Can You Bring Firearms Into Canada? Paperwork, Limits, and Border Rules

Non-residents can legally bring firearms into Canada, but only certain types, only for a short list of accepted purposes, and only with the right paperwork completed before you reach the border. Bringing firearms into Canada means declaring each one to a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer, paying a $25 CAD fee on the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration, and — if the firearm is restricted — arriving with an Authorization to Transport already in hand. Self-defense is not an accepted reason, handguns are now largely blocked by a national freeze, and an undeclared firearm can cost you the gun, your vehicle, and future entry to Canada.

What You’re Allowed to Bring

Canada sorts firearms into three classes, and the class decides everything else.¹

Non-restricted firearms are most ordinary hunting rifles and shotguns. This is the easiest category to import and the only class allowed for hunting or wildlife protection.

Restricted firearms include most handguns that are not outright prohibited, plus semi-automatic centerfire rifles and shotguns with barrels shorter than 470 millimeters. These require an Authorization to Transport on top of the standard declaration, and handguns face additional restrictions under the national freeze.¹

Prohibited firearms cannot be imported by non-residents under any circumstances, including for transit. This class includes fully automatic weapons, handguns with barrels of 105 millimeters or shorter, handguns chambered in .25 or .32 caliber, and firearms cut down from rifles or shotguns.¹²

One boundary that catches travelers off guard: replica firearms are classified as prohibited devices, so realistic-looking airsoft guns and other replicas cannot be brought in, even though they are legal in many other countries. The declaration form cannot be used for anything classified as a prohibited device.²

Accepted Reasons for Bringing a Firearm

You must have a valid purpose, and self-defense is not on the list. Canadian law explicitly excludes personal protection and property protection as acceptable reasons to import a firearm.³

Hunting during hunting season, with a valid provincial hunting licence. Non-restricted firearms only.
Wildlife protection in remote areas where a predator encounter is a realistic concern. Non-restricted firearms only.
Use in an organized shooting competition at an approved range, typically with proof of registration or an invitation letter.
Repair by a Canadian gunsmith.
Transit through Canada by the most direct route.

You must be at least 18 years old.³

The National Handgun Freeze

Since October 2022, Canada has frozen the sale, purchase, transfer, and importation of handguns by individuals. The freeze was codified through Bill C-21.⁴ Importing a newly acquired restricted handgun now requires an import permit issued by Global Affairs Canada, on top of everything else.²

The main exception is narrow: individuals training, competing, or coaching in a handgun shooting discipline on the program of the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee may still qualify.⁴ If you think you fit, contact the Canadian Firearms Program at 1-800-731-4000 well before your trip. Border officers have no flexibility once you arrive.

The Paperwork You Need Before You Travel

Non-Resident Firearm Declaration

Every non-resident importing a firearm without a Canadian firearms licence must complete a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration (RCMP Form 5589) before arriving at the border. The form lists your identification and, for each firearm, the make, model, serial number, caliber, and purpose. Fill it out ahead of time but do not sign it. A CBSA officer must witness your signature at the port of entry.⁵

The fee is $25 CAD regardless of how many firearms you list. If you are bringing more than two firearms, add a continuation sheet (RCMP Form 5590). Once the officer confirms and signs the declaration, it functions as both a temporary firearms licence and a registration certificate, valid for up to 60 days.⁵⁶

If you will be in Canada longer than 60 days, contact the Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) of the province or territory where you are staying before the declaration expires. Renewal is free.⁵ For restricted firearms, the declaration is valid for 60 days or until the associated Authorization to Transport expires, whichever comes first.⁶

Authorization to Transport for Restricted Firearms

For any restricted firearm, you also need an Authorization to Transport (ATT). Obtain it in advance from the Chief Firearms Officer of the province where you will enter Canada. Non-residents using the declaration form rather than a Canadian licence should contact the CFO directly rather than applying online.⁷

If You Already Hold a Canadian Firearms Licence

Non-residents with a valid Canadian Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL), plus registration certificates for any restricted firearms, can skip the declaration form. Show your PAL and registration to the border officer and make an oral declaration. There is no fee.⁵

U.S. Travelers: Paperwork on the American Side

Canadian paperwork covers entering Canada. It does not cover getting back into the United States. U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires travelers using License Exception BAG to complete CBP Form 4457 (Certificate of Registration for Personal Effects Taken Abroad) and present the firearms to a CBP officer before leaving the U.S. Under this exception you can temporarily export up to three shotguns with barrels of 18 inches or longer, up to three other eligible firearms, and up to 1,000 rounds of ammunition without a separate export license. On return, present the signed Form 4457 to re-enter the U.S. with those firearms.⁸ Form 4457 is not a Canadian entry document and does not replace any Canadian paperwork.

At the Canadian Border

Declare every firearm to a CBSA officer immediately on arrival. Declaration is not optional and cannot be corrected after the fact. Undeclared firearms can be seized, and you can face criminal charges and be barred from future entry.⁹

Hand the officer your unsigned declaration, any ATT for restricted firearms, and supporting documents like a hunting licence or competition invitation. The officer verifies the information, inspects each firearm against the declaration, witnesses your signature, and, if everything is in order, confirms and signs the form. That confirmed declaration is your temporary licence and registration for the duration of your stay.³

If Your Firearm Is Refused

If you declared the firearm but cannot meet the requirements or lack the right documents, the officer has limited options. The officer may allow you to export the firearm out of Canada immediately, or may detain it, issue a receipt, and give you a reasonable window to produce the correct documents. For restricted firearms specifically, CBSA may hold the firearm for up to 14 days while you apply for an ATT.³ None of this is guaranteed. Smaller ports of entry may not offer storage, and the officer has discretion. Arrive with every document in hand.

Magazine and Ammunition Limits

Canada’s magazine capacity limits are lower than what many American gun owners are used to. Semi-automatic centerfire rifles are capped at five-round magazines, and handguns at ten. These caps apply regardless of the magazine’s original design capacity, so higher-capacity magazines must stay home or be permanently modified before crossing the border.¹⁰

Non-residents aged 18 or older can import up to 5,000 rounds of small arms ammunition for personal use without a special permit, provided none of it contains tracer, incendiary, or similar military components.¹¹ Duty-free allowances are much smaller: 200 rounds for general purposes, or 1,500 rounds if you are attending a competition at an approved range with proof of registration. Anything beyond the duty-free limit but under the 5,000-round cap is subject to duty and taxes.²

Hollow point ammunition is legal to import for all firearm types. Earlier restrictions on hollow point handgun ammunition no longer apply.²

Transport and Storage Once You’re Inside Canada

The rules do not end at the border. How you move and store the firearm is regulated in detail, and the same rules apply in your vehicle, at a hunting lodge, or in a hotel room.

Non-restricted firearms must be unloaded during transport. Attach a secure locking device, such as a trigger lock, or keep the firearm in a locked container or locked room. In a vehicle, keep it out of sight, ideally in a locked trunk.¹²

Restricted firearms are tighter. They must be unloaded, fitted with a secure locking device, and placed in a locked opaque container sturdy enough that it cannot be easily broken open. All three requirements apply at once. A trigger lock alone is not enough, and a locked case without a trigger lock is not enough either.¹²

Storage rules follow you into a hotel. For non-restricted firearms, the firearm must be unloaded and either rendered inoperable with a locking device, have the bolt or bolt-carrier removed, or be kept in a securely locked container or room. Ammunition must not be readily accessible to the firearm unless it is stored in its own locked container. For restricted firearms in storage, you need both a locking device on the firearm and a locked container, safe, or room that cannot be easily broken into, with ammunition locked separately or in a purpose-built firearms vault. A hotel nightstand does not qualify. If your accommodation lacks a suitable safe or lockable storage, plan around that before you travel.¹³

Flying Into Canada

Arriving by air changes the packing rules but not the Canadian import requirements. Firearms, firearm parts, and all ammunition are banned from carry-on baggage. Everything goes in checked luggage.¹⁴

Declare all firearms to the airline at check-in. The firearm must be unloaded and packed in a locked hard-sided container. Airline policies on ammunition packing and container specifications vary, so contact the carrier before your trip. On the Canadian side, you complete the same declaration process with a CBSA officer after clearing customs at the airport.¹⁴

Borrowing a Firearm Instead

If you are coming for hunting or target shooting, borrowing from a Canadian resident is often simpler than importing your own. If a licensed Canadian adult supervises you directly the entire time you handle the firearm, you need no licence at all. To use a borrowed firearm independently, you need either a Canadian PAL or a Non-Resident Temporary Borrowing Licence for Non-Restricted Firearms. The temporary borrowing licence costs $30 CAD, is valid for 60 days, and requires a Canadian sponsor connected to your planned activity, such as a licensed hunting companion or an outfitter. Apply online through the MyCFP portal or by mail using RCMP Form 5513.⁵

Penalties for Getting It Wrong

Consequences go well past losing the firearm. At minimum, an undeclared firearm will be seized, and the vehicle used to transport it may be seized as well. Monetary penalties and criminal prosecution can follow.¹⁵

Under the Customs Act, smuggling or attempting to smuggle prohibited or controlled goods into Canada carries penalties up to $50,000 in fines and six months in prison on summary conviction, and up to $500,000 in fines and five years in prison on indictment.¹⁶ Weapons trafficking under the Criminal Code carries penalties up to 14 years of imprisonment.¹⁷

A conviction also affects future entry. Foreign nationals with firearms-related convictions can be found inadmissible, which can amount to a long-term or permanent ban. A firearm you forgot was in the truck console can follow you for years.

1
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Classes of Firearms in Canada
2
Government of Canada. Memorandum D19-13-2 – Importing and Exporting Firearms, Weapons and Devices
3
Government of Canada. Firearms and Weapons – Canadian Border Requirements
4
Government of Canada. Former Bill C-21 – Keeping Canadians Safe From Gun Crime
5
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Non-Residents
6
RCMP. Information Sheet – Non-Resident Firearm Declaration
7
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Authorization to Transport
8
U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Temporarily Taking a Firearm or Ammunition Outside the United States
9
Government of Canada. Border Reminder Checklist
10
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Maximum Permitted Magazine Capacity
11
Natural Resources Canada. Importing, Exporting and Transporting Ammunition and Propellant Powders
12
Department of Justice Canada. Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations
13
Government of Canada. Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations
14
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. Firearms
15
Government of Canada. CBSA Makes Firearms Seizure at Lansdowne and Charges U.S. Traveller
16
Government of Canada. Customs Act
17
Government of Canada. Criminal Code – Section 99