How to get a PAL (Possession and Acquisition Licence)
How to get a PAL firearms licence in Canada: the Canadian Firearms Safety Course and its tests, the RCMP application, references, fees, the waiting period and renewal. Every fact links to the RCMP.
By the Canada Exam Prep Editorial Team ·
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- Checked October 17, 2026
In Canada the firearms licence for adults is the Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), issued through the RCMP's Canadian Firearms Program. Getting one is mostly about safety education: first-time applicants must pass the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC), with a written test and a practical handling test, before they can apply.
This guide covers the safety course and the licence application in order: finding a course, passing the tests, preparing references and photo, applying online or by mail, the checks and waiting period, and renewal. Each step links to the RCMP page or form it comes from. It does not cover buying, selling or modifying firearms. To prepare for the written test, use the practice questions, mock exam and study guide linked below.
Step by step
Find a Canadian Firearms Safety Course
Register through your province's Chief Firearms Officer or the course provider the RCMP lists for your province, for example Firearms Safety Education Service of Ontario in Ontario or the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs in Quebec (French only).
Source: RCMP — Find a firearms safety course instructorPass the written and practical tests
The CFSC is classroom instruction followed by a written test and a practical test. It covers firearm parts and actions, basic safety, ammunition, safe handling and carry, firing techniques, care, owner responsibilities and safe storage, display and transport. Anyone 12 or older can take it.
Source: RCMP — Firearms safety courses (CFSC and CRFSC)Line up your references, photo guarantor and partner details
The adult application asks for 2 references who have known you for at least 3 years and are 18 or older (not your current partner), and a photo guarantor who has known you for at least 1 year. You also list current and former conjugal partners from the last 2 years; if they do not sign, the Chief Firearms Officer must notify them.
Source: RCMP — Application for a PAL, form RCMP GRC 5592e (2026-01)Apply online or by mail
First-time applicants can apply online if they have a valid email address, completed safety training, a digital licence photo, 2 pieces of government-issued ID and a credit card or Visa or Mastercard debit card; online you also need email addresses for your references, guarantor and partners. Everyone else applies by mail, with a handwritten signature in blue or black ink.
Source: RCMP — Apply for a firearms licenceWait for the background checks
Processing involves a variety of background checks, and in some cases in-depth investigations. There is a minimum 28-day waiting period for anyone who does not already hold a valid firearms licence, and an incomplete form delays processing.
Source: RCMP — Application for a PAL, form RCMP GRC 5592e (2026-01)Receive your PAL and keep it valid
Once you meet the eligibility criteria you are issued a PAL, valid for 5 years. Renew a still-valid licence online through Individual Web Services, or with the paper renewal form RCMP GRC 5614.
Source: RCMP — Application for a PAL, form RCMP GRC 5592e (2026-01)
Who can get it
- The PAL is the only licence available to new applicants aged 18 or older; first-time applicants must complete the Canadian Firearms Safety Course first. Source: RCMP — Firearms licences for Canadian residents
- Young people aged 12 to 17 can take the CFSC and apply for a minor's licence instead; children under 12 may attend the course for education only, without the tests. Source: RCMP — Firearms safety courses (CFSC and CRFSC)
- A PAL for non-restricted firearms requires a pass in the CFSC; a PAL for restricted firearms requires both the CFSC and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC). Source: RCMP — Application for a PAL, form RCMP GRC 5592e (2026-01)
- If you have lived in Canada for less than 5 years, you need a letter of good conduct from the police of your previous country, in English or French and issued within the last 6 months. Source: RCMP — Application for a PAL, form RCMP GRC 5592e (2026-01)
- You must answer every personal history question and pass the background checks; refusing to give the personal information requested means you will not receive a PAL. Source: RCMP — Application for a PAL, form RCMP GRC 5592e (2026-01)
What it costs
| Item | Amount | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| PAL for non-restricted firearms | $70.38 until March 30, 2027; $72.35 from March 31, 2027 | Source: RCMP — Changes to service fees |
| PAL for restricted firearms | $93.84 until March 30, 2027; $96.47 from March 31, 2027 | Source: RCMP — Changes to service fees |
| Canadian Firearms Safety Course | Not confirmed by an official source; check with the provider | Source: RCMP — Find a firearms safety course instructor |
| Licence fee for people who hunt or trap to sustain themselves or their family (non-restricted only) | May be waived; only the Chief Firearms Officer decides. The licence fee is otherwise non-refundable | Source: RCMP — Application for a PAL, form RCMP GRC 5592e (2026-01) |
Fees change. Check the amount on the official page or with the provider before you pay.
Where to take the test
With a qualified CFSC instructor in your province. The RCMP lists who to contact in each province and territory: in most, the Chief Firearms Officer's office; in Alberta, Sherwood Park Fish and Game Association; in Newfoundland and Labrador, College of the North Atlantic; in Nova Scotia, Safety Services Nova Scotia; in Ontario, Firearms Safety Education Service of Ontario; in Quebec, the Fédération québécoise des chasseurs et pêcheurs. Source: RCMP — Find a firearms safety course instructor
What to bring or have ready
- For an online application: a valid email address, proof you completed the safety training, a digital licence photo, 2 pieces of government-issued ID, a credit card or Visa or Mastercard debit card, and email addresses for your 2 references, your photo guarantor and any current or former conjugal partners. Source: RCMP — Apply for a firearms licence
- A photo taken less than 12 months ago, 45 mm by 57 mm, on a plain white or light background with a neutral expression; a digital file must be a JPG of 200 KB to 6 MB. On a paper application, you and your guarantor sign the back. Source: RCMP — Photo requirements for a firearms licence
- For a paper application: a photocopy of your Canadian Firearms Safety Course Report if you have it, the fee (never cash; make a certified cheque or money order payable to the Receiver General for Canada), your photo with the signed sticker and the signed declaration. Do not send original ID documents. Source: RCMP — Application for a PAL, form RCMP GRC 5592e (2026-01)
After you pass
Keep your Canadian Firearms Safety Course Report: a paper application asks for a photocopy of it, and you record your safety training in the application. Then complete the application with all sections filled in, sign it within 6 months of mailing, and send it to the RCMP, PO Box 1200, Miramichi NB E1N 5Z3, or apply online. Source: RCMP — Application for a PAL, form RCMP GRC 5592e (2026-01)
Validity and renewal
A PAL is valid for 5 years. Renew it before it expires, online through Individual Web Services or with form RCMP GRC 5614; do not use the new-licence form while your licence is still valid. If it has already expired, you apply for a new licence with form RCMP GRC 5592. Source: RCMP — Application for a PAL, form RCMP GRC 5592e (2026-01)
Common mistakes
- Leaving sections blank. The RCMP warns that an incomplete form delays processing, and refusing to give personal information means no licence. Source: RCMP — Application for a PAL, form RCMP GRC 5592e (2026-01)
- Sending a photo that is more than 12 months old, a photo of another photo or ID, or an altered picture. A rejected photo means a new one and a delay. Source: RCMP — Photo requirements for a firearms licence
- Naming your current spouse or partner as a reference, or a reference who has known you for less than 3 years. Source: RCMP — Application for a PAL, form RCMP GRC 5592e (2026-01)
- Using an electronic signature on a paper application. Paper forms need a handwritten signature in blue or black ink. Source: RCMP — Apply for a firearms licence
- Preparing only for the written test. The CFSC also has a practical test of safe handling, which you can only practise with an instructor and training firearms; our questions explain the steps but do not replace that practice.
Prepare for the test
Free practice written from the official material: full practice tests, a study guide, a printable sheet and a timed mock exam.
- CFSC / PAL practice tests170 original practice questions with explanations
- PAL test questions and answers (printable PDF)50 CFSC practice questions on ACTS and PROVE, ammunition, actions, carries, storage and transport, with a separate answer key. Print or save as PDF. Free.
- CFSC / PAL study guideFree CFSC / PAL study guide: 301 key points from the Canadian Firearms Safety Course Student Handbook (RCMP Canadian Firearms Program) in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.
- CFSC / PAL Mock Exam 1 – 50 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- CFSC / PAL exam simulator50 new random questions every time, full screen, no hints
We last checked the official pages on October 17, 2026. Rules and fees can change; the official source always wins.
FAQ
How to get a PAL licence: common questions
How much does a PAL licence cost?
The RCMP fee for a non-restricted PAL is $70.38 until March 30, 2027 and $72.35 from March 31, 2027. The safety course is paid separately to the course provider.
How long does it take to get a PAL?
There is a minimum 28-day waiting period for applicants who do not hold a valid firearms licence, and background checks can take longer, especially if the form is incomplete or an in-depth investigation is needed. The RCMP pages we read do not give a total processing time.
Can I apply for a PAL online?
Yes, if it is your first licence and you are at least 12, with an email address, completed safety training, a digital photo, 2 government-issued IDs and a credit card or Visa or Mastercard debit card. Otherwise you apply by mail.
How old do you have to be to get a PAL?
18 or older. People aged 12 to 17 can take the safety course and get a minor's licence, which lets them borrow and use non-restricted firearms.
What is the pass mark for the CFSC test?
The RCMP pages do not publish a pass mark or the number of questions for the written test. Ask your instructor before the course how both the written and practical tests are marked.
Will my references be contacted?
Yes. The RCMP says the conjugal partners and references you name will be contacted, so tell them in advance and give correct phone numbers or email addresses.
Keep practising
- PAL test questions and answers (printable PDF)50 CFSC practice questions on ACTS and PROVE, ammunition, actions, carries, storage and transport, with a separate answer key. Print or save as PDF. Free.
- CFSC / PAL study guide
- CFSC / PAL Mock Exam 1 – 50 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- CFSC / PAL Mock Exam 2 – 50 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- CFSC / PAL Practice Test 125 questions with explanations
- CFSC / PAL Practice Test 225 questions with explanations
- CFSC / PAL Practice Test 325 questions with explanations
Practice by topic
- Firearm history, parts and classesHow firearms evolved from the matchlock to the modern cartridge, the three major parts of a firearm, the firing sequence, long-gun action types and the three legal classes of firearms.
- The Vital Four ACTS and PROVE it safeThe four basic rules of firearm safety (ACTS), the five PROVE steps for confirming a firearm is unloaded, direct control and passing firearms open and unloaded.
- Basic safety practices and your targetLoading only for actual use, obstacles and vehicles, never relying on the safety, identifying your target and what lies beyond it, ricochets, scopes versus binoculars and secure locking devices.
- Ammunition, calibre and gaugeRifling and calibre, rim-fire and centre-fire cartridges, cartridge and shotshell components, head stamps and data stamps, shotgun gauge, chokes, shell length and the 20-gauge-in-a-12-gauge hazard.
- Ballistics, misfires and ammunition storageHow far projectiles travel, trajectory, misfires, hangfires and squib loads, the 60-second wait, jams, and how to store and carry ammunition safely.
- Actions, safeties and magazinesThe six action types, how safeties work and why they can fail, slide/tang, cross-bolt, wing, trigger-block and half-cock safeties, action releases and box and tubular magazines.
- Loading and unloading by action typeThe general unloading and loading procedures, checking the bore for obstructions, and the key steps for hinge, bolt, lever, pump and semi-automatic actions.
- Muzzleloaders and black powderBlack powder grades, why smokeless powder is never used in a muzzleloader, checking whether a muzzleloader is primed or charged, the marked ramrod, cleaning, and when a muzzleloader counts as loaded.
- Range rules, carries and field safetyRange commands and cease-fire, eye and hearing protection, firearms and vehicles, crossing fences and obstacles, zones of fire in a group and the six carrying positions.
- Firing techniques and firearm careAnticipating every shot, the four rifle shooting positions, aiming versus pointing, the master eye, breathing, trigger control and follow-through, acceptable targets and safe cleaning.
- Owner responsibilities and licensingThe PAL and Minor's Licence, safety-course rules and exceptions, renewing and address changes, lending, pointing offences, lost or stolen firearms, warning signs of violence and the ethics of firearm ownership.
- Storing, displaying and transporting firearmsThe federal rules for storing, displaying and transporting non-restricted firearms and their ammunition, unattended vehicles, remote areas and predator control, and how the rules differ for restricted firearms.