Possession and acquisition licence
| Possession and acquisition licence | |
|---|---|
Sample of a Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) | |
| Type | Firearms licence |
| Issued by | Royal Canadian Mounted Police |
| First issued | 1995 |
| Purpose | Possession and acquisition of firearms |
| Valid in | Canada |
| Eligibility | Safety training course completion, enhanced background check |
| Expiration | 5 years |
| Cost | Varies by classification |
The possession and acquisition licence (PAL; French: permis de possession et d'acquisition) is a firearms licence in Canada that permits eligible individuals to carry and possess firearms in Canada. Applicants must be a Canadian resident and 18 years of age or older, with a alternative standard set for minors ages 12–17 and Indigenous people of Canada.
All PAL applicants need to undergo a series of background checks, security screenings, safety training, and mental and physical health examinations in order to be eligible for a PAL. PAL holders are not given unconditional rights to transport and carry firearms in a public setting, and need to possess a valid authorization to transport or authorization to carry permit issued by their respective chief firearms officer (CFO)
In Canada, firearms are classified into prohibited, restricted and non-restricted categories. The correct and corresponding PAL is required to acquire and possess the category of firearm (i.e, PAL for non-restricted, RPAL for restricted, Prohib 12.x for prohibited).