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Valid firearms licences in Canada (CFP 2023). Every PAL expires on a five-year cycle — renew before the date on your card.
For the full PAL walkthrough, see our Canada firearms licence guide.
An Authorization to Transport (ATT) is a permit that lets you legally move restricted or prohibited firearms between specific locations in Canada. Whether you still need one depends on the class of firearm you own, where you are going, and whether that trip falls under your licence’s automatic conditions or requires a separate manual application.
What the ATT Actually Does
Your Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) confirms you are eligible to own firearms. The ATT gives you permission to move them. These are two separate things. Your PAL alone does not allow you to drive a restricted firearm across town.
The authorization to transport in Canada now operates on a two-track system. Certain routine trips are automatically covered as conditions on your Restricted PAL (RPAL). Other trips require you to apply for a manual permit through your provincial Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) before you move the firearm.
Non-Restricted Firearms: No ATT Required
Non-restricted firearms do not require an ATT for personal transport. If you hold a valid PAL, you can move most hunting rifles and shotguns anywhere in Canada provided they are unloaded during transit.
If you leave a non-restricted firearm in an unattended vehicle, lock it in the trunk. If the vehicle has no trunk, keep the firearm out of sight in a locked vehicle.
Restricted Firearms: Automatic vs. Manual ATT
This is where the two-track system matters. Your RPAL automatically includes an ATT for two specific purposes only:
- Travel to and from an approved shooting range within your province of residence.
- Pickup from a licensed retailer immediately after a purchase.
For any movement outside those two situations, you need to apply for a manual ATT. The application goes through the Individual Web Services (IWS) portal or directly to your provincial CFO, using Form RCMP 5490.
Situations that require a manual ATT application include:
- Moving to a new address. You must notify your CFO within 30 days of the move and obtain an ATT to transport your restricted firearms to the new location.
- Taking a firearm to a gunsmith for repair or appraisal.
- Attending a gun show with a restricted firearm.
- Exporting a firearm to a port of entry.
- Transferring ownership to a new owner who needs to take the firearm from the point of sale to their registered storage address.
Note that July 2021 changes removed the previous automatic ATT coverage for gunsmiths and gun shows. Before that date, those trips were also covered automatically. They no longer are.
JoinRCMP observation:
PAL timelines usually stretch when CFSC proof, references, or CFO follow-up are incomplete — not because of the 28-day waiting period alone. Submit a complete application and answer CFO requests promptly.
ock-heading”>How to Transport a Restricted Firearm
Holding an ATT, whether automatic or manual, is step one. You also must follow a strict four-step transport protocol for every restricted or prohibited firearm:
- Unload the firearm completely.
- Lock it with a secure locking device such as a trigger or cable lock.
- Encase it in a sturdy, opaque locked container that cannot be readily broken into.
- For automatic firearms, remove and separately lock the bolt or bolt carrier.
Ammunition can be in the same locked container as the firearm, provided it is not loaded into the magazine that is in the firearm. The magazine can hold cartridges, but it must not be inserted into the firearm during transport.
Non-Residents Entering Canada with Restricted Firearms
Non-residents cannot rely on automatic ATT conditions. The rules are stricter.
Before arriving at a Canadian port of entry, a non-resident who wants to bring a restricted firearm into Canada must apply for an ATT from the CFO of the province of entry. At the border, they declare the firearm on Form RCMP 5589, pay a $25 fee, and present one piece of official photo identification. The declaration is valid for 60 days.
Non-residents are prohibited from importing any prohibited firearms. This includes handguns with barrels 105 mm or shorter and any firearm on the Orders in Council prohibited lists.
Bill C-21 and the Handgun Freeze
Bill C-21, which received Royal Assent on December 15, 2023, codified the national handgun freeze that began on October 21, 2022. The freeze prevents individuals from buying, selling, or importing handguns. Because a valid registration certificate is a prerequisite for an ATT, most Canadians can no longer obtain an ATT to transport a newly purchased handgun. The population of people who can apply for handgun ATTs is now limited to those who already held registration certificates before October 2022.
Bill C-21 also transferred the authority to issue “Protection of Life” Authorizations to Carry (ATC) from provincial CFOs to the Commissioner of Firearms, effective October 1, 2024. An ATC is a separate, more restrictive permit for carrying a loaded firearm, distinct from the ATT.
The 2026 Amnesty Exception
If you own a firearm that was reclassified as prohibited under the 2020 Order in Council or later amendments, an ATT is not required to transport it for disposal during the current amnesty period.
The amnesty runs until October 30, 2026. To stay within the legal protection while transporting a prohibited firearm for disposal, strict conditions apply:
- The destination must be a peace officer, a mobile collection unit, or an authorized business for destruction, deactivation, or export.
- The route must be reasonably direct.
- The firearm must be unloaded and in the trunk or out of sight in a locked vehicle.
- No ammunition is permitted in the vehicle at all during this type of transport.
- Your PAL must remain valid.
After October 30, 2026, the amnesty ends. Anyone still in possession of a prohibited firearm without lawful disposal faces criminal liability.
Staying Compliant Through the IWS Portal
The RCMP’s Individual Web Services (IWS) portal is where most Canadians manage their ATT applications, licence renewals, and address changes. Address updates must be reported within 30 days of any move. If your address on file is out of date, your automatic ATT conditions may no longer be legally valid.
For more on your PAL and what it covers, see the Canada firearms licence overview. For a breakdown of how restricted and prohibited classes differ, see the restricted firearms guide.
FAQ
Do I need an ATT every time I go to the shooting range? No. Your RPAL automatically covers travel to and from approved ranges within your province. No separate application needed.
When do I need to manually apply for an ATT in Canada? When moving, visiting a gunsmith, attending a gun show, exporting, or transferring ownership to a new owner.
Can I transport a prohibited firearm to the buyback without an ATT? Yes, during the amnesty period only. No ATT is required, but no ammunition can be in the vehicle during transport.
Do non-residents need an ATT to bring a restricted firearm into Canada?
Yes. Apply to the CFO of your province of entry before arriving, then declare on Form RCMP 5589 with a $25 fee at the border.
Sources
Sources:
Canadian Firearms Program | RCMP
