PAL renewal is simple if you do it on time, and a real headache if you do not. This guide covers when to renew, how PAL renewal online works, the fees as of October 2026, what you need, and exactly what happens if your licence expires. It applies to both the non-restricted PAL and the PAL with restricted privileges (RPAL). If you are still getting your first licence, start with how to get a PAL in Canada instead.
One thing first: renewal does not involve a test. But the rules have changed a lot since many licence holders took their course, so we also suggest a quick refresher with the free PAL practice test before you renew. More on that at the end.
How PAL renewal works
A Possession and Acquisition Licence lasts five years. Under Firearms Act s.64, an adult's licence expires five years after the holder's first birthday following the date it was issued. In practice, that means your PAL expires on your birthday. Check the date on the front of your card.
To keep it, you apply for a renewal before that date. If you renew with the same privileges, the process is lighter than your first application:
| First PAL application | PAL renewal | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | RCMP 5592 (or online) | RCMP 5614 (or online) |
| Safety course proof | Required | Not required |
| References | Two required | Not required |
| Photo | Required | Required (less than 12 months old) |
| Partner information | Current and former (last 2 years) | Current and former (last 2 years) |
| 28-day minimum wait | Yes | No |
| Fee (until 30 March 2027) | $70.38 / $93.84 | $70.38 / $93.84 |
The difference comes from the Firearms Licences Regulations, which say that the sections covering first applications (including references and the 28-day waiting period) do not apply to a renewal.
Key fact: You do not retake the CFSC or CRFSC to renew. A renewal with the same classes needs no new course, no new tests and no references.
When to renew your PAL
The renewal notice
The RCMP Canadian Firearms Program sends a renewal notice to valid licence holders about three months before the expiry date. It goes to the address on file, which is one reason the law requires you to report a change of address to your Chief Firearms Officer within 30 days.
Do not wait for the notice
If you have moved and forgot to update your address, the notice may never reach you. Put your expiry date in your calendar now, with a reminder four months ahead. The RCMP does not publish an earliest date for submitting a renewal, so the practical rule is: apply as soon as the notice arrives, or as soon as you are within about three months of expiry.
Why early matters
- If something is wrong with your application (a rejected photo, missing partner details, a payment problem), you need time to fix it before the expiry date.
- If you hold an RPAL and travel to the range, your transport authorization ends on the original expiry date even if your licence is extended (see below).
- Mailed applications can take weeks just to be entered into the system.
PAL renewal online: step by step
Most people renew online through the RCMP's Individual Web Services. It is usually the fastest route.
Before you start
Have these ready:
- Your licence number and personal identification details so the system can verify you.
- A digital photo that meets RCMP photo requirements.
- Current partner details: name, date of birth, address and phone number.
- Former partner details for anyone you lived with in a conjugal relationship in the last two years.
- A credit card for the fee.
The steps
- Sign in to Individual Web Services and verify your identity with your licence number and personal details.
- Choose to renew your firearms licence.
- Confirm or update your personal information and address.
- Answer the personal history questions honestly. These cover things like criminal charges, mental health treatment involving violence, and threats or violence, and they are checked.
- Enter current and former partner information. Partners can sign electronically. If they do not sign, the Chief Firearms Officer must notify them of your renewal, which is routine.
- Upload your photo.
- Pay the fee.
- Submit and save your confirmation number.
Submitting does not complete the renewal. Your file is reviewed, and you may be contacted for more information. You can check progress through the same online account.
When you cannot renew online
The RCMP says online renewal is not available if:
- you need a religious exemption from providing a photo;
- you already have a renewal in progress;
- your licence is a minor's licence; or
- your licence is no longer valid (see the expired licence section for the conflicting guidance on this).
In those cases, use the paper form.
Renewing by mail with form RCMP 5614
You can also renew on paper with the Application for Renewal of a Firearms Licence for an Individual (RCMP 5614). You can download it from the RCMP forms page or request it by phone at 1-800-731-4000.
Tips for the paper route:
- Fill in every section. The RCMP warns that incomplete forms cause delays.
- Sign by hand within six months before you mail it.
- Attach a printed photo no larger than 45 mm by 57 mm, less than 12 months old, plain light background, no hat or sunglasses, with your head at least 30 mm high. Rejected photos are a common cause of delay.
- Pay by certified cheque or money order payable to the Receiver General for Canada. Do not send cash.
- Mail it to RCMP, P.O. Box 1200, Miramichi NB E1N 5Z3.
Allow extra time: the RCMP says mailed applications can take two to four weeks just to be entered into the system.
PAL renewal fee (as of October 2026)
Fees are set under the Firearms Fees Regulations and adjusted every 31 March under the Service Fees Act.
| Licence type | Fee from 31 March 2026 to 30 March 2027 | Fee from 31 March 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Non-restricted PAL | $70.38 | $72.35 |
| Restricted PAL (RPAL) | $93.84 | $96.47 |
| Prohibited privileges | $93.84 | $96.47 |
| Upgrade to restricted or prohibited | $46.92 | $48.24 |
Source: RCMP changes to service fees. The fee you pay depends on the date the Canadian Firearms Program receives your application. The fee is non-refundable.
Sustenance hunters who need firearms to hunt or trap to feed themselves or their family may have the non-restricted fee waived. Only your province's Chief Firearms Officer can decide this, and the waiver does not apply to restricted or prohibited licences.
Changing your licence class
The renewal form keeps the same privileges you already have. If you want to add restricted privileges, you need to:
- Pass the CRFSC (Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course).
- Apply for a new licence on form RCMP 5592 rather than the renewal form.
- Pay the upgrade fee ($46.92 until 30 March 2027), which is half of the restricted fee.
If you are thinking about it, compare what each licence allows in PAL vs RPAL, and practise with the free RPAL practice test before the course.
If you no longer own firearms, do not need them for work and do not plan to buy ammunition or borrow firearms, the RCMP notes you do not have to renew.
What happens if your PAL expires
This is the part people worry about most. The rules come from Firearms Act s.64.
The six-month extension
If you do not renew before the expiry date, your licence is automatically extended for six months from the day it would have expired. The Chief Firearms Officer sends you notice of the extension. During those six months:
| During the six-month extension | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Keep possessing the firearms you already own | Yes |
| Use your firearms (hunting, target shooting) | No |
| Acquire firearms | No |
| Buy ammunition or cartridge magazines | No |
| Rely on an existing authorization to transport | No, it ends on the original expiry date |
| Get a new authorization to carry | No |
| Get a new authorization to transport | Only for limited reasons, such as disposal by sale or export |
| Renew your licence | Yes |
Once your renewal is approved, the restrictions end.
Key fact: The extension protects you from being in unlawful possession for six months. It does not let you hunt, shoot or buy ammunition. Hunting season with an expired PAL means not using your firearms.
Can you renew online during the extension?
The guidance is not consistent. The RCMP's Individual Web Services page, updated in March 2026, says you can renew online or by mail if your licence expired on or after 30 November 2017 and you are within six months of the expiry date. An older RCMP renewal page says you cannot renew online once the licence has expired. If you are in the extension period, try online and, if it is refused, call 1-800-731-4000 or use the paper form right away.
After six months
When the extension ends without a renewal:
- Your licence is no longer valid. The renewal route is closed, and you must apply for a new licence on form RCMP 5592, which means references, the 28-day minimum waiting period and full screening.
- If you hold restricted or prohibited firearms, the RCMP sends a notice revoking their registration certificates right after the extension ends.
- Possessing firearms without a valid licence (and, for restricted firearms, without a registration certificate) is an offence under the Criminal Code (ss.91 and 92).
If you are in this position, contact the Canadian Firearms Program or your CFO immediately. Options generally include storing firearms with someone licensed to possess them, transferring them lawfully or applying for a new licence. Do not keep using them.
Do you need to retake the course after expiry?
Usually not. Eligibility depends on having passed the CFSC (and CRFSC for restricted privileges) tests, and a new application asks you to prove that. Keep your original course report somewhere safe; it is your evidence. The main case where the law requires you to take the course and tests again is after a court prohibition order has expired. If you are unsure, ask your CFO before applying.
Special situations
RPAL holders and range transport
When an RPAL is renewed, the holder is automatically authorized to transport restricted firearms within their province to and from all approved shooting clubs and ranges (Firearms Act s.19(2.1)). If your licence lapses into the extension period, that authorization stops on the original expiry date. That is a strong reason RPAL holders should renew early. See transporting firearms in Canada.
Minors turning 18
A minor's licence expires on the holder's 18th birthday and cannot be renewed online. Young people should apply for an adult PAL; they can do so up to six months before turning 18.
Former POL holders
The old Possession Only Licence (POL) was converted to a PAL by 2015 legislation. If you once held a POL, you renew like any other PAL holder.
Moving provinces
Your PAL is valid anywhere in Canada. You must report your new address within 30 days. Your renewal will then be handled by the CFO in your new province.
Common renewal problems
- Photo rejected. The most common avoidable delay. Follow the size and background rules exactly.
- Missing former partner details. If you separated in the last two years, you must list that person, or explain that you do not know their contact details.
- Notice went to an old address. Update your address within 30 days of every move.
- Waiting until the last week. Any problem then pushes you into the extension period.
- Assuming a renewal changes your class. Upgrading to restricted needs a new application after the CRFSC.
Your refresher plan before you renew
Renewal has no test, but your licence still requires you to follow current storage, transport and handling law. A lot has changed in five years: the national handgun transfer freeze (October 2022), a licence requirement to buy ammunition, magazines and firearm parts (September 2024), and new prohibitions in December 2024 and March 2025. Our practice tests are an independent study aid, and they are a quick way to see whether your knowledge is still current.
- Take the free 20-question PAL diagnostic to check what you remember.
- Review the firearm storage rules and the free legal responsibilities note.
- If you hold an RPAL, read the restricted rules note and try the RPAL diagnostic.
- Want a full check? Sit the free PAL mock exam. Pro (from CA$7.99 a week, cancel anytime) gives you nine more mocks and every study note; see pricing.
- Put your next expiry date in your calendar, with a reminder four months ahead.
10 free PAL (CFSC) practice questions with answers
Try each one, then open the answer. For a timed experience use the free mock exam.
1. What do the 'shell stops' (shell latches) in a pump shotgun do?
- A. Hold the barrel firmly onto the receiver
- B. Stop the fore-end from sliding at all
- C. Hold shells in the tube until one is fed
- D. Stop the shot pattern from spreading
Show answer
C. Hold shells in the tube until one is fed
Shell stops keep shells in the tube until the action releases one onto the carrier. Pressing them is also one way to unload the magazine (CFSC Handbook, Module 6).
2. When deciding eligibility, which past court order involving an intimate partner must a CFO take into account?
- A. A parking ban at a condominium
- B. A family court order on child support
- C. A firearms ban after violence to a partner
- D. A civil judgment for unpaid rent
Show answer
C. A firearms ban after violence to a partner
Firearms Act s.5(2)(e) directs the CFO to consider whether, in respect of an offence involving violence against an intimate or former intimate partner, the person was previously prohibited by a prohibition order from possessing firearms and other weapons.
3. A cartridge is described as '6.5 mm'. What does the number refer to?
- A. The barrel length in inches
- B. The case length in centimetres
- C. The rough bullet diameter in millimetres
- D. The number of cartridges per box
Show answer
C. The rough bullet diameter in millimetres
Metric calibres give the approximate bullet or bore diameter in millimetres. Case length, capacity and barrel length are other measurements.
4. When firing a shotgun, where should your body weight be?
- A. On the back leg
- B. On the leading leg
- C. Evenly on the heels
- D. On the toes of the back foot
Show answer
B. On the leading leg
When firing a shotgun, shift your body weight to the leading leg, with the leading hand on the fore-stock pointing naturally at the target.
5. For a right-handed shooter in the standing position, how is the body placed?
- A. About 45° to the right of the target
- B. Square to the target
- C. Back to the target
- D. About 90° to the left of the target
Show answer
A. About 45° to the right of the target
In the standing position, a right-handed shooter turns about 45° to the right of the target with the feet about shoulder-width apart.
6. You are hunting alone and come to a barbed-wire fence. What is the safest way to cross?
- A. Unload, slide it under the fence, cross away from the muzzle
- B. Climb over holding the loaded rifle
- C. Lean the loaded rifle on the fence and climb
- D. Cross with the safety on and finger outside the guard
Show answer
A. Unload, slide it under the fence, cross away from the muzzle
Unload the firearm and PROVE it, place it on the far side or slide it under the fence with the muzzle pointed away from where you will cross, cross at a different spot, then pick it up by the stock and check the bore before reloading.
7. You sell your non-restricted rifle to a licensed buyer who lives in another province. What is required?
- A. A registration certificate
- B. The buyer's licence and a valid reference number
- C. Nothing extra; out-of-province sales are unregulated
- D. A permit from both provinces
Show answer
B. The buyer's licence and a valid reference number
Firearms Act s.23 applies to any non-restricted transfer in Canada: the buyer must hold a licence to acquire it and you must obtain a valid reference number from the Registrar. Licences are valid throughout Canada (s.63). Shipping must follow SOR/98-209.
8. When may you load one barrel of a double-barrelled percussion shotgun?
- A. Only with both hammers cocked
- B. Only after the other barrel's cap is off
- C. Only after firing both barrels
- D. Any time, if the muzzle is up
Show answer
B. Only after the other barrel's cap is off
Do not load one barrel of a double-barrelled muzzleloading shotgun unless the percussion cap on the other barrel's nipple has been removed.
9. Why should you never shoot at flat, hard surfaces or at water?
- A. The noise is much louder
- B. It damages the barrel's rifling
- C. Bullets can ricochet unpredictably
- D. It is only a problem with shotguns
Show answer
C. Bullets can ricochet unpredictably
Projectiles striking water, rock or other flat, hard surfaces can glance off (ricochet) at unpredictable angles and carry dangerous energy a long way. The CFSC teaches choosing targets with a safe backstop that will stop projectiles.
10. What is the 'hammer' on a firearm?
- A. The part that strikes the firing pin or primer
- B. The sling attachment at the butt
- C. The part used to clean the bore
- D. The part that holds the magazine
Show answer
A. The part that strikes the firing pin or primer
The hammer is a spring-powered part that, when released by the trigger, strikes the firing pin (or directly the primer in some designs) to fire the cartridge. It may be exposed or internal.
Frequently asked questions
+How much does it cost to renew a PAL in 2026?
From 31 March 2026 to 30 March 2027 the renewal fee is $70.38 for a non-restricted licence and $93.84 for a restricted or prohibited licence. From 31 March 2027 these rise to $72.35 and $96.47. The fee is non-refundable.
+Do I have to retake the PAL course to renew?
No. Renewing a licence with the same privileges does not require a new course, new tests, new references or proof of training. You would only need to take the course again in special cases, such as after a court prohibition order has expired.
+What happens if my PAL expires?
Your licence is automatically extended for six months, but during that time you may not use your firearms or acquire firearms, ammunition or magazines. If you renew within those six months, the extension ends and you are fully licensed again. After six months, you must apply for a new licence.
+Can I renew an expired PAL online?
The RCMP's Individual Web Services page, updated in March 2026, says you can renew online or by mail within six months of the expiry date. An older RCMP renewal page says expired licences cannot be renewed online. If your licence has already expired, call the Canadian Firearms Program at 1-800-731-4000 to confirm the right route.
+How early can I renew my PAL?
The RCMP sends a renewal notice about three months before your licence expires and does not publish an earlier start date. Apply as soon as the notice arrives so you have time to fix any problem before the expiry date.
+How long does PAL renewal take?
There is no 28-day waiting period for renewals, because that rule applies only to people who do not hold a valid licence. Processing still takes time, especially by mail, so allow several weeks. You can check the status online through Individual Web Services.
+Can I add restricted privileges when I renew my PAL?
Not through the renewal form. To change the classes on your licence, you apply for a new licence on form RCMP 5592 after passing the CRFSC. The RCMP charges a reduced upgrade fee of $46.92 until 30 March 2027.
+Do I need references to renew my PAL?
No. References and the course report are needed for a first licence, not a renewal. You must still give details of your current partner and any former partner from the last two years, and a recent photo.
Study offline on your phone too
The Canada Licence Prep app has the same questions with audio, French explanations and an ACTS & PROVE coach.
Keep reading
- How to Get Your PAL in CanadaThe 5 steps to a Canadian firearms licence: course, exams, RCMP 5592 application, references, and wait times. Includes RPAL and minors.
- PAL vs RPAL: What's the Difference?PAL covers non-restricted rifles and shotguns; RPAL adds restricted firearms. Compare courses, exams, fees, storage rules and 2026 handgun limits.
- Transporting Firearms in CanadaHow to legally transport non-restricted, restricted and prohibited firearms in Canada, when you need an ATT, vehicle rules, provinces and flights.
- Firearm Storage Rules in CanadaPlain-English firearm storage rules from SOR/98-209 for every class, plus display, vehicles, locks and ammo. Includes 'Is it legal?' scenarios.
- Free PAL Practice Test (CFSC)Free 50-question CFSC mock exam for the PAL test: 80% pass mark, timed like the real thing, scored instantly with explanations. Start with a diagnostic.
- Free RPAL Practice Test (CRFSC)Practise for the restricted (CRFSC) exam with timed 50-question RPAL mocks, handgun and storage questions, and clear explanations for every answer.