safety Course. If you completed the original
Canadian Firearms Safety Course Exam (the full one which included long
guns and handguns) between 1993-1999, you should not have to write the
current exams. The fee for this licence is about $80 for five years.
Quebec residents need to bring a separate
form to their local police when applying for this type of licence.
These licences are available to Americans
(or any foreigner) but they must meet the same conditions as Canadian
citizens.
Minor's Firearms Licence
A minor's licence permits someone under the age of 18 to possess
non-restricted firearms for the purposes of: target practice,
competition, hunting, or instruction in the use of a firearm. The
application forms for this type of licence can be obtained from the
Chief Firearms Officer in your province as they are not available
online.
Minors who are not sustenance hunters must take the Canadian
Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) and pass the exam in order to get a
possession licence. Minors who are sustenance hunters, just like any
adult, may simply challenge the exam. Minors in Ontario who wish to
hunt will want to check out the "One Stop Shopping"
course which combines the Hunter Safety Course and the CFSC into one
extended training session.
![Restricted Firearm in Canada](images/para9mm.gif) |