This bulletin was received from the Canada Firearms Centre.
Keeping you and your members informed This bulletin highlights firearms licence renewal information that is most likely to affect members of shooting clubs, ranges, hunters, and other sporting shooters or collectors. What licence holders need to do to do to renew their licence. What may happen if they do not renew their licence?
Keeping us informed It is a firearm owners responsibility to renew their firearms licence before it expires. It is critical that licence holders keep us (CFC) informed of their current address to ensure they receive their renewal application, important notices, licence cards and registration certificates.
Snapshot
A firearms licence must be renewed before expiry firearm owners must hold a valid firearms licence to possess or acquire firearms or to buy ammunition.
CAFC is mailing a renewal reminder and a renewal application form to firearms owners 90 days before their licence expires. If their licence is about to expire and they have not received their renewal application, they can download a renewal application from CFAC 979 or obtain one by phoning 1-800-731-4000.
Applications must be received a minimum of three (3) weeks prior to the expiry date to allow for processing.
The licence renewal process has been simplified with new, shorter application forms that are already partially filled with much of the information provided in initial applications.
Renewing a licence in a timely manner will help firearm owners avoid penalties for possessing a firearm without a valid firearms licence or registration certificate.
Answers to common questions on firearms licence renewal:
(1) What are the consequences of not renewing my licence before the expiry date?
If your licence expires before CAFC receives your renewal application:
If you possess firearms, you will be in illegal possession of firearms, your registration certificates may be revoked as a person cannot legally own a firearm without a valid firearms licence;
If your own prohibited firearms and your registration certificates are revoked, you will permanently lose your grandfathering privileges to keep those firearms since you would not be in continuous possession of a registration certificate for prohibited firearms;
If you have a Possession Only Licence (POL), it will not be renewable and you will have to apply for a Possession and Acquisition Licence which requires you to meet the firearm safety training requirements;
If you have a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), instead of submitting the streamlined renewal form, you will now have to submit a new initial application CAFC 921.
(2) What if I do not receive a renewal notice?
We are making every effort to help firearm owners by sending out reminder notices and renewal applications before a licence expires. However, we need your current address to do so. If you do not receive your notice and renewal application for any reason, you remain responsible for keeping your licence valid. You can download an application from (Form 979) from our web site of obtain one by calling 1-800-731-4000.
(3) What does it cost to renew a firearms licence?
A Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) costs $60 for non-restricted firearms only, or $80 for any combination of firearms. The application fee to renew a POL is $60, regardless of the class of firearms. The fee for a POL was originally based on a sliding scale beginning at $10 up to $60 by the end of the licensing deadline. Parliament decided to extend this benefit throughout the entire initial application load up period. The Firearms Fees Regulations states that the fee for renewal of a Possession Only Licence (POL) is $60.
(4) What is the reason for licence renewal?
Licensing plays an important role in public safety. Firearms owners must renew their firearms licence because licensing updates personal inform and generates follow-up by the Chief Firearms Officer where necessary to identify individuals who present a safety risk to themselves or others.
(5) Why do I need to send in my application three weeks before my licence expires?
The Canada Firearms Centre wants to help firearms owner to maintain their licence privileges and retain their current firearms registration certificates. The processing centre must receive applications a minimum of three (3) weeks prior to the expiry date to allow sufficient time for processing.
(6) What happens if I do not receive my renewed licence before my current licence expires?
Remember that applications must be received a minimum of three (3) weeks prior to the expiry date to allow for processing. You can check the status of your application online or by phoning 1-800-731-4000 to confirm whether a licence has been issued to you.
If not:
You will be in illegal possession of your firearms.
You will not be able to acquire any firearms or buy ammunition.
You may wish to store any firearms you own with someone who possesses a valid firearms licence for that class of firearms.
The registration certificates must be given to the person storing the firearms.
(7) What do I do if I decide not to renew my licence and I want to dispose of my firearms?
A licence needs to be renewed only if you possess or use firearms. If you let it expire or dispose of your firearms, you can always obtain a new Possession and Acquisition Licence at later date if you change you mind and you meet the safety training requirements.
If you do not have a valid licence, you may borrow a firearm if you remain under the direct and immediate supervision of a person who is licensed to possess that class of firearm. If you are unlicensed and you borrow a firearm without direct and immediate supervision, both you and the person who lent you the firearm are at risk of being charged with a criminal offence.
If you decide to dispose of your firearms, here are your options:
You may transfer them to someone with a valid PAL or firearms business licence authorizing them to possess that class of firearms by calling 1-800-731-4000. The firearm will be registered to the new owner and de-registered from you in the process.
You may export them to a country that allows the import of that type of firearm. An export permit may be required.
You may permanently alter them so that they no longer meet the definition of a firearm and the licence and registration certificates no longer apply. The Registrar will need to be notified.
You may turn them in to a police or firearms officer for disposal. Call first to make arrangements for delivery or pick-up.
More Information
For more information, contact us at:
1-800-731-4000 (Toll Free)
E-mail: cfc-cafc@cfc-cafc.gc.ca
Website: http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/default_e.asp
This bulletin is intended to provide general information only. For legal references, please refer to the Firearms Act and Regulations.
Provincial, territorial and municipal laws, regulation and policies my also apply.