Firearms Act (S.C. 1995, c. 39)

Registration Certificates

Marginal note:Registration certificate

12.1 A registration certificate may only be issued for a prohibited firearm or a restricted firearm.

Marginal note:Handguns

12.2 A registration certificate for a handgun must not be issued to an individual.

Marginal note:Registration certificate

13 A person is not eligible to hold a registration certificate for a firearm unless the person holds a licence authorizing the person to possess that kind of firearm.

Marginal note:Serial number

14 A registration certificate may be issued only for a firearm

• (a) that bears a serial number sufficient to distinguish it from other firearms; or

• (b) that is described in the prescribed manner.

Marginal note:Exempted firearms

15 A registration certificate may not be issued for a firearm that is owned by Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province or by a police force.

Marginal note:Only one person per registration certificate

• 16 (1) A registration certificate for a firearm may be issued to only one person.

• Marginal note:Exception

  (2) Subsection (1) does not apply in the case of a firearm for which a registration certificate referred to in section 127 was issued to more than one person.

Authorized Transportation of Firearms

Marginal note:Places where prohibited and restricted firearms may be possessed

17 Subject to sections 19 and 20, a prohibited firearm or restricted firearm, the holder of the registration certificate for which is an individual, may be possessed only at the dwelling-house of the individual, as recorded in the Canadian Firearms Registry, or at a place authorized by a chief firearms officer.

18 [Repealed, 2003, c. 8, s. 15]

Marginal note:Transporting and using prohibited firearms or restricted firearms

• 19 (1) An individual who holds a licence authorizing the individual to possess prohibited firearms or restricted firearms may be authorized to transport a particular prohibited firearm or restricted firearm between two or more specified places for any good and sufficient reason, including, without restricting the generality of the foregoing,

  • (a) for use in target practice, or a target shooting competition, under specified conditions or under the auspices of a shooting club or shooting range that is approved under section 29;

  • (a.1) to provide instructions in the use of firearms as part of a restricted firearms safety course that is approved by the federal Minister; or

  • (b) if the individual

    • (i) changes residence,

    • (ii) wishes to transport the firearm to a peace officer, firearms officer or chief firearms officer for registration or disposal in accordance with this Act or Part III of the Criminal Code,

    • (iii) wishes to transport the firearm for repair, storage, sale, exportation or appraisal, or

    • (iii.1) wishes to transport the firearm to another individual or business that holds a licence authorizing that individual or business to possess prohibited firearms or restricted firearms for purposes of storage for the time necessary for the individual to address a mental illness or similar problem, or

    • (iv) wishes to transport the firearm to a gun show.

• Marginal note:Target practice or competition

  (1.1) In the case of an authorization to transport issued for a reason referred to in paragraph (1)(a) within the province where the holder of the authorization resides, the specified places must — except in the case of an authorization that is issued for a prohibited firearm referred to in subsection 12(9) — include all shooting clubs and shooting ranges that are approved under section 29 and that are located in that province.

• Marginal note:Exception for prohibited firearms other than prohibited handguns

  (2) Despite subsection (1), an individual must not be authorized to transport a prohibited firearm — other than a handgun referred to in subsection 12(6.1) or a prohibited firearm referred to in subsection 12(9) — between specified places except for the purposes referred to in paragraph (1)(b).

• Marginal note:Automatic authorization to transport — licence renewal

  (2.1) An individual who holds a licence authorizing the individual to possess a restricted firearm or a handgun referred to in subsection 12(6.1) must, if the licence is renewed, be authorized to transport it within the individual’s province of residence to and from all shooting clubs and shooting ranges that are approved under section 29. However, the authorization does not apply to a restricted firearm or a handgun referred to in subsection 12(6.1) whose transfer to the individual was approved for the purpose of having it form part of a gun collection.

• Marginal note:Automatic authorization to transport — transfer

  (2.2) If a chief firearms officer has authorized the transfer of a prohibited firearm or a restricted firearm to an individual who holds a licence authorizing the individual to possess prohibited firearms or restricted firearms, the individual must be authorized to transport the firearm within the individual’s province of residence from the place where they acquire it to the place where they may possess it under section 17.

• Marginal note:Automatic authorization to transport — transfer

  (2.3) If a chief firearms officer has authorized the transfer of a restricted firearm or a handgun referred to in subsection 12(6.1) to an individual who holds a licence authorizing the individual to possess a restricted firearm or such a handgun, the individual must be authorized to transport their restricted firearm or handgun within their province of residence to and from all shooting clubs and shooting ranges that are approved under section 29, unless the transfer of the restricted firearm or handgun was approved for the purpose of having it form part of a gun collection.

• Marginal note:Non-residents

  (3) A non-resident may be authorized to transport a particular restricted firearm between specified places in accordance with sections 35 and 35.1.

Marginal note:Exception — handguns

19.1 Despite subsection 19(1), an individual must not be authorized to transport a handgun from a port of entry unless the individual holds a registration certificate in respect of the handgun.

Marginal note:Carrying restricted firearms and pre-December 1, 1998 handguns

20 An individual who holds a licence authorizing the individual to possess a restricted firearm or a handgun referred to in subsection 12(6.1) (pre-December 1, 1998 handguns) may be authorized to possess a particular restricted firearm or handgun at a place other than the place at which it is authorized to be possessed if the individual needs the particular restricted firearm or handgun

• (a) to protect their life or the life of other individuals; or

• (b) for use in connection with their lawful profession or occupation.

Authorized Transfers and Lending

General Provisions

Marginal note:Definition of transfer

21 For the purposes of sections 22 to 32, transfer means sell, barter or give.

Marginal note:Mental disorder, etc.

22 A person may transfer or lend a firearm to an individual only if the person has no reason to believe that the individual

• (a) has a mental illness that makes it desirable, in the interests of the safety of that individual or any other person, that the individual not possess a firearm; or

• (b) is impaired by alcohol or a drug.

Authorized Transfers

Marginal note:Authorization to transfer non-restricted firearms

• 23 (1) A person may transfer one or more non-restricted firearms if, at the time of the transfer,

  • (a) the transferee holds a licence authorizing the transferee to acquire and possess a non-restricted firearm;

  • (b) the Registrar has, at the transferor’s request, issued a reference number for the transfer and provided it to the transferor; and

  • (c) the reference number is still valid.

• Marginal note:Information — transferee’s licence

  (2) The transferee shall provide to the transferor the prescribed information that relates to the transferee’s licence, for the purpose of enabling the transferor to request that the Registrar issue a reference number for the transfer.

• Marginal note:Reference number

  (3) The Registrar shall issue a reference number if he or she is satisfied that the transferee holds and is still eligible to hold a licence authorizing them to acquire and possess a non-restricted firearm.

• Marginal note:Period of validity

  (4) A reference number is valid for the prescribed period.

• Marginal note:Registrar not satisfied

  (5) If the Registrar is not satisfied as set out in subsection (3), he or she may so inform the transferor.

23.1 [Repealed, 2019, c. 9, s. 5]

Marginal note:Authorization to transfer prohibited or restricted firearms

• 23.2 (1) A person may transfer a prohibited firearm or a restricted firearm if, at the time of the transfer,

  • (a) the transferee holds a licence authorizing the transferee to acquire and possess that kind of firearm;

  • (b) the transferor has no reason to believe that the transferee is not authorized to acquire and possess that kind of firearm;

  • (c) the transferor informs the Registrar of the transfer;

  • (d) if the transferee is an individual, the transferor informs a chief firearms officer of the transfer and obtains the authorization of the chief firearms officer for the transfer;

  • (d.1) if the transferee is an individual and the firearm is a handgun, the individual is referred to in section 97.1;

  • (e) a new registration certificate for the firearm is issued in accordance with this Act; and

  • (f) the prescribed conditions are met.

• Marginal note:Notice

  (2) If, after being informed of a proposed transfer of a firearm, the Registrar decides to refuse to issue a registration certificate for the firearm, the Registrar shall inform a chief firearms officer of that decision.

Marginal note:Authorization to transfer prohibited weapons, devices and ammunition

• 24 (1) Subject to section 26, a person may transfer a prohibited weapon, prohibited device or prohibited ammunition only to a business.

• Marginal note:Conditions

  (2) A person may transfer a prohibited weapon, prohibited device, ammunition or prohibited ammunition to a business only if

  • (a) the business holds a licence authorizing the business to acquire and possess prohibited weapons, prohibited devices, ammunition or prohibited ammunition, as the case may be; and

  • (b) [Repealed, 2003, c. 8, s. 18]

  • (c) the person has no reason to believe that the business is not authorized to acquire and possess prohibited weapons, prohibited devices, ammunition or prohibited ammunition, as the case may be.

  • (d) [Repealed before coming into force, 2008, c. 20, s. 3]

Marginal note:Authorization to transfer ammunition to individuals

• 25 (1) A person may transfer ammunition that is not prohibited ammunition to an individual only if the individual

  • (a) until January 1, 2001, holds a licence authorizing him or her to possess firearms or a prescribed document; or

  • (b) after January 1, 2001, holds a licence authorizing him or her to possess firearms.

• Marginal note:Authorization to transfer cartridge magazine to individuals

  (2) A person may transfer a cartridge magazine that is not prescribed to be a prohibited device only if the individual holds a licence authorizing him or her to possess firearms.

Marginal note:Authorization to transfer firearm parts

• 25.1 (1) A person may transfer a firearm part to an individual only if the individual holds a licence authorizing them to possess firearms.

• Marginal note:Exception — non-residents

  (2) Subject to the regulations and despite subsection (1), a person may transfer a firearm part to a non-resident who is 18 years old or older and who does not hold a licence if the non-resident has made a declaration that is confirmed under paragraph 35(1)(b) or subsection 38(2) and that is valid.

Marginal note:Authorization to transfer prohibited or restricted firearms to Crown, etc.

• 26 (1) A person may transfer a prohibited firearm or a restricted firearm to Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province, to a police force or to a municipality if the person informs the Registrar of the transfer and complies with the prescribed conditions.

• Marginal note:Authorization to transfer prohibited weapons, etc., to the Crown, etc.

  (2) A person may transfer a prohibited weapon, restricted weapon, prohibited device, ammunition or prohibited ammunition to Her Majesty in right of Canada or a province, to a police force or to a municipality if the person informs a chief firearms officer of the transfer and complies with the prescribed conditions.

Marginal note:Chief firearms officer

27 On being informed of a proposed transfer of a prohibited firearm or restricted firearm under section 23.2, a chief firearms officer shall

• (a) verify

  • (i) whether the transferee holds a licence,

  • (ii) whether the transferee is still eligible to hold that licence,

  • (iii) whether the licence authorizes the transferee to acquire that kind of firearm or to acquire prohibited weapons, prohibited devices, ammunition or prohibited ammunition, as the case may be, and

  • (iv) if the proposed transfer is in respect of a handgun, whether the transferee is an individual referred to in section 97.1;

• (b) in the case of a proposed transfer of a restricted firearm or a handgun referred to in subsection 12(6.1) (pre-December 1, 1998 handguns), verify the purpose for which the transferee wishes to acquire the restricted firearm or handgun and determine whether the particular restricted firearm or handgun is appropriate for that purpose;

• (c) decide whether to approve the transfer and inform the Registrar of that decision; and

• (d) take the prescribed measures.