Licences are typically valid for five years and must be renewed prior to expiry to maintain the licensed classes.
Previous convictions for serious violent, drug or weapons offences almost invariably result in the denial of the application.
[8] The CFP must speak with both the transferor (seller) and the transferee (buyer) for the transfer of restricted and prohibited firearms.
An RPAL holder also needs an authorization to transport[9] (ATT) for transporting restricted firearms to any place other than an approved shooting club or shooting range within the owner’s province of residence, or to the restricted firearm’s place of storage after purchase.
PALs were introduced in Canada in 1995 as part of Bill C-68 as a replacement for the FAC (firearms acquisition certificate) system.
When first implemented, the PAL also allowed the holder to acquire a crossbow, although no licence was required to possess one.
These rules are laid out in the Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations.
An ATC for open carry is usually issued only to employees of armoured car companies or for other limited employment reasons.
In very rare situations, an ATC may be issued for protection of life, which would allow the holder to have a loaded handgun with them, or at home, without violating safe storage rules that usually require an unloaded firearm to be trigger locked and secured.