Authorization to Transport (ATT) in Canada: Rules and Application

An Authorization to Transport in Canada is the permit that lets a licensed owner move a restricted or prohibited firearm away from its registered storage address. You need one for every trip with a restricted or prohibited firearm, either as a short-term ATT issued by a provincial or territorial Chief Firearms Officer (CFO) or as an automatic condition attached to your licence.¹ Non-restricted rifles and shotguns do not require one.

Which Firearms Need an ATT

Canadian law sorts firearms into three classes. Only two of them are affected.

Restricted firearms — most handguns and certain semi-automatic rifles. Any movement away from the registered storage address requires ATT coverage.
Prohibited firearms — fully automatic weapons, short-barrelled handguns, and firearms listed by Order in Council. The same requirement applies, but under Section 19 of the Firearms Act most prohibited firearms can only be moved for narrow purposes like repair, sale, disposal, or surrender to a peace officer, not for general target shooting.²
Non-restricted firearms — standard hunting rifles and shotguns. No ATT needed as long as the firearm is unloaded and stored safely.¹

You also need a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) endorsed for the class in question. Restricted privileges require passing the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course.³ If you are unsure how a particular firearm is classified, the RCMP publishes the Canadian Firearms Reference Table.⁴

Bill C-21 imposed a national freeze on the sale, purchase, transfer, and importation of handguns in late 2023, but existing owners can still possess, use, and transport handguns they lawfully held before the freeze.⁵ The ATT process itself did not change.

Trips Your Licence Already Covers

Not every trip requires an application. Under Section 19(2.1) of the Firearms Act, when a restricted-firearms licence is issued or renewed, it automatically authorizes transport within the holder’s province of residence to and from all approved shooting ranges, and covers the initial trip home after purchasing a restricted firearm.² This automatic authorization does not apply to firearms acquired for a collection.

An automatic condition remains valid for the life of the licence, up to five years from the licence holder’s next birthday after issuance.⁶ To confirm what your licence currently covers, call the Canadian Firearms Program at 1-800-731-4000.

Trips That Still Need a Separate ATT

Everything outside range travel and the trip home from purchase requires a short-term ATT from the CFO. That includes trips to:

Gun shows
Gunsmiths or appraisers
A peace officer or firearms officer for verification, registration, or disposal
A port of exit for taking the firearm out of Canada
A new residence when you move

A short-term ATT specifies exact dates, a destination, and a route. Older RCMP forms still reference the broader automatic conditions that Bill C-42 once provided, but those were narrowed by Bill C-71 and the forms are being updated.⁷

How to Apply

You apply through the CFO of the province or territory where the firearm is located. Three channels are available:

Online through the RCMP’s Individual Web Services portal. You enter the firearm’s registration details, choose a destination and reason, and track the application’s status electronically.
By phone at 1-800-731-4000. Have your name, licence number, registration certificate number, firearm identification number, destination, and travel dates ready.⁸
By mail, using Form RCMP 5490 sent to the Canadian Firearms Program office in your province or territory.⁹

There is no fee for the ATT itself. The PAL you must already hold costs $60 for non-restricted or $80 for restricted or prohibited class; if your licence covers more than one class, the highest applicable fee applies.¹⁰

What Form RCMP 5490 Asks For

The form requires your firearms licence number, full legal name, and the registration certificate number for each firearm you plan to transport.⁹ You pick a single reason from a list that includes change of residence, transport to a licensed firearms business for repair, transport to a gun show, and transport to a target shooting competition, among others. Provide the exact destination address: the gunsmith’s business name and street address, the shooting club’s name, or the new residential address.

Every approved ATT carries a condition that you take a reasonably direct route between the departure point and the destination.⁸ Detours or stops unrelated to the stated purpose can put you offside the law.

After Approval

Processing times vary with volume. Approved authorizations are delivered through the web portal or by mail. Keep a printed or saved copy with you during transport, together with your PAL and the firearm’s registration certificate. Police can ask to see all three at any time.

Physical Transport Rules

Paperwork is only half the compliance picture. The Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations set out how a restricted or prohibited firearm must be secured on every trip, and violating them is a separate summary conviction offence.¹¹

Unloaded. No ammunition in the chamber, breech, or attached magazine.
Fitted with a secure locking device, such as a trigger lock or cable lock, so the firearm cannot be discharged.
Placed inside a locked opaque container sturdy enough that it cannot be easily broken open or accidentally opened during travel.

All three layers apply at the same time.

In a Vehicle

If the locked container sits in an unattended vehicle, it must be in the trunk or a similar securely lockable compartment. In a vehicle without a trunk, the container must be out of sight from outside and not readily accessible to anyone inside. The vehicle itself must be locked whenever you step away.¹¹

By Air

Firearms, firearm parts, and ammunition are prohibited in carry-on baggage. On any Canadian flight, declare the firearm to the airline at check-in, ensure it is unloaded, and pack it in a locked hard-sided container as checked baggage.¹² Airlines can impose additional requirements, so contact yours before travelling. A valid ATT covering the trip is still required.

On Public Transit

The federal transport regulations do not carve out exemptions for buses or trains. The same unloaded, locking-device, and locked-container rules apply. Individual transit authorities may have their own policies restricting firearms on board, so check with the local operator first.

Visitors Bringing Restricted Firearms Into Canada

Non-residents most often bring a restricted firearm to Canada for a shooting competition. Two documents are required: an ATT and a Non-Resident Firearm Declaration (Form RCMP 5589).

The sequence matters. Before travelling, call the Canadian Firearms Program at 1-800-731-4000 to request an ATT application, then apply to and receive approval from the CFO of the province you plan to visit. At the border, declare the firearm, present the approved ATT, and complete the Non-Resident Firearm Declaration. Once a border services officer confirms it, the declaration acts as a temporary licence and registration certificate for up to 60 days. The declaration fee is CAN$25.¹³

You cannot enter with a restricted firearm without an ATT already in hand. If you arrive without one, the CBSA may hold the firearm for up to 14 days to give you time to apply, and you will need the approved ATT to retrieve it.¹³ Prohibited firearms, prohibited devices, and prohibited weapons cannot be imported by visitors under any circumstances. Visitors must also be at least 18 and have a valid purpose such as competition, hunting, or repair.

Penalties for Getting It Wrong

Transporting a restricted or prohibited firearm without proper authorization is a criminal offence. Under Section 94 of the Criminal Code, occupying a motor vehicle knowing it contains a restricted firearm without the required licence, registration certificate, and authorization is punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment on indictment, with a summary conviction track carrying lesser penalties but still a criminal record.¹⁴ Broader unauthorized possession under Section 91 can bring up to five years on indictment.¹⁵

A peace officer who asks to see your authorization and does not get one can seize the firearm. You then have 14 days to produce the required documents and reclaim it. If you do not, the officer brings the matter before a provincial court judge, who can order permanent forfeiture, and may do so on public-safety grounds regardless.¹⁶ At the border, failing to declare or providing false information can lead to seizure, criminal charges, and monetary penalties, and a firearms conviction can affect future admissibility to Canada.¹³

Even with a valid ATT, breaking the physical transport rules is a separate summary conviction offence: forgetting the trigger lock, using a soft case, or leaving the firearm visible in an unattended vehicle all count.¹¹ Having the paperwork right means nothing if the firearm is improperly secured during the drive.

Shipping Instead of Carrying

If you need to send a restricted firearm rather than carry it, Canada Post’s most secure delivery method is available for restricted firearms and prohibited handguns, with a signature required on delivery. Other prohibited firearms must be shipped by the owner personally or through a licensed carrier company.¹ An ATT is still required for the shipment.

1
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Authorization to Transport
2
Justice Laws Website. Firearms Act SC 1995, c. 39 – Section 19
3
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Safety Courses
4
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Firearms Reference Table
5
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. What You Need to Know: Changes to Handgun Transfers
6
Justice Laws Website. Firearms Act SC 1995, c. 39 – Section 64
7
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Firearms Forms and Reports
8
Department of Justice Canada. Authorizations to Transport Restricted Firearms and Prohibited Firearms Regulations
9
Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Application for an Authorization to Transport Restricted Firearms and Prohibited Firearms
10
Justice Laws Website. Firearms Fees Regulations SOR/98-204
11
Justice Laws Website. Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations
12
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. Firearms
13
Canada Border Services Agency. Firearms and Weapons: Canadian Border Requirements
14
Justice Laws Website. Criminal Code RSC 1985, c. C-46 – Section 94
15
Justice Laws Website. Criminal Code RSC 1985, c. C-46 – Section 91
16
Department of Justice Canada. Criminal Code RSC 1985, c. C-46 – Forfeiture Provisions