We hope, by providing the
information below, those wishing to attend the Saskatoon 2008 Can-Am Police-Fire Games will find their
movement across the border with firearms a little easier.
Firearm
Users Visiting Canada
The Canada Border Services Agency is responsible
for controlling items brought into Canada. However, here is some basic
information if you wish to bring a firearm or other item regulated by the Firearms
Act into Canada.
The Firearms
Act is a federal law and applies all
across the country. Provinces may have additional requirements, especially with
respect to hunting.
You must be at least 18 years old to bring a firearm into Canada.
If you are younger
than 18, you may use a firearm in
certain circumstances, but an adult must remain responsible for the firearm.
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. Contact the
nearest Canadian embassy or consulate for more information.
Classes of
Firearms and Devices
There are three classes of firearms in Canada:
·
Non-restricted (most common rifles and shotguns): These may
generally be imported for purposes such as hunting, protection from wild
animals in remote wilderness areas where firearms are allowed, or
target-shooting. They may also be taken in transit through Canada by a
reasonably direct route.
·
Restricted: These are allowed for certain purposes, such as target
shooting at an approved club or range, but they are not allowed for hunting or
self-protection.
·
Prohibited: You cannot bring a prohibited firearm into Canada.
Some firearms are classified as restricted or prohibited under the
Criminal Code based on their general characteristics (e.g. barrel length
or caliber); other restricted and prohibited firearms are specified by name in Criminal
Code Regulations.
Some large-capacity magazines are prohibited even if the firearms
to which the magazines are attached are allowed. As a general rule, the maximum
capacity is:
·
five cartridges for most magazines designed for a centre fire
semi-automatic long gun; and
·
ten cartridges for most handgun magazines.
There is no maximum magazine capacity for other types of long
guns, including semi-automatics that discharge only rim-fire ammunition.
Replica firearms, except for replicas of antique firearms, are
prohibited and cannot be brought into Canada. Replica firearms are devices that
look exactly or almost exactly like a real firearm but that cannot discharge a
projectile or that can only discharge harmless projectiles. As a rule, to be
prohibited, a device must closely resemble an existing make and model of
firearm, not just a generic firearm. Many of these devices have to be assessed
case by case.
Devices designed exclusively for signaling purposes (e.g. flare
guns), and intended to be used solely for that purpose, are exempt from the
requirements set out below.
Licensing and
Registration Requirements
Firearm owner and users in Canada need a valid firearms licence
allowing them to possess firearms and a Canadian registration certificate for
each firearm in their possession. A licence issued under Canada’s
Firearms Act is different from a provincial hunting licence.
As a non-resident, you have two options for meeting the Canadian
licensing and registration requirements
Option 1
You can declare your firearms in writing, in triplicate, using the
Non-Resident Firearm Declaration (form CAFC 909).
If you are bringing more than three firearms, attach a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration Continuation Sheet (form CAFC 910).
Please fill out the declaration form ahead of time to save time at
the point of entry. However, wait until you arrive at the point of entry to
sign the form because a customs officer must witness your signature.
Once the customs officer has confirmed your declaration, it will
have the same effect as a licence for you and a temporary registration
certificate for all the firearms you bring to Canada. It is valid for
60 days. You can renew your declaration at no additional fee, if you renew
it before it expires, by contacting the CFO of the province or territory where
you are staying. To renew it, call 1 800 731-4000.
A confirmed declaration costs a flat fee of $25, regardless of the
number of firearms listed on it. It is only valid for the person who signs it
and for those firearms listed on the declaration. If you come with others who
will be using firearms in Canada, you will each need to meet these
requirements.
Option 2
You can apply for a five-year Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) and register your
firearms in Canada. You must wait until you get your PAL before you register
your firearms.
If you apply for a PAL, you must provide evidence that you have
passed the written and practical tests for the Canadian Firearms Safety Course. If you wish to be licensed for restricted firearms, you
must also have passed the tests for Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course. A course from your own country would not meet the
requirements of Canadian law. You can take the tests without taking the
courses.
Contact the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of the province where you will most likely be using
the firearm for information on any other documents you need to provide from
authorities in your country to assist with the background safety check.
Once you have your PAL, you can apply to register your firearms online for free or by submitting a paper application (CAFC 998). The
firearms must be verified by an
approved verifier before they are registered. Call 1-800-731-4000 (Canada and
the U.S.) or 1-506-624-5380 (outside Canada and the U.S.) for help to verify
your firearms.
If you have a valid licence and registration certificate, you will
not have to complete the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration and pay a fee.
However, you will still have to make an oral declaration to the customs
officer.
Special
Circumstances and Exceptions
In some special circumstances, such as cross-border
law-enforcement activities or Olympic events, an exemption order might be
applied under the Firearms Act and related regulations. These
circumstances are reviewed through a rigorous policy process, and can include a
number of prescriptive conditions. Exemption orders are a legislative rather
than administrative instrument that requires Cabinet review and approval; they
are developed only on an exceptional basis.
If you are participating in cross-border events, such as
historical re-enactments or other games involving the import of firearms, you
would not be eligible for a licensing or registration firearms exemption or a
fee waiver.
NOTE: The Host Committee
is examining this option. Information
and updates will be available on the website at www.saskatooncanamgames.ca.
For Firearms Borrowed
in Canada
You do not need a licence if you remain under the direct and
immediate supervision of a licensed adult (aged 18 or older).
Otherwise, you need one of the following:
·
a valid PAL (see above), or
·
a valid Temporary Firearms Borrowing Licence (for
Non-residents) (form 715).
Please note, a confirmed Non-Resident Firearms Declaration does
not currently permit you to borrow firearms in Canada.
A temporary borrowing licence will only allow you to borrow non-restricted
firearms, and only for one of the following purposes:
·
hunting under the supervision of an outfitter or other person
authorized to organize hunting services in Canada;
·
hunting with a Canadian resident who has the proper firearms
licence and hunting licence;
·
competing in a shooting competition;
·
target shooting at an approved shooting club or range;
·
taking part in an historical re-enactment or display;
·
engaging in a business or scientific activity being carried on in
a remote area where firearms are needed to control animal predators;
·
taking part in a parade, pageant or other similar event; or
·
using firearms for movie, television, video or theatrical
productions or publishing activities.
Buying or
Importing Ammunition
A valid PAL, a confirmed Non-Resident Firearm Declaration or a
Temporary Borrowing Licence (for Non-Residents) will allow you to buy
ammunition in Canada. As well, you may bring limited amounts into Canada with
you.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) is
responsible for regulating the import of ammunition under the Explosives Act.
You may contact NRCAN for information
on how much ammunition can be imported for personal use. For information on how
much ammunition can be imported duty free, please contact the Canada Border Services Agency.
Storage,
Display and Transportation
When you bring a firearm to Canada, you must comply with the Storage,
Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations.
To be able to bring a restricted firearm to Canada in person, you
will need to obtain an Authorization to Transport (ATT) from the CFO of the
province where you will be entering Canada. If you have a valid PAL and
registration certificate, you will be able to apply in advance. If you will be
bringing the firearms with you and declaring them with a Non-Resident Firearm
Declaration, you will need to wait until your declaration has been confirmed,
before you call the CFO to request an ATT.
You can reach any of the CFOs Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to
4:30 p.m. local time, by calling 1 800 731-4000. Keep these hours of operation
in mind when making your travel arrangements. If you are unable to arrange your
arrival time to coincide with the CFO office hours of operation, you may wish
to call the CFO in advance to see if you can make other arrangements to
obtain an ATT.
Fees (in
Canadian Funds)
·
A confirmed Non-Resident Firearm Declaration costs $25.
This fee covers all the firearms listed on the declaration.
·
An initial PAL costs $60 for non-restricted firearms only,
or $80 for any combination of restricted and non-restricted firearms. It is
valid for five years. The fee to renew a PAL is waived until May 17, 2008.
·
A Temporary Firearms Borrowing Licence (for Non-Residents)
costs $30.
·
There is no fee for an ATT.
·
There is no fee to register or transfer a firearm.
Information
For more information contact:
Email: cfc-cafc@cfc-cafc.gc.ca
Telephone: 1-800-731-4000
Fax: (613) 957-7325
Mail: Canada Firearms Centre
Ottawa, ON
K1A 1M6
Application forms for non-resident firearms declarations and
temporary borrowing licences may also be obtained from Canadian tourist
offices, customs offices, gun clubs and outfitters.
·
For information on the declaration process, please call the
Canada Border
Services Agency at the following
numbers:
Within Canada: 1 800 461-9999
Outside Canada: 1 204 983-3500 or 1 506 636-5064
·
For information or an application on approvals of
rehabilitation or temporary immigration permits please contact the nearest Canadian
embassy or consulate for more information. For information
on the regulations on hunting migratory birds, please contact the Canadian Wildlife Services of Environment Canada by one of the following methods:
telephone: (819) 997-2800 or 1-800-668-6767
fax: (819) 953-2225
e-mail: enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca
web site: http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/publications/reg/index_e.cfm
·
For information on hunting other types of game, please
contact the appropriate provincial or territorial authorities or refer to their
web site.
·
For information on regulations pertaining to ammunition,
please contact the Explosives Branch of Natural Resources Canada by one of the following methods:
telephone: (613) 995-8415
fax: (613) 995-0480
e-mail: canmet-erd@nrcan.gc.ca
web site: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/explosif/index.htm
This fact sheet is intended to provide general information only.
For legal references, please refer to the Firearms
Act and its regulations.
Provincial, territorial and municipal laws, regulations and
policies may also apply.
Le présent feuillet d’information est
disponible en français.
Revised June 2006