How to Get a Hunting Licence in Ontario
Get a hunting licence in Ontario: hunter education and accreditation, the OUTDOORS Card, licences and tags, 2026 fees, and mandatory hunter reporting.
How to Start Getting a Firearms Licence (PAL) in Canada
Get a firearms licence (PAL) in Canada: pass the Canadian Firearms Safety Course, apply to the RCMP, and wait out the 28-day minimum.
Applies in: CA
A firearms licence in Canada is a federal licence. The document is the Possession and Acquisition Licence, called the PAL, issued under the Firearms Act and administered by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police through the Canadian Firearms Program. Individuals must hold a valid firearms licence to acquire and possess firearms, to acquire ammunition, cartridge magazines, or firearm parts, and to import firearms, ammunition, cartridge magazines, or firearm parts. The licence is the same document in every province and territory. What varies by province or territory is who administers it day to day: a Chief Firearms Officer in each province or territory is responsible for administration of the Firearms Act there. Quebec adds one extra form for restricted and prohibited applications, covered below.
This guide follows the RCMP route in order: choose the class, pass the safety course, gather the people and the photograph, apply, and wait. It states only what the official RCMP pages state. Where those pages state no figure, this guide states no figure and says where to confirm it.
Choose the licence class before you book a course
The class you apply for decides which course you take and which fee you pay, so settle it first. The RCMP information sheet for form 5592 defines three classes.
A non-restricted firearm is an ordinary rifle, shotgun, or combination gun that is not described as restricted or prohibited. A restricted firearm includes a handgun that is not a prohibited firearm, a semi-automatic centre-fire rifle or shotgun with a barrel length under 470 mm that is not prohibited, a rifle or shotgun that can fire when its overall length is reduced by folding, telescoping, or some other means to under 660 mm, and any firearm prescribed to be restricted, including some long guns. A prohibited firearm includes handguns with short barrels and certain calibres, altered rifles and shotguns under the stated length limits, automatic firearms and converted automatic firearms, firearms prescribed to be prohibited, unlawfully manufactured firearms, and certain semi-automatic centre-fire firearms with detachable magazines of six cartridges or more that were designed and manufactured on or after December 15, 2023.
In general, you cannot request possession and acquisition of prohibited firearms unless you already lawfully possess a prohibited firearm. If the firearm you have in mind is a restricted handgun or a prohibited handgun manufactured before 1946, the information sheet directs applicants to call 1-800-731-4000 for further information before applying. Do not assume the standard route covers those cases.
Pass the safety course first
First-time licence applicants must pass the Canadian Firearms Safety Course, the CFSC, before applying for a PAL. After the in-class instruction, you do both a written test and a practical test. Anyone 12 years or older can take the CFSC. Children under 12 can take the course for educational purposes only; they do not take the written or practical exams.
A PAL for restricted firearms needs two courses: the CFSC and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course, the CRFSC. Anyone wanting to acquire restricted firearms must also take the CRFSC and pass its written and practical tests. The CFSC covers safe handling, storage, display, and transportation of non-restricted firearms, along with firearm parts, ammunition, operating actions, and the responsibilities of the owner or user. The CRFSC covers the same ground for restricted firearms, including handgun actions and handgun firing techniques.
Register through a qualified instructor in your area, using the RCMP instructor listing. The course fee is separate from the RCMP licence fee and goes to the instructor or training provider. No course fee, course length, or pass mark is stated in this guide, because no course fee, length, or pass mark could be verified on an official RCMP page. Ask the instructor what the course costs and how long it runs before booking, and confirm the test format with the instructor rather than relying on a course seller's summary.
Keep the proof. The application asks for the province where each course was passed, the year completed, and proof attached. The information sheet checklist asks applicants to attach a photocopy of the safety course report if they have it. A photocopy is the right form of proof: the information sheet states not to send original documents or photocopies of identity documents with the application, and to provide only the information requested, while the course report is the one document the checklist expressly asks for as a photocopy.
Two narrow exceptions exist, and both are Chief Firearms Officer checks, not entitlements. In Manitoba and Quebec only, many hunter safety or similar courses taken before 1995 were approved as equal to the CFSC requirement; applicants in that position complete the alternative box on the form with the course name, and call 1-800-731-4000 if unsure. Separately, a Chief Firearms Officer can alternatively certify that a person meets the safety training requirements if the person has been in continuous possession of a firearm since January 1, 1979. And a person who passed the CFSC before February 1, 1999 is considered to have met both course requirements. If any of these describes you, raise it with the Chief Firearms Officer before applying rather than leaving the training section blank.
Line up references, a guarantor, a photograph, and identification
The application asks other people to vouch for you, and the rules for who counts are precise. Get these people lined up before you start the form, because the online route asks for their email addresses and the paper route asks for their signatures.
You need two references. A reference is anyone who has known you for at least three years and is at least 18 years old, except that your current conjugal partner cannot be a reference. Each reference signs a declaration stating they have known you for three years or more, have read the information you supplied, believe it to be accurate, and know of no reason why, in the interest of the safety of you or any other person, you should not be given a licence. Give each reference a telephone number and the times of day they can be reached, plus a street address.
You also need a photo guarantor. The guarantor confirms that the photograph you supply accurately identifies you. The guarantor must have known you for at least one year and must be at least 18 years old. Your spouse, common-law partner, or other conjugal partner can be your guarantor, and one of your references can be your guarantor. The guarantor signs the application and signs the back of the photograph.
The photograph rules are strict, and a rejected photograph delays the application. The photograph must be less than 12 months old. It must not be a photograph of another photograph or of a piece of government identification, and it must not be altered in any way. It should be clear, sharp, and in focus, without shadows, glare, or flash reflections. Use a plain light-coloured background without textures or patterns. Show a full front view of your head and shoulders, with no hat or sunglasses, and your eyes clearly visible. A digitally produced photograph must be printed on photo-quality paper. The photograph must be no larger than 45 mm by 57 mm, and your head in the photograph must be at least 30 mm high. Print your name and your guarantor's name on the sticker, have the guarantor sign it, complete the photo guarantor section of the application, affix the sticker to the back of the photograph, and enclose the photograph with the application.
For identification, the paper form asks for details of one piece of identification issued by a federal, provincial, territorial, regional, or municipal government, including the type, the issuing government, and the identification number. Examples on the information sheet include a driver's licence, a passport, a birth certificate, a citizenship certificate, a permanent resident document, and a federal, provincial, territorial, or municipal employee identification card. Providing the details authorizes the Canadian Firearms Program to verify them with the issuing agency. The online route asks for two pieces of government-issued identification. The difference is route-specific: follow the checklist for the route you use, and do not send original identity documents or photocopies of them.
Answer the personal history and partner sections fully
Every question in the personal history section must be answered. The questions cover charges, convictions, or discharges for offences involving violence, firearm misuse, possession or storage, or drug trafficking or importing; peace bonds, protection orders, and section 810 orders; prohibitions affecting you or a member of your household; threats or attempted suicide and diagnosis or treatment for depression, alcohol, drug or substance abuse, behavioural problems, or emotional problems; reports to police or social services about violence or conflict; and, in the past two years, divorce, separation, a breakdown of a significant relationship, job loss, or bankruptcy. If you answer yes to any question in the section, provide details on a separate page, with your name at the top of each attached page. If details are not provided, the application cannot be processed. A yes answer does not mean the application will be refused, but it may lead to further examination. Offences covered by a record suspension or pardon, for the offence question, do not have to be disclosed.
The conjugal partner sections cover a current spouse, common-law partner, or other conjugal partner, and any former conjugal partner within the last two years. Conjugal partner includes spouses, common-law partners, and all other persons with whom you live or have lived in a similar relationship within the last two years. The signatures of current or former conjugal partners are not legally required. However, if their signatures are not provided, the Chief Firearms Officer has a duty to notify them of the application. The form prints a safety notice in both partner sections: if you have any safety concerns about the application, call 1-800-731-4000.
If you have lived in Canada for less than five years, or you do not live in Canada, the information sheet requires a letter of good conduct issued by the local or state police of your previous country of residence. The letter must be written in English or French on the police department's official letterhead, and must have been issued within the last six months from the date of application. Attach it to the application. If you are unsure whether the letter applies to your file, call 1-800-731-4000 before mailing the form.
Apply online or by mail
The online service is open to eligible Canadian residents. To be eligible to apply online you must be a first-time applicant, meaning someone who has never had a valid firearms licence, including a minor's licence, a Possession and Acquisition Licence, a Possession Only Licence, or a Firearms Acquisition Certificate, and you must be at least 12 years of age. You must also have a valid email address, have completed the safety training requirements, have a digital licence photo, have two pieces of government-issued identification, and have a credit card or Visa or MasterCard debit card.
Adults applying online must have valid email addresses for their two references, their photo guarantor, their current conjugal partner if applicable, and their former conjugal partner if applicable. Minors aged 12 to 17 must have a valid email address for a parent or guardian. A person seeking a licence under the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada Adaptations Regulations (Firearms) must have a valid email address for an elder, leader, or adult if applicable. A person seeking a photo waiver must have a valid email address for the religious official who will attest to membership of a religion that prohibits the taking of photographs.
If you are not eligible to apply online, apply by mail on form RCMP 5592. Use that form if you are 18 or over and you are applying for a first-time licence, a new licence because your current licence has expired, a PAL for a different class of firearm, or a PAL after holding a Minor's Licence. If you pre-fill the paper form digitally, print it and sign in blue or black ink on the designated signature line: applications require a handwritten signature, and electronic signatures are not valid on paper applications. The application must be signed within six months of mailing. Mail the completed application and all attachments to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, P.O. Box 1200, Miramichi, New Brunswick, E1N 5Z3.
Do not use form 5592 to renew a firearms licence that is still valid. Renew online through Individual Web Services, or request form RCMP 5614, Application for Renewal of a Firearms Licence for an Individual, by calling 1-800-731-4000 or downloading it from the RCMP website.
If you live in Quebec and you are applying for a PAL to acquire restricted or prohibited firearms, include a completed SQ-3007 in-person filing form, available from the Sûreté du Québec website, with the English form under Formulaires.
The wait and the checks
There is a minimum 28-day waiting period for all applicants who do not presently hold a valid firearms licence. That minimum runs from the application, and no licence is issued before it passes. Beyond the minimum, no total processing time is stated on the official RCMP pages. Do not treat a course provider's timeline, or another applicant's timeline, as the RCMP's timeline. Processing involves a variety of background checks, and in some cases in-depth investigations are conducted. An incomplete form will cause delays, so the checklist at the end of the information sheet is worth working through before mailing: all relevant questions answered, all necessary signatures obtained, the fee enclosed, a separate sheet attached if additional information was needed, the photograph attached with the signed sticker on the back, a copy of the safety course report attached if you have it, and the declaration signed and dated.
To check the status of an application, consult a MyCFP account, call the Canadian Firearms Program, or submit an inquiry by fax or mail. The program states it will not respond to email inquiries about application status, and asks applicants to allow five business days for a response to faxed information. The national contact centre operates Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm nationwide, at 1-800-731-4000 within Canada and the United States, and 1-506-624-6626 outside Canada and the United States.
Fees, by the date the application is received
The fee is determined by the class of firearm you possess or intend to acquire and by the date the Canadian Firearms Program receives the application. Fees change annually on March 31 under the Service Fees Act. For applications received until March 30, 2027, the fee is $70.38 for a non-restricted PAL and $93.84 for a restricted or prohibited PAL. For applications received from March 31, 2027, the fee is $72.35 for a non-restricted PAL and $96.47 for a restricted or prohibited PAL. Upgrading an existing PAL to add restricted or prohibited privileges costs $46.92 until March 30, 2027, and $48.24 from March 31, 2027, set at half of the higher fee. The fee is non-refundable. For mailed applications, pay by certified cheque or money order payable to the Receiver General for Canada, or by credit card using the card details section of the form; do not send cash. The RCMP fees page states that payments must be made by credit card, certified cheque, or money order, and cash payments are not accepted.
One waiver exists, and it is narrow. A person who needs firearms to hunt or trap in order to sustain themselves or their family may not be required to pay the fee for a non-restricted licence. Only the Chief Firearms Officer of the province or territory can make that determination. The waiver does not apply to restricted or prohibited firearms. Checking the waiver box on the application may lead to contact from the Chief Firearms Officer, and processing of the application will be delayed while the question is decided.
Renewal, expiry, and keeping details current
A PAL is valid for a period of five years. Apply to renew before the expiry date shown on the licence, using form RCMP 5614 or the online Individual Web Services route, while the licence is still valid. If the licence has already expired, the route changes: form 5592 covers a new licence after expiry, so an expired licence is handled as a new application rather than a renewal. If an expired licence describes your situation, confirm the right form with the Canadian Firearms Program before applying, since the renewal and new-licence routes ask for different material.
Moving house or changing your name is a licence condition, not a courtesy notice. You must inform the Chief Firearms Officer of your province or territory within 30 days of any change to your name or address. Update the details online through Individual Web Services, by telephone, or by mail to the Canadian Firearms Program in Miramichi, providing your full name, firearms licence number, date of birth, old address, new address including the mailing address and physical location if different, new phone number, and the date of the move. If you own a restricted or prohibited firearm and you are moving to a new address, obtain an Authorization to Transport before moving.
Separate routes: minors, non-residents, and Indigenous applicants
A minor aged 12 to 17 applies for a Minor's Licence to borrow and use non-restricted firearms, on form RCMP 5485. Apply online if it is a first-time application, or contact the Chief Firearms Officer in the province or territory for the form. The CFSC is open to anyone 12 or older, which is the training route that sits alongside the minor's licence.
A non-resident who brings firearms into Canada completes the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration, form RCMP 5589. Print the form on legal-size paper and complete it before arriving at the border, and do not sign it until you are in the presence of a Canada Border Services Agency officer. Transporting restricted firearms also needs a valid Authorization to Transport, applied for online, through the Chief Firearms Officer of the province or territory being visited, or by mail on form RCMP 5490. A non-resident who wants to borrow a non-restricted firearm applies ahead of time for a Non-resident Temporary Borrowing Licence, form RCMP 5513, approved by the Chief Firearms Officer in the province or territory where the firearm will be borrowed. No fee or validity figure is stated for either non-resident form in this guide, because none could be verified on an official RCMP page.
Members of an Indigenous community, First Nations, Inuit, or Métis, who engage in traditional hunting practices may apply under the Aboriginal Peoples of Canada Adaptations Regulations (Firearms), on form RCMP 5642, together with form RCMP 5592 for a PAL or form RCMP 5485 for a Minor's Licence. The information sheet states three conditions: being an Indian, an Inuit, a Métis, or a beneficiary under a land claims agreement referred to in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982; being a member of an Aboriginal community; and engaging in the traditional hunting practices of that community. Contact the Canadian Firearms Program for the form and for how the regulations apply to a particular application.
What this guide does not promise
No licence outcome is promised. Passing the safety course makes a person eligible to apply; it does not issue a licence. The background checks, the partner notification duty, and the 28-day minimum all sit between the application and the licence, and a yes answer in the personal history section may lead to further examination. No course is recommended by name, because the RCMP pages name no instructor list beyond the instruction to find a qualified instructor in the area. No firearm, ammunition, storage, or transport advice is given beyond the licence process itself, because the official RCMP pages cover licensing, forms, fees, and safety training, not the storage and transport rules that apply once a licence is held. Confirm storage, display, transportation, and handling rules on the RCMP firearms safety, transport, and storage pages before acquiring or moving any firearm.
Related guides:
- How to Become a Police Officer in Canada — a separate RCMP-administered route: joining a police service, not applying for a civilian firearms licence.
- How to Become a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Border Services Officer in Canada — the border service whose officers witness the non-resident firearm declaration at the border.
- How to Start Getting a Pleasure Craft Operator Card in Canada — another federal card earned through a safety course and a test, with a different issuer and different rules.
Getting a firearms licence in Canada, in five moves
- Pick the licence class firstNon-restricted covers ordinary rifles and shotguns. Restricted adds handguns and certain semi-automatic rifles. Prohibited firearms generally cannot be newly requested unless you already lawfully possess one.
- Pass the safety courseFirst-time applicants must pass the Canadian Firearms Safety Course before applying. Restricted firearms need the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course as well. Each course ends in a written test and a practical test.
- Line up references, a guarantor, and a photoTwo references who have known you at least three years, a photo guarantor who has known you at least one year, and a current photo that meets the RCMP size and background rules.
- Apply online or by mailEligible first-time applicants apply online through the MyCFP portal. Everyone else mails form RCMP 5592 to Miramichi, New Brunswick, with a handwritten signature.
- Wait out the 28-day minimumNo licence is issued to an applicant who does not presently hold a valid licence until at least 28 days have passed. Background checks run during that period.
RCMP licence fees, by application-receipt date
| Non-restricted PAL, received until March 30, 2027 | $70.38 |
|---|---|
| Restricted or prohibited PAL, received until March 30, 2027 | $93.84 |
| Upgrade to add restricted or prohibited privileges, until March 30, 2027 | $46.92 |
| Non-restricted PAL, received from March 31, 2027 | $72.35 |
| Restricted or prohibited PAL, received from March 31, 2027 | $96.47 |
| Upgrade to add restricted or prohibited privileges, from March 31, 2027 | $48.24 |
Fees change annually on March 31 under the Service Fees Act. The fee depends on the class of firearm and the date the Canadian Firearms Program receives the application.
Questions people ask
Which course do I need: the CFSC only, or the CFSC and the CRFSC?
The CFSC alone covers a PAL for non-restricted firearms. A PAL for restricted firearms needs two courses: the CFSC and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course. The RCMP safety-courses page states that first-time applicants must pass the CFSC before applying for a PAL, and that anyone wanting to acquire restricted firearms must also take the CRFSC and pass its written and practical tests. Book the course through a qualified instructor listed by the RCMP. The course fee is separate from the RCMP licence fee and is paid to the instructor or training provider; no course fee figure is stated in this guide because no course fee could be verified on an official RCMP page.
How long does getting a PAL take, and what is the 28-day waiting period?
The 28 days is a legal minimum, not a promised turnaround. The RCMP information sheet for form 5592 states there is a minimum 28-day waiting period for all applicants who do not presently hold a valid firearms licence. No total processing time is stated on the official RCMP pages, so none is promised here. Processing involves background checks, and in some cases in-depth investigations, and the information sheet warns that an incomplete form will cause delays. Check the status of an application through a MyCFP account, by phone, or by fax or mail; the Canadian Firearms Program states it will not respond to email inquiries about application status.
Which form do I use: 5592, 5614, or the online application?
Use form RCMP 5592 if you are 18 or over and you have never had a licence, your licence has expired, you want a different privilege, or you hold a Minor's Licence and want a PAL. Use form RCMP 5614, or the online Individual Web Services route, to renew a PAL that is still valid. Do not use form 5592 to renew a licence that is still valid. The online service is open to eligible Canadian residents who are first-time applicants, meaning people who have never held a valid firearms licence of any kind, including a minor's licence, a Possession Only Licence, or a Firearms Acquisition Certificate. If you live in Quebec and you are applying for restricted or prohibited firearms, include the completed SQ-3007 in-person filing form from the Sûreté du Québec.
Who can be my reference, and who can be my photo guarantor?
A reference is anyone who has known you for at least three years and is at least 18 years old, except your current conjugal partner. Each reference signs a declaration that they have known you for three years or more and know of no safety reason you should not be given a licence. A photo guarantor confirms that the photograph accurately identifies you. The guarantor must have known you for at least one year and must be at least 18 years old. Your spouse, common-law partner, or other conjugal partner can be your guarantor, and one of your references can be your guarantor. The guarantor signs the application and signs the back of the photograph. The photograph must be less than 12 months old, no larger than 45 mm by 57 mm, with your head at least 30 mm high, on a plain light-coloured background, showing a full front view of your head and shoulders with your eyes clearly visible and no hat or sunglasses.
How much is the PAL fee, and when does it change?
The fee depends on the class of firearm and on the date the Canadian Firearms Program receives the application, and fees change annually on March 31 under the Service Fees Act. For applications received until March 30, 2027, the fee is $70.38 for a non-restricted PAL and $93.84 for a restricted or prohibited PAL. For applications received from March 31, 2027, the fee is $72.35 for a non-restricted PAL and $96.47 for a restricted or prohibited PAL. Upgrading an existing PAL to add restricted or prohibited privileges costs $46.92 until March 30, 2027, and $48.24 from March 31, 2027. The fee is non-refundable. Mailed applications pay by certified cheque or money order payable to the Receiver General for Canada, or by credit card on the form; cash is not accepted. One narrow waiver exists: a person who needs firearms to hunt or trap to sustain themselves or their family may not have to pay the non-restricted fee, but only the Chief Firearms Officer of the province or territory can make that determination, and asking for it can delay processing.
What if I am under 18, new to Canada, or visiting from outside Canada?
Three separate routes apply, and none of them uses the adult 5592 route on its own. A minor aged 12 to 17 applies for a Minor's Licence to borrow and use non-restricted firearms, on form RCMP 5485, online for a first-time application or through the Chief Firearms Officer. A person who has lived in Canada for less than five years, or who does not live in Canada, must obtain a letter of good conduct from the local or state police of the previous country of residence, written in English or French on official letterhead and issued within the last six months, and attach it to the application. A non-resident bringing firearms into Canada completes the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration, form RCMP 5589, before arriving at the border and does not sign it until in the presence of a Canada Border Services Agency officer. A non-resident who wants to borrow a non-restricted firearm applies ahead of time for a Non-resident Temporary Borrowing Licence, form RCMP 5513, approved by the Chief Firearms Officer where the firearm will be borrowed. No fee or validity figure is stated for the non-resident routes in this guide, because none could be verified on an official RCMP page.
Sources
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Apply for a firearms licence — online eligibility for first-time applicants, the mail route, the Quebec SQ-3007 requirement, the letter of good conduct note, and the handwritten-signature rule for paper applications.
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Safety courses — the CFSC requirement for first-time applicants, the CRFSC requirement for restricted firearms, written and practical tests, the age-12 course rule, and the minor's licence age range.
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Firearms forms and reports — form numbers and uses, including 5592, 5614, 5485, 5642, 5589, 5513, and SQ-3007.
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police, RCMP GRC 5592e, Information Sheet and Application for a Possession and Acquisition Licence Under the Firearms Act (for Individuals Aged 18 and Over), 2026-10 — the 28-day minimum waiting period, the five-year validity, the class definitions, the safety training rules, the reference and photo guarantor rules, the photograph specifications, the personal history and conjugal partner sections, the letter of good conduct rule, the fee tables by effective date, the mailing address, and the renewal-form distinction.
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Changes to service fees — the individual licence fee tables effective until March 30, 2027, and the new fees effective March 31, 2027, including the upgrade fee at half the higher fee.
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Contact the Canadian Firearms Program — the 30-day name and address change condition, the status-check routes, the Authorization to Transport note for owners moving house, and the Chief Firearms Officer role.
Figures deliberately left unverified in this guide, and where to confirm them: no CFSC or CRFSC pass mark is stated, because no pass mark could be verified on an official RCMP page; confirm the test standard with the course instructor or the Chief Firearms Officer. No course length or course fee is stated, because neither could be verified on an official RCMP page; confirm both with the instructor before booking. No total processing time is stated, because no total is stated on the official RCMP pages; the 28-day minimum is the only time figure carried, and application status is checked through MyCFP or by phone. No renewal-notice timing and no post-expiry grace period are stated, because neither could be verified on an official RCMP page; confirm the renewal route for an expired licence with the Canadian Firearms Program before applying. No fee or validity figure is stated for the non-resident declaration or borrowing licence, because none could be verified on an official RCMP page; confirm both on the RCMP forms pages or with the Chief Firearms Officer. Recheck the RCMP fees page and the form 5592 information sheet on the day an application is prepared, since fees change each March 31 and forms are revised.