WHO CAN APPLY

Can permanent residents & non-citizens get a PAL in Canada?

Last reviewed July 15, 2026

You do not need to be a Canadian citizen to get a PAL. The Firearms Act sets no citizenship requirement: permanent residents apply through exactly the same process as citizens, and temporary residents (work or study permits) can take the CFSC and pursue a licence, with some extra vetting. What matters to the RCMP is your background, not your passport.

Here’s how the process looks for each status, and where newcomers hit friction.

Permanent residents: same process as citizens

If you hold PR status, nothing about the standard PAL path changes:

1. Take the CFSC - bring government photo ID; your PR card works.
2. Pass the written and practical tests.
3. Apply to the RCMP with your course report, references, photo, and fee.
4. Wait out the background check and the minimum 28-day period for first-time applicants.

The one practical difference is the background check itself. The application asks about your personal history - relationships, mental health, substance use, legal trouble - over the last five years, wherever in the world you lived them. If most of that history is outside Canada, verification simply takes longer. Some applicants with recent arrival dates are asked for additional documentation; answer everything truthfully and completely, because an omission hurts you far more than an honest disclosure does. If you have a record abroad, read Getting a PAL with a criminal record - foreign convictions count in the review.

Temporary residents: possible, with extra steps

Work-permit and study-permit holders can enrol in the CFSC - course providers require photo ID, not proof of citizenship. For the licence itself, the Firearms Act doesn’t exclude temporary residents, but applications from people without permanent status get closer review, and processing practice can differ by situation.

Before paying for a course, do one thing: call the Canadian Firearms Program at 1-800-731-4000, describe your exact status and how long you’ve been in Canada, and ask what to expect. Ten minutes on the phone beats guessing. Taking the course itself is never wasted - the report doesn’t expire, so it will still count after your PR lands.

Visitors and non-residents

Someone visiting Canada - for a guided hunt, a competition, or family trips - has two established routes that don’t involve a PAL:

• Non-Resident Firearm Declaration - declare the firearm at the border on the RCMP’s form; the confirmed declaration acts as a temporary licence for a limited period. Fees and conditions apply.
• Borrowing under supervision - use a firearm under the direct and immediate supervision of a licensed person, such as an outfitter or a relative.

Non-residents may also apply for a PAL outright (there’s no residence requirement in the Act), which some frequent visitors do to simplify repeat trips. Rules, fees, and forms for all three routes are on the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program site - verify them close to your travel date, as border requirements change.

Advice that applies to every newcomer

• Already licensed in another country? It doesn’t transfer - no foreign licence converts to a PAL - but your experience still helps on the practical test. Details: foreign gun licences in Canada.
• Use consistent ID. The name on your course report must match your application and your immigration documents. Spelling variations across documents cause real delays.
• References can be anyone who’s known you three years - they don’t need to be citizens or live in Canada, but reachable Canadian references speed up verification.
• Learn the storage and transport laws like they’re exam material - because they are, and because for a non-citizen a firearms charge carries immigration consequences on top of criminal ones. Start with firearm storage laws.

The classroom is the same for everyone. Find a CFSC course in your province - and if your status is temporary, make that call to the CFP first.