CANADIAN FIREARMS LICENCES · EXPLAINED
PAL and RPAL costs and timelines
Plan your licence budget with current government fees, separate training costs and a realistic view of course availability, paperwork and review time.
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06 / PLAN THE JOURNEY
One process. Several separate costs and waiting stages.
A clear budget and a realistic schedule are more useful than a headline price or an optimistic completion date.
- 01Provider quote
- 02Government fee
- 03Documents & review
01 / COSTS & TIMELINES
Your budget has separate parts
There is no single national all-in course price. Ask for a written quote that separates CFSC, CRFSC, tests, materials and retests. Online preparation is optional and separate from approved training.
02 / COSTS & TIMELINES
A useful budget has named line items
Instead of searching for one “PAL price,” make a small budget with a training quote, the applicable government fee and your own likely extras. This shows which costs are fixed by the licensing route and which depend on the provider or your circumstances.
For a combined CFSC and CRFSC booking, ask for the total for both courses and assessments. If you choose non-restricted training now and upgrade later, compare the later training and upgrade application rather than assuming the only extra cost will be a second class.
BUDGET EXAMPLE
A course advertisement lists a single price
A learner sees a course price but does not know whether it includes the manual, exam administration or result paperwork. They request a written breakdown and separately add the government licence fee, a photo and travel. They leave a line for optional preparation instead of treating it as required certification.
03 / COSTS & TIMELINES
Current federal licence fees
| Application | Current fee | From March 31, 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Non-restricted PAL | $70.38 | $72.35 |
| PAL with restricted privileges | $93.84 | $96.47 |
| Upgrade existing PAL privileges | $46.92 | $48.24 |
For a first application with restricted privileges, the higher licence fee applies; you do not add the non-restricted fee to it. Course prices are separate. Fees change annually, so check the amount applicable when the application is received.
A non-restricted fee waiver can apply to qualifying sustenance hunters, as determined by the CFO. It is not a general discount for everyone who hunts.
04 / COSTS & TIMELINES
Why there is no single completion date
Find a place
Local course dates and availability determine when you can start.
Complete instruction and exams
Your booking schedule may span one or more days.
Receive the official reports
Ask about any provincial result-processing step.
Submit a complete application
Photo or contact problems can hold things up.
Government review and delivery
Applicants without a currently valid licence have a minimum 28-day waiting period. Actual processing can take longer.
05 / COSTS & TIMELINES
28 days is a minimum, not a promise
Do not book a hunt or make plans requiring your new licence on the assumption that it will arrive in 28 days. The review includes background checks, and some cases need further investigation.
Keep your submission confirmation and follow the status instructions supplied by the CFP. If something is missing, respond through the official application channel.
06 / COSTS & TIMELINES
Costs after the licence
Think beyond the application: suitable storage, any range membership or orientation, transportation equipment and future renewal can add costs. You can complete training and hold a licence without immediately buying a firearm.
Plan the responsibilities before ownership07 / COSTS & TIMELINES
Separate the time you control from the time you do not
You can prepare these early
Identify your local training route, arrange a day you can fully attend and ask when reports are issued. Read the application requirements while you are waiting for the booking.
Contacts and supporting documents can take coordination. A quick class booking does not guarantee a quick application if you begin gathering everything afterward.
08 / COSTS & TIMELINES
Make your quote easy to compare
Do I pay both government licence fees if I apply for restricted privileges first?
The higher first-application licence fee applies; it is not the non-restricted fee plus the restricted fee. Training charges remain separate.
Does a combined booking guarantee faster licensing?
It can organize the required training in one sequence. It does not shorten the government’s review or guarantee that reports, documents and approval will all be ready sooner.
Can online preparation speed up the background review?
No. It can help you learn before training, but it does not influence the licensing authority’s checks or decision.
WHEN YOU ARE READY TO PREPARE
Learn the material. Practise with questions.
A structured PAL & RPAL course, practice tests and clear explanations—in one app.
YOUR NEXT STEPS
Get ready for your firearms licence.
From choosing a course to preparing your application.
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