Apply for a firearms business licence, a carrier licence or a shooting range and/or club approval
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Online application for a business licence (including museums)
The online service is used to apply for a business licence, and pay for it online. This service is intended for a business or museum applying for a firearms business licence for the first time.
To apply online, all businesses (including museums) must:
- have a credit card or Visa debit
- have a valid and unique email address
- have a valid business or museum registration/incorporation number
- be able to provide a copy of one of the following:
- article of incorporation;
- business name registration; or
- certificate of incorporation under the Society Act or Cooperative Association Act
- be able to provide a copy of one of the following:
- a business licence from the municipality stating the business will sell firearms and/or ammunition;
- a copy of the letter to the local municipality outlining the proposed business activities, that includes a request to confirm compliance with the appropriate zoning and by-laws and a copy of the letter received from the municipality confirming above; or
- if you are in a regional district or unincorporated area and no business licence is required, a letter stating this from the regional district or unincorporated body
- have contact information for every person who is related to the business in one of the following ways:
- the person is an owner of, or partner in, the business;
- if the business is a corporation, the person is a director or officer of the corporation; or
- the person has a relationship with a person described above and
- has a direct influence on the operations of the business; or
- could have access to the firearms held by the business
To qualify as a museum, your business must:
- be a non-profit organization;
- be federally or provincially incorporated;
- collect, preserve, study, interpret, assemble or exhibit objects of educational or cultural value;
- be open to the public or hold regular displays or demonstrations for the public; and
- be a member in good standing of a national or provincial museums association (applicable to either the museum or curator)
Online application for a carrier licence
The online service is used to apply for a carrier licence to transport firearms, prohibited weapons, prohibited devices or prohibited ammunition anywhere within Canada or across Canadian borders. This application is for transportation businesses that carry on business in Canada applying for a carrier licence for the first time.
To apply online, you must:
- be able to provide one of the required documents as part of the application:
- business registration certificate; or
- articles of incorporation
- be able to identify every person who is related to the business in one of the following ways:
- the person is an owner of, or partner in, the business;
- if the business is a corporation, the person is a director or officer of the corporation; or
- the person has a relationship with a person described above and
- has a direct influence on the operations of the business; or
- could have access to the firearms held by the business
You must also retain records for a minimum of 5 years.
If packages containing firearms must ever be off-loaded into a warehouse or distribution terminal for any length of time in Canada, you must lease or own the building, part of the building or space within.
Note that the fee for a carrier licence is $125 Canadian dollars. The fee is non-refundable.
Online shooting range or club approval
The online service is for an individual, an association, or business to apply for approval to establish or operate a shooting range and/or shooting club in Canada. This service is intended for anyone applying for a shooting range and/or shooting club approval for the first time.
Shooting range
To apply online you must:
- be able to provide evidence of at least $2 million of commercial general liability insurance for the shooting range;
- be able to provide evidence of a survey report, location certificate or other similar document for the shooting range;
- have proof of compliance with local zoning laws or be able to provide a letter verifying that you are exempt from providing proof of compliance with local zoning laws;
- be able to provide a copy of your operating licence or be able to provide a letter verifying that you are exempt from providing a copy of your operating licence;
- confirm that the shooting range meets the Range Guidelines;
- be able to provide a copy of the safety rules for the shooting range; and
- be able to provide evidence that the shooting range complies with any federal, provincial or municipal environmental protection legislation that applies to the establishment and operation of such a facility
Shooting club
A shooting club is a non-profit organization whose activities include target practice or target shooting competitions using restricted firearms or prohibited handguns at an identified approved shooting range.
To apply online you must:
- have liability insurance of at least $2 million for the shooting club;
- be able to provide a copy of the articles of incorporation to demonstrate that the shooting club is a non-profit organization;
- be able to provide the contact information of all club executives;
- be able to provide the contact information of all club members; and
- be affiliated with at least one approved shooting range
By mail
If you are not eligible to apply online, you must complete and submit an application by mail.
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