Traveling to Canada with firearms....

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huskydriver

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I have two conceal carry permits good for about 80% all states. I do a lot of traveling and am usually packing since I'm usually by myself. I've just started to research getting firearms into Canada, but does anybody have any ideas on what the process is or if it's even worth it? I thought I read something about being able to store weapon at the border somewhere. Has anybody gone through this?
 
Thou shalt not transport a handgun into Canada, Period! You may transport a rifle or shotgun for wilderness protection, or to participate in an organized shooting event. IIRC the RCMP has a web site that will tell you what may and may not be imported, and lets you download the forms you'll need.
 
You can bring a handgun into Canada, provided you have an RPAL (restricted possession and acquisition license). Call Canadian border patrol and inquire about one. You can only use it at ranges in Canada. As far as I know, there is no handgun hunting in Canada. Using a gun for self-defense in Canada carries a TON of legal repercussions. It happens, but you will spend a lot of money and time in front of judges in white wigs.

You will not get an ATC (authorisation to carry). Those are restricted to diplomats and judges.

In short, if you want it for anything other than sporting purposes, you're out of luck.
 
Good info so far.

A friend has traveled into Canada with handguns several times. He gets all his paperwork ready ahead of time. There has to be a good reason, like participating in target shooting or historical recreation events, and you have to prove you are participating, have registered, blah, blah, blah, and on, and on,... Lots of verifiable supporting documentation on why you want to bring a handgun into Canada. No hollow point handgun ammo either, at least when I went through in the past.

He said the border people get bug eyed and start saying "You cant bring handguns into Canada!", and he gets his paperwork out and shows them. They have to remain locked up when in transport, and unloaded. In case you didnt get the gist of it, having a gun of any kind for self protection from people is not a legitimate reason to have a gun in Canada. Self protection from wild animals is (long guns, non military-ish for the most part). Same for pepper spray. Bring in pepper marked on the can for people protection, no go. For bear protection, thats OK. One doesnt even joke about self defense when at the border. Border folks are specially trained not to have a sense of humor.

Some people have gotten safe deposit boxes on the US side.
 
ahhhhh.....after responding i did more research and found out about the pal license. my only concern was really just traveling in the states then putting it in a lockbox the rest of the way through canada.
 
I went hunting in Canada in about October of 2014. I found getting into Canada with my shotguns easier than getting back across the border into the USA.
 
Once you go through the process, it's not hard. You just have to realize that Canadian border patrol doesn't mess around. You're under Canadian law. If you abide by it, then you're treated no different than a Canadian who owns pistols. It's really not a big deal. Contact border patrol, ask them what the process is. They'll tell you. You're not the first American who wanted to bring a handgun into Canada. Seriously, they can't arrest you for asking over the phone.

The people who run into trouble are the Americans who stupidly cross the border, declare they have a prohibited weapon to the Canadian agents, get arrested, and then complain about their "second amendment rights"... which don't exist in Canada because Canada is a foreign country.
 
ahhhhh.....after responding i did more research and found out about the pal license. my only concern was really just traveling in the states then putting it in a lockbox the rest of the way through canada.
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I'm curious as to the end result of the inquiry. It's been my impression non-residents cant take handguns into Canada just because they want to, there was supposed to be some reason like attended a recognized sporting event or historical reenactment etc. Perhaps I was mistaken. It wasnt allowed to bring handguns into Canada just top travel through to Alaska in the past. You had to ship them around.

So, are you able to get some sort of permit to take a handgun into Canada without being involved in some recognized sporting event?
 
I checked into this when planning a motorcycle trip to Alaska in 2013. If the pistol had a barrel at least 4.1" you could get a permit ahead of time to travel thru but it had to be locked up and you can not take it out for any reason. You had to tell them what day and what border crossing you were going to use each time you crossed. You had a 5 day grace period after your listed date to cross that border but could not show up earlier. Lots of planning ahead and hope nothing changes your schedule. I didn't bother with it but had a big bear spray and a hatchet.
 
So, are you able to get some sort of permit to take a handgun into Canada without being involved in some recognized sporting event?
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Yes. You get a Canadian Possession and Acquisitions License (PAL) for non-restricted long guns or a Restricted Possession and Acquisitions License (RPAL) for handguns and restricted long guns. You'll go into their national database, like every gun owning Canadian. You can also purchase guns in Canada with these licenses.

I think those who were denied were requesting ATT (Authorisation to Transport). That's just asking if you can bring guns in.

I was looking at a job in Alaska once and I was wondering how I'd get all my guns up with me. Most of my stuff is handguns/NFA and would require a Canadian Prohibited License. Those are only available on a case by case basis or to those who possessed prohibited weapons prior to 1997.
 
Prince Yamato said:
Yes. You get a Canadian Possession and Acquisitions License (PAL) for non-restricted long guns or a Restricted Possession and Acquisitions License (RPAL) for handguns and restricted long guns. You'll go into their national database, like every gun owning Canadian. You can also purchase guns in Canada with these licenses.

I think those who were denied were requesting ATT (Authorisation to Transport). That's just asking if you can bring guns in.

I was looking at a job in Alaska once and I was wondering how I'd get all my guns up with me. Most of my stuff is handguns/NFA and would require a Canadian Prohibited License. Those are only available on a case by case basis or to those who possessed prohibited weapons prior to 1997.
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I've considered moving to Alaska and wondered the same thing about getting the guns there. My solution would be to take my car on the ferry (from Anacordes 2 hrs or so north of Seattle) in WA state to Alaska. Then again, I live on the west coast.
 
traveling to canada with firearms

I have driven through Canada a few times on my way to Alaska to hunt. It is doable with rifles and shotguns, and the ammo is ok up to a limit (which I don't
remember)...unless they have changed laws, they do not want you transporting handgun ammo...at the time they named 38 caliber...you can apply for a permit to transport handguns...takes quite a bit of time...like weeks.
you can transport what we consider handgun ammo (other than 38 caliber) if you are also transporting a rifle that shoots it...44 mag, 45long colt, 454 casul
etc. otherwise they will take your ammo away. I also had to pay a fee to get my rifles through the country...be sure to get a receipt and keep it as you will need it to clear Canadian Customs when you leave the country. They didn't give me a receipt the first time... could have been double charged or worse. The other thing that they could give you a problem with is how long you are in the country with guns... apparently the gentleman at the Vancouver location in charge of allowing you into the country....separate building after getting the guns handled...was having a bad night and was not going to let me enter the country with the rifles as I told him I would only be in the country for 5 days on the way to Alaska...he could have and almost did
keep me out as he said one person could not drive it in 5 days. Just as info... paying for the guns is only part of the entrance to Canada. He was the only nasty experience I have ever had in Canada, but you need to beware that you could be prevented from going through their country on a whim of the immigration side of things. I have not driven through Canada for several years now, but recommend using a different entrance than Vancouver if you have a choice.
 
Don't forget that Canada has magazine capacity limits.

Pistol magazines = 10 round max capacity
Rifle magazines = 5 round max capacity

It's not legal to import/possess magazines that have a greater than allowed capacity.
 
Planning ahead and hope nothing changes your schedule. I didn't bother with it but had a big bear spray and a hatchet.
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I have a friend that tried to enter Canada with bear spray. At that time, it fell into the same category as an illegal hand gun. He was detained at the border for eleven hours, and his car and boat were totally emptied. Every fishing lure, every article of clothing had to be laid out for inspection.

The border guard made a big deal out of the fact that they were lucky. Could have been charged with a felony.

We go fishing there every other year. Gonna be going again this month. Dunno if it's legal now, but I'd check. The owner of our fish camp has bears wander thru their on a consistent basis. Took him about five years to get a permit for a .44 mag pistol, and he's a resident in good standing with an obvious need.
 
Quiet wrote:

Rifle magazines = 5 round max capacity

It's not legal to import/possess magazines that have a greater than allowed capacity.
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And yet I was able to buy 10-round Enfield No. 4 magazines from Marstar Canada with no problem. Shipped right to my door. I don't know how it works for Canadian residents. It seems that the Enfield would be a common gun in Canada.
 
I have a friend that tried to enter Canada with bear spray. At that time, it fell into the same category as an illegal hand gun. He was detained at the border for eleven hours, and his car and boat were totally emptied. Every fishing lure, every article of clothing had to be laid out for inspection.

The border guard made a big deal out of the fact that they were lucky. Could have been charged with a felony.
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That tale may be lacking in details. As I understand it, pepper spray labeled and intended for use as wildlife defense is legal, pepper spray labeled and intended for defense against humans is not legal (even if its chemically identical). If your friend made a comment about using BEAR spray (not to be used as a generic name for pepper spray) for protection from people, he could well have been charged, even if the actual item was legal.

Someone with more current knowledge of Canadian laws may have more accurate or up to date info. What it amounts to is defending yourself from a human, or stating you intend to, isn't legal, and is not a valid reason to have a firearm or pepper spray.
 
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