Applying by mail?
Signature, attachments and mailing checklist.
Read the guideCANADIAN FIREARMS LICENCES · EXPLAINED
How to apply for a PAL after your tests
A step-by-step PAL application guide covering the online and paper routes, training results, photo, contacts, additional documents and government review.
Explore the guide ↓
07 / YOUR APPLICATION
Build the folder before you press submit.
The correct route, official reports, people, photo and extra documents work together as one application.
- 01Choose the route
- 02Gather the evidence
- 03Check before sending
01 / HOW TO APPLY
Choose the application route
| Situation | Route to check |
|---|---|
| Canadian resident, never held any firearms licence | Online first-time application, if the other requirements are met. |
| Previously held PAL, POL, FAC or a Minor’s Licence | Not a first-time applicant for the online service. Check the mail route. |
| Currently valid PAL and renewing | Use the renewal process, not the first-application form. |
| Under 18 or outside Canada | A different route or requirements apply. Read eligibility before proceeding. |
The online service also requires an email address, completed safety training, a digital photo, two government-issued IDs and an accepted payment card. Online submission is not online certification.
02 / HOW TO APPLY
Turn the checklist into a preparation sequence
The simplest way to prepare is to work in layers. First settle your route using your licence history. Next gather training evidence and identify any additional document requirements. Then organize the photo and people who must help with the application. Finally, check the fee and every applicable section before submitting.
Starting with the route prevents wasted work. A previous minor’s licence, a currently valid renewal or an expired licence is not the same situation as never having held a firearms licence. A convenient-looking online button does not change those definitions.
APPLICATION PREPARATION
The reports arrive, but the folder is not ready
A learner has passed CFSC and has the report, but one reference has not agreed to help and the photo is a casual phone picture. They arrange the contacts and a compliant photo before submitting rather than sending an incomplete application just to feel that the process has started.
03 / HOW TO APPLY
Build your application folder
Training results
Keep the official CFSC report and, if requesting restricted privileges, CRFSC report.
Identity and address details
Use the names and information requested by the selected application route. Do not submit original ID documents by mail.
A compliant licence photo
Prepare the digital file or printed photo for your route. Read the photo checklist below.
Your contacts
Arrange two references, a photo guarantor and current or former partner details as applicable.
Extra documents and fee
Quebec restricted applications and some residency histories need additional documents. Use the current licence fee.
04 / HOW TO APPLY
References and photo guarantor are different
| Role | What it means |
|---|---|
| Two references | Adults 18+ who have known you for at least three years. Your current conjugal partner cannot be a reference. |
| Photo guarantor | An adult 18+ who has known you for at least one year and confirms the photo identifies you. A partner or reference may fill this role. |
| Current / former conjugal partner | Spouse, common-law or similar partner details are requested as applicable, including former relationships within the last two years. |
Ask people first and check their contact details. For the online adult route, valid email addresses are needed for the relevant contacts. Partner signatures are not legally required, but without them the CFO has a duty to notify the applicable partner.
05 / HOW TO APPLY
Photo checklist
A licence photo is an identity photo, not a casual profile picture. Use a current, clear head-and-shoulders image with a plain light background, neutral expression and visible eyes. It must not be altered or copied from an ID card.
- Photo less than 12 months old.
- Digital route: JPG/JPEG, 200 KB–6 MB, portrait orientation.
- Follow the stated 45 × 57 mm photo format and minimum 30 mm head height.
- Paper route: follow the printed photo and guarantor label instructions.
Digital and paper specifications are not interchangeable. Confirm the full current requirements for the route you use before submitting.
06 / HOW TO APPLY
Documents that depend on your situation
Quebec restricted privileges: a resident applying to acquire restricted or prohibited firearms must include SQ-3007, the in-person filing form.
Recent arrival or non-resident: a letter of good conduct from police in the previous or current country of residence is part of the application instructions. The paper instructions specify English or French, official police letterhead and issuance within six months. Ask the CFP about your history before arranging it.
07 / HOW TO APPLY
Submit, track, wait for the issued licence
Check every applicable section, contacts, attachments and payment before submitting. Keep a copy or confirmation in a safe place. The CFP may contact you or others during review.
Your official results prove training; they do not authorize independent possession. Wait for the licence to be issued and read its conditions.
How long and how much?
Fees and realistic timing.
Read the guideAfter you receive it
Storage, transport and renewal responsibilities.
Read the guide08 / HOW TO APPLY
Give your contacts enough time
References and a photo guarantor should know that you intend to list them. Confirm the contact details they want used and explain that the CFP may contact them as part of the process. Do not confuse asking someone for help with assuming they have already met the application’s criteria.
The two roles answer different questions. A reference knows you over the required period and provides the application declaration. A photo guarantor confirms your identity in the image. One person may fill an allowed combination of roles, but the criteria still need to be satisfied for each role.
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDINGYou know someone who can confirm your photo. Does that automatically make them an eligible reference?Reveal the explanation +
No. The roles have different acquaintance requirements and restrictions. Check the reference criteria and the photo-guarantor criteria separately, even if you hope to use the same person for both.
09 / HOW TO APPLY
A calm final check before submission
After submission, use the official channel to follow status and respond to requests. Keep personal documents private; use the CFP’s application channel for your documents. If something is uncertain, ask the CFP how to correct it rather than sending a second application without instructions.
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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