Questions and answers: changes to prohibited firearms and devices
How do I know if I have an affected firearm or device?
The list of affected firearms and devices is available online:
- List of prohibited firearms (2020 prohibition)
- List of prohibited firearms (2024 prohibition)
- List of prohibited firearms (2025 prohibition)
The Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted is also available on the Justice Canada website under Consolidated Acts and Regulations. You may also call the Canadian Firearms Program Contact Centre at 1-800-731-4000 to confirm if your firearm or device is prohibited.
What do the Amnesty Orders do?
A Criminal Code amnesty period is in effect until October 30, 2026. The amnesty is designed to protect individuals or businesses who, at the time the prohibition came into force, were in lawful possession of a prohibited firearm or device and continue to hold a valid firearms licence from criminal liability for unlawful possession. It permits these individuals or businesses to undertake certain activities in order to comply with the law.
What should I do if I have a prohibited firearm or device?
Affected owners are not permitted to sell the prohibited firearms or devices to individuals within Canada, use or transport them except for the permitted purposes described in the Amnesty Orders. The prohibited firearms must be kept securely stored in accordance with the legal storage requirements for the classification of the firearm prior to their prohibition while steps are taken to comply with their disposal.
During the amnesty period, affected owners will have to dispose of their prohibited firearms or devices before the end of the amnesty period.
How can I dispose of my prohibited firearm or device?
Permitted methods to dispose of prohibited firearms or devices include:
- deactivation of the firearm by an approved business at any time within the amnesty period, with no compensation;
- contacting a police detachment at any time within amnesty period to deliver the firearm or device for destruction, with no compensation (appointment required);
- exporting the firearm or device for sale outside of Canada with the proper export authorizations;
- if a business, returning the firearm or device to the manufacturer.
The Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP) is also an option for individual firearm owners and businesses to seek compensation for the disposal of their prohibited firearms and devices before the end of the amnesty period.
Can I continue to use, sell, import, transfer ownership or transport my prohibited firearm or device?
If you are an individual or a business without prohibited firearm licence privileges, you can no longer legally use, sell, import, transfer or transport the prohibited firearms or devices except as permitted in the Amnesty Orders. They can only be transported under the following circumstances:
- delivering them to a police officer for destruction, with or without compensation;
- deactivating the firearm by an approved business;
- storing or retrieving the firearm from an alternate location with an authorized person;
- legally exporting the firearm;
- if an individual, delivering the firearm or device to someone authorized by the Government of Canada to destroy it or to a licenced shipping company that will send it for deactivation;
- if a business, returning the firearm or device to the manufacturer, delivering it to someone authorized by the Government of Canada to destroy it, or delivering it to a licenced shipping company that will send it for destruction or deactivation.
An individual should not deliver a firearm to a police station without first making arrangements with a police officer for a safe and scheduled delivery or pick up.
An individual may use and transport the firearm during the amnesty period, if it was previously non-restricted, to hunt for the purposes of sustenance or to exercise a right recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. These individuals may also transport the firearm for repairs or adjustments.
Businesses that are licenced to possess prohibited firearms will maintain this privilege. The affected firearms can be transferred to another business that has the appropriate licence privileges. If an affected firearm has been taken on consignment by a business, it must be returned to the owner. A business that has the appropriate activity and conditions attached to its licence for prohibited firearms may act as an agent for export or deactivation for an individual or other business and advise the Registrar of Firearms once completed. Businesses must comply with storage and transportation requirements set out under the Firearms Act and its regulations.
What should I do if I am returning to Canada with a prohibited firearm?
When an individual declares a prohibited firearm upon returning to Canada, they will be intercepted at the border and will not be allowed to import the firearm. The individual will be given the option of exporting or abandoning the firearm to the Crown.
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