What you need to know: changes to handgun transfers
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Note
On December 15, 2023, Bill C-21 received royal assent, and the government changed the Firearms Act to include the limits on handgun transfers that it first implemented by regulatory amendments on October 21, 2022:
- Individuals can continue to possess and use the registered handguns they currently own;
- Individuals can no longer purchase or import a handgun into Canada, unless the individual belongs to one of the identified exempt groups;
- Individuals and businesses cannot transfer a handgun to an individual within Canada, unless the individual belongs to one of the identified exempt groups;
- Individuals and businesses cannot submit applications to transfer handguns through the contact centre or Business Web Services, when the buyer is an individual, unless the buyer belongs to one of the identified exempt groups;
- Authorized businesses may continue to sell handguns to exempted individuals, law enforcement and defence personnel or other authorized businesses; and
- Individuals, or the estate of a deceased handgun owner, may only dispose of handguns by (a) selling or giving them to an exempted individual, or to a licenced business or museum; (b) lawfully exporting them; (c) having them deactivated; or (d) surrendering them to a chief firearms officer, a firearms officer, a law enforcement officer for destruction without compensation.
Exempt groups
Effective December 15, 2023, an individual is only eligible to acquire and import a handgun if they:
- hold an Authorization to Carry for personal protection or lawful occupation (working in a remote wilderness area or trapping); or
- train, compete or coach in a handgun shooting discipline that is on the programme of the International Olympic Committee or the International Paralympic Committee, and the individual provides a letter to a chief firearms officer from a provincial or national sport shooting governing body indicating:
- that the individual trains, competes or coaches in such a discipline;
- the specific discipline in which the individual trains, competes or coaches; and
- that the handgun that the individual seeks to acquire is necessary for training, competing or coaching in that specific discipline.
Businesses are allowed to acquire and register handguns provided that they have the appropriate privileges on their firearms licence to acquire handguns (restricted and/or prohibited).
In order to import a handgun, a business, or an individual who qualifies for an exemption, requires an Import Permit issued by Global Affairs Canada. For information, please contact the Export Controls Operations Division of Global Affairs Canada at: 343-203-4331.
For further information, please consult the Public Safety Canada website.
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