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Guns through Canada
Posted by Dave on Oct 27 2003
Hello all, I had read some interesting posts on transporting guns through Canada, so I thought I would email the horses mouth and get the answers directly from them. Their reply is long, but contains some interesting info:
Thank you for your enquiry. We apologize for the delay in responding. Unfortunately, the large number of enquiries we have been receiving lately has made it difficult to get back to people as quickly as we would like.
The import of firearms is controlled primarily by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency. They have the final say on whether or not an individual may bring a firearm into Canada. However, here is some basic information.
Your ability to bring a firearm into Canada depends on the class of the firearm and your purpose for importing it. Under Canadian law, firearms are divided into three classes: non-restricted, restricted and prohibited.
Most rifles and shotguns used for recreational purposes are non-restricted unless they meet the criteria described below for a restricted or prohibited firearm.
Handguns are restricted unless they meet one of the criteria described below for a prohibited firearm.
Prohibited firearms include:
- handguns with a barrel length of 105 mm or less, or that have been designed or adapted to discharge a 25 or 32 calibre cartridge, except for a few specific ones used in International Shooting Union competitions:
- rifles or shotguns that have been changed to make them less than 660 mm in overall length, or whose barrel has been cut to a length of less than 457 mm; (Firearms and barrels that have been made shorter according to manufacturer's specifications are not necessarily prohibited. It would depend on other features of the firearm.)
- automatic firearms or converted automatic firearms;
- any firearm prescribed under the Criminal Code regulations to be prohibited
Restricted firearms include:
- handguns that are not prohibited;
- semi-automatic, centre-fire firearms with a barrel length less than 470 mm, that are not prohibited;
- firearms that can fire after being reduced, by folding, telescoping or otherwise, to an overall length of less than 660 mm;
- any firearm prescribed under the Criminal Code regulations to be restricted
You can find a list of restricted and prohibited firearms prescribed by Criminal Code Regulations on our web site at http://www.cfc.gc.ca/en/owners&users/fact_sheets/r&p.asp
You cannot bring a prohibited firearm into Canada. If any of your firearms are prohibited, you would have to have them sent non-stop by air (or by boat if the two places are linked by international waters.)
The rules for importing restricted and non-restricted firearms depend on whether you transport them yourself or have them shipped overland.
IF YOU TRANSPORT THE FIREARMS YOURSELF
To be able to import a restricted firearm yourself, you must obtain in advance an Authorization to Transport (ATT) from the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) responsible for the province or territory where you are entering Canada. You must show a paper copy of this ATT at Canada Customs when you arrive.
It would be at the sole discretion of the CFO whether or not to authorize you to transport a restricted firearm through Canada. All ATTs are conditional upon transporting the firearms by a reasonably direct route, within a limited time-frame.
You may apply for an ATT by calling 1 800 731-4000 and requesting to be transferred to the CFO of the appropriate province. Alternatively, you can mail or fax a paper application (form JUS 679) to the applicable CFO. The form and contact information for the CFO can be found on our web site. If you are entering Canada west of Ontario, send your application to the federal Chief Firearms Officer in Edmonton, Alberta. For Ontario and points east, send it to the CFO in the specific province. There is no fee for an ATT. Please allow at least 48 hours to have your ATT processed and faxed to you - longer if it has to be mailed to you.
You do not need an ATT for non-restricted firearms.
You must declare all your restricted and non-restricted firearms at your point of entry in writing, in triplicate, using form JUS 909, the Non-Resident Firearms Declaration. If you have more than three firearms, also fill out and attach form JUS 910, the firearms declaration continuation sheet.
Once a customs officer has confirmed your declaration, it will serve as a temporary licence for you, and as a temporary registration certificate for all the firearms listed on your declaration.
The forms can be downloaded from the "forms" section of our web site at www.cfc.gc.ca or obtained at a Customs office, or by calling 1 800 731-4000, or by sending us an e-mail request with your complete mailing address.
To save time at Customs, please fill out the form before you arrive, if possible, but wait until you arrive at Canada customs to sign it. A customs officer must witness your signature. If you download the form from our web site, you can photocopy a completed form, minus the signature, to have the three copies.
A confirmed declaration is valid for 60 days or until you leave Canada, whichever comes first. It costs $50 Canadian, which covers all the firearms listed on the declaration. Until further notice, it can be renewed any number of times within a 12-month period at no additional cost.
While in Canada, you will be required to comply with our safe-transportation and safe-storage requirements. You can find information in the "Pamphlets" section of our web site at http://www.cfc.gc.ca/en/owners&users/pamphlets/default.asp
IF YOU HAVE THE FIREARMS SHIPPED THROUGH CANADA
You must use the services of a carrier company licensed under Canada's Firearms Act to transport firearms internationally (unless the firearms are being shipped by air or boat with no stops in Canada.) You can find a list of licensed carriers on our web site at www.cfc.gc.ca/en/owners&users/CFR%20List/CFRLISTOFLICENCEDCARRIERS.pdf
Firearms shipped by carrier must be packaged in a sturdy, non-transparent container that cannot easily be broken open or into. To deter theft, we recommend that there be no markings on the outside of the container to indicate there are firearms inside, unless the marking is an address. Instead, an envelope labeled "Customs Documents" can be attached to the outside of the container, and any import/export documents can be placed in the envelope.
OTHER INFORMATION.
The maximum magazine capacity for centre-fire semi-automatics is 5 cartridges for most long guns and 10 cartridges for most handguns. Larger magazines for these firearms are prohibited and cannot be imported into Canada unless they have been permanently altered so that they cannot hold more than the maximum allowed by law. The maximum magazine capacity does not apply to non-prohibited firearms with other types of action, including rim-fire sem-automatics.
Up to 5,000 cartridges of ammunition may be imported for personal use without a permit. Within these limits, you may import up to 200 cartridges duty free for hunting or wilderness protection, or up to 1500 cartridges may be imported duty free for the purpose of taking part in an organized target-shooting competition.
I hope this information is of assistance to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us again if you require additional information. More information is also available in the "Visitors" section of our web site.
If you need additional information on customs procedures, please contact the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency at (204) 983-3500 or (506) 636-5064 or refer to their web site at http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/customs/individuals/visitors-e.html
Yours truly
Glenda Stewart
Communications Officer
Canada Firearms Centre
Hope this helps. It sounds like a lot of work.
Take care,
Dave
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