Shorten PAL Approval Times

Hi everybody. I just submited my application this past Monday and now must wait the 28 days minimum. When would it be wise to contact them to make sure things go soothly? On day 29?
 
NiksaNovovic said:
I completely agree with everything that you wrote here, calalta. In fact this is exactly what I did with my application and as far as I know neither my references or I got calls for interviews. I called once to check my application status, and the next day my application was available on the CFC website. I called again 2-3 days later and was told on the phone that they had all of the information they needed, that my application was finished, and at the end of the mandated 28 day waiting period, I would be getting my licence. Be polite, but be persistent, and you will most likely cut down on the amount of time your application spends sitting on someone's desk before it's processed.

Niksa
Click to expand...
Same here.
 
I was checking this thread daily while i was anxiously waiting, so i thought I’d share my experience as well in case it is helpful for anyone.

Applied online in early March at the same time as 3 friends. Everyone, except myself, received their cards about a week after the 28 day hold period.

I waited another week before calling CFO and was told the standard response others have previously mentioned here - there is a backlog and to call back in 6 months. However, whether coincidence or not, the next day my status changed to valid and card will be printed and mailed.

It was another 2 weeks until i received the card. So a total time of 2 months from applying.

This is Ontario.
 
AltBubba said:
I mailed mine in and it hit their system the first week of July. It will be interesting to see how my wait time compares with online wait times.
Click to expand...
Update; this is Ontario, mailed in due to 2 caveats;
-a peace bond that expired in the late 90's
-an FAC that expired in the early 90's

The status changed in early Sept25 to "completed initial processing...blah, blah", so I figured I'd wait a while....

giphy.gif


I committed to do better in 2026 and at the end of April on my 10th attempt that day I was able to get put ON HOLD. After sitting in the queue for over 20 minutes a pleasant woman answered, took few details and put me back on hold. She returned a few minutes later and said everything looks OK, and said it would be approved and I should see my PAL by early June. I checked the status a week later and it said it was to be printed and mailed and it showed up in my mailbox the following Friday
 
Just adding on my experience so far for BC. I submitted my application at the start of November 2025 and to date, 7 months later, there is still no update other than its still in processing. My guarantors and spouse both filled out the email info the day they received it, and that's showing as being done in the portal as well. No criminal record, first time PAL/RPAL as my older stuff from back in the day expired long ago.

I have tried calling twice now and been given the processing explanation, and emailed through the CFP portal twice with no updates other than still processing and give it a couple months. I didn't think I was going to get it in time for end of year hunting season last year, but seeing how I am missing the spring season startup its getting aggravating. Some of us are trying to provide for our families in this ever-escalating economy so not being able to hunt, or know when you may be able to hunt, is pretty weak.

The bigger issue for me isn't so much the waiting, its the lack of transparency, clarity, or accountability. There is such a stringent process on the applicants to follow, pay and take your training courses, pay for the application, then the CFO office does whatever they want on their own timeline without being accountable for anything. And the answer being that we just have to sit back and take it unless you can get your MP to take on the issue (and then if the CFO bothers to respond to the MP) is just another example of the GOV not serving its actual taxpayers.

For additional reference, in the time I have been waiting on a response to my PAL/RPAL application, I have received my Reliability Clearance for work in some RCMP projects which that whole process took about 2 months. I realize they are different checks, but essentially very similar, so they have no problem processing you through when its of benefit to them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom