proc
CGN Regular
- Location
- Saskatchewan
You haven't heard the bad news about restricted firearms and ATT [Authorization to Transport] yet. :-( I'll leave that unpleasant surprise for your RPAL course.
American Gun lover moving to Canada Please help!
- Thread starter GMarciano
- Start date
- Location
- Kawartha Lakes
You must still be in your twenties. There will come a time when you will say, "What was I thinking."
One or two winters should be enough to clear your head. I am surprised no one has mentioned what the new guns and rifles are going to cost you
Don't forget the prenup and go home as soon as you can. Good luck brother
One or two winters should be enough to clear your head. I am surprised no one has mentioned what the new guns and rifles are going to cost you Don't forget the prenup and go home as soon as you can. Good luck brother
ontgunner
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Closer than you'd think!
You must still be in your twenties. There will come a time when you will say, "What was I thinking."
In case you didn't know...
My house this past March.
cantom
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Conservative Canada
Oh, that's your driveway after the snow was all cleared away...
We have no gun rights in this country...only "privileges" at the whim of our government.
Canadians have never been allowed to CCW.
However, it's a great place to live in many other ways.
We have no gun rights in this country...only "privileges" at the whim of our government.
Canadians have never been allowed to CCW.
However, it's a great place to live in many other ways.
Hi. Start here. http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/moving_e.asp
- Location
- Southern Ontario
From Upstate NY originally
Im really not about the hot the weather. I mean yes I get tired of the cold after a 6 months of frezzing, but i found the weather to be way worse in Rochester NY where I am originally from. you guys don't get the lake effect snow from lake Ontario. I mean it gets just as cold in Kitchener, but not nearly as much snow.
The cost. its cost more to live in Canada, no matter how you cut it. something about living near a big city.... hummm well im not a city boy and don't care for the city at all which makes it even harder to stomach paying more for something i don't want just because the majority of the population does. I was looking for houses and they are insanely expensive in comparison to what i can get in Rochester or WV, like double. for the same house, same land. unreal.
but anywho, yeah i think i say something in there about cost per firearm to register.... ugh... i have 7 of them! i thought it said 80 beans per gun... ugh... like ammo is not expensive enough!
Im really not about the hot the weather. I mean yes I get tired of the cold after a 6 months of frezzing, but i found the weather to be way worse in Rochester NY where I am originally from. you guys don't get the lake effect snow from lake Ontario. I mean it gets just as cold in Kitchener, but not nearly as much snow.
The cost. its cost more to live in Canada, no matter how you cut it. something about living near a big city.... hummm well im not a city boy and don't care for the city at all which makes it even harder to stomach paying more for something i don't want just because the majority of the population does. I was looking for houses and they are insanely expensive in comparison to what i can get in Rochester or WV, like double. for the same house, same land. unreal.
but anywho, yeah i think i say something in there about cost per firearm to register.... ugh... i have 7 of them! i thought it said 80 beans per gun... ugh... like ammo is not expensive enough!
I'm still fairly new to guns and gun laws but I had a friend look over this website and he didn't find anything wrong with it.
http://www.panda.com/canadaguns/#blame
http://www.panda.com/canadaguns/#blame
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cantom
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Conservative Canada
Registration is free.
Hey, if you're from Rochester south of the lake you'll be right at home here...probably less snow too.
not sure about the cost for bringing them in, never heard of the but you never know.
The firearms centre should be able to help you. Not everyone has a good opinion of them however I have called a few times and found them to be helpful. They should be able to give a clear answer on your question about references as well.
You will eventually have to deal with them anyway
The firearms centre should be able to help you. Not everyone has a good opinion of them however I have called a few times and found them to be helpful. They should be able to give a clear answer on your question about references as well.
You will eventually have to deal with them anyway
- Location
- Toronto baby!
Your guns will have to be exported out of the US and the gun laws in the states are strict about it. Questar an advertiser here handles the paperwork to import your guns here.
Take the course, send in your paperwork, wait a few weeks or a few months (it varies a lot lately) to get your pal/rpal license and then you can import the firearms.
Take the course, send in your paperwork, wait a few weeks or a few months (it varies a lot lately) to get your pal/rpal license and then you can import the firearms.
- Location
- Airdrie, AB
Another option would be to sell off your stuff (except the ones that are unique or special to you), then re-purchase the same stuff here so you don't have to jump through so many hoops. Just a thought.
Welcome to the mighty CGN!
I wrote a Newbie Section FAQ just for newbs, so please do read it. The link is in my sigline below.
Also, this site has good info for Americans coming into Canada with guns.
http://panda.com/canadaguns/
I know of another US guy that is also planning on making the move soon. If you wish, I'll put you in touch with him.
I wrote a Newbie Section FAQ just for newbs, so please do read it. The link is in my sigline below.
Also, this site has good info for Americans coming into Canada with guns.
http://panda.com/canadaguns/
I know of another US guy that is also planning on making the move soon. If you wish, I'll put you in touch with him.
I hold citizenship in both the US and Canada, and for personal reasons moved to Canada two years ago, after having grown up and lived in the US. I held a "Curos & Relics" federal license and had a fairly large gun collection. I came with several handguns and a few long guns. The procedure I went through was to phone Canada Firearms Centre (CFC) (1-800-731-4000) and get their rating of "permitted" and "not permitted" guns. I wound up having to sell many of my handguns (illegal barrel lengths and illegal calibers). I did not have to "export" the guns because they came as part of my "household goods". But they didn't go in the moving van, either.
I listed them individually with serial numbers and declared them as "goods to come later". I sent them to a gunsmith friend who held them for me in the US. When I moved here I took the R-PAL test as a "challenge" (meaning I didn't have to sit for the course). But, and this is a big "but", I had to read the information in the course preparation books. There is terminology and procedures specific to Canada which you can't possibly know without reading the material, and they are part of the tests. However, I did it all on a weekend just before the test. With that, I was able to pass the tests very easily. CFC will give you all the information you need. It's a bureaucratic clearing house, so don't expect the clerk you're talking to on the phone to know much, if anything, about guns. If you want to (or need to) deal with a gun "expert", you'll have to talk with the Chief Firearms Officer of your province. My advice would be to avoid doing that if at all possible. When you get to that level you're dealing with political considerations -- not simply technical, despite the reason -- and in Ontario things are more dicey than in some other provinces (I live in Nova Scotia).
After getting my R-PAL I applied and got all the necessary registration forms from CFC, and the Authorization to Transport (ATT), to get them across the border. If you try to bring them across without this documentation, Border Services will not be happy. It's really best to wait and get your ducks in a row first. I drove down to New England where the guns were and brought them over. The ATT is very specific for date and time, so plan carefully. If you arrive at the border outside the ATT-specified timframe, you'll have to go back into the US and apply for a new ATT. This is not a trivial matter.
Border Services checked my paperwork and every handgun, and paid almost no attention at all to my long guns. I can't say whether that would happen every time. But because I'd taken the time to set it all up in advance, it went very smoothly. I believe (but I can't remember exactly) that I had to pay duty on the declared value of the guns, just as I had to for all the rest of my declared household goods.
The other advice you've gotten here is all good. Canadian firearms laws are based on the fact that ownership is not in any way a right, as it is in the US. Law enforcement here can and will confiscate firearms they believe have been brought in and possessed illegally, are what they see as a threat to the public (in the hands of someone who won't obey the laws), or are obtained illegally. There is no presumptive right to ownership of weapons in Canada; but the privilege is extended in what in my opinion is usually a reasonable -- though very, very differently from the US -- manner. It's a lot more complicated, and certainly not efficient from the standpoint of protecting the public or recognizing law-abiding gun owners, but after a fashion it does work.
If you want to talk with me about my experience, email me at: dp1959@ns.sympatico.ca. Good Luck.
I listed them individually with serial numbers and declared them as "goods to come later". I sent them to a gunsmith friend who held them for me in the US. When I moved here I took the R-PAL test as a "challenge" (meaning I didn't have to sit for the course). But, and this is a big "but", I had to read the information in the course preparation books. There is terminology and procedures specific to Canada which you can't possibly know without reading the material, and they are part of the tests. However, I did it all on a weekend just before the test. With that, I was able to pass the tests very easily. CFC will give you all the information you need. It's a bureaucratic clearing house, so don't expect the clerk you're talking to on the phone to know much, if anything, about guns. If you want to (or need to) deal with a gun "expert", you'll have to talk with the Chief Firearms Officer of your province. My advice would be to avoid doing that if at all possible. When you get to that level you're dealing with political considerations -- not simply technical, despite the reason -- and in Ontario things are more dicey than in some other provinces (I live in Nova Scotia).
After getting my R-PAL I applied and got all the necessary registration forms from CFC, and the Authorization to Transport (ATT), to get them across the border. If you try to bring them across without this documentation, Border Services will not be happy. It's really best to wait and get your ducks in a row first. I drove down to New England where the guns were and brought them over. The ATT is very specific for date and time, so plan carefully. If you arrive at the border outside the ATT-specified timframe, you'll have to go back into the US and apply for a new ATT. This is not a trivial matter.
Border Services checked my paperwork and every handgun, and paid almost no attention at all to my long guns. I can't say whether that would happen every time. But because I'd taken the time to set it all up in advance, it went very smoothly. I believe (but I can't remember exactly) that I had to pay duty on the declared value of the guns, just as I had to for all the rest of my declared household goods.
The other advice you've gotten here is all good. Canadian firearms laws are based on the fact that ownership is not in any way a right, as it is in the US. Law enforcement here can and will confiscate firearms they believe have been brought in and possessed illegally, are what they see as a threat to the public (in the hands of someone who won't obey the laws), or are obtained illegally. There is no presumptive right to ownership of weapons in Canada; but the privilege is extended in what in my opinion is usually a reasonable -- though very, very differently from the US -- manner. It's a lot more complicated, and certainly not efficient from the standpoint of protecting the public or recognizing law-abiding gun owners, but after a fashion it does work.
If you want to talk with me about my experience, email me at: dp1959@ns.sympatico.ca. Good Luck.
I moved to Canada from the states a few years ago for similar reasons. It's very easy to bring in non-restricted firearms. You can simply bring them to the border when you enter Canada and present a non-resident firearms declaration (best to fill this out ahead of time). You then get the safety course and apply for a PAL. The non-resident declaration must be renewed every 60 days until you have the PAL and get the guns registered (it's easy to forget to do this, so mark it on your calender).
I "challenged" the exam without taking the course or reading the manual, because I went to an outdoor show and they were offering it on the spot, so I went ahead and took it. I passed easily, but agree with the comment above that it would be better to read the manual first, since some of the terminology is Canada-specific, and there are a couple of things in the practical part that are different from what I was taught (like needing to put your eye to the muzzle of a gun to check the bore before loading).
All of the facts (including restricted guns) are pretty clearly summarized at this link:
http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/moving_e.asp
All and all, it's not too onerous a process, but definitely more hassle than back home. Once you have the PAL though, it's nice to be able to buy and sell guns by mail directly without involving a dealer like in the U.S.
From the standpoint of the guns leaving the U.S., there's no export paperwork required since they are part of your household goods. If you don't have all of them with you when you physically arrive, there is a form to declare "goods to follow" that lets you bring more items in for a number of months but still as part of the household goods. There should be no duty assessed on any of these items.
Last, it seems to me that used gun prices are higher here than at home, so bring everything you have with you even if you aren't all that attached to it for the long term.
Hope this helps.
I "challenged" the exam without taking the course or reading the manual, because I went to an outdoor show and they were offering it on the spot, so I went ahead and took it. I passed easily, but agree with the comment above that it would be better to read the manual first, since some of the terminology is Canada-specific, and there are a couple of things in the practical part that are different from what I was taught (like needing to put your eye to the muzzle of a gun to check the bore before loading).
All of the facts (including restricted guns) are pretty clearly summarized at this link:
http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/factsheets/moving_e.asp
All and all, it's not too onerous a process, but definitely more hassle than back home. Once you have the PAL though, it's nice to be able to buy and sell guns by mail directly without involving a dealer like in the U.S.
From the standpoint of the guns leaving the U.S., there's no export paperwork required since they are part of your household goods. If you don't have all of them with you when you physically arrive, there is a form to declare "goods to follow" that lets you bring more items in for a number of months but still as part of the household goods. There should be no duty assessed on any of these items.
Last, it seems to me that used gun prices are higher here than at home, so bring everything you have with you even if you aren't all that attached to it for the long term.
Hope this helps.
- Location
- Fife
Hi,
You can search for an instructor to supervise your challenge of the tests on this site: http://www.ohep.net/ I think I friend of mine recently did hist test with (I think) Don Gibson, who should show up in a search for an instructor in the Kitchener/Waterloo area. He said Don (if I've got the right guy) was really good.
RG
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You can search for an instructor to supervise your challenge of the tests on this site: http://www.ohep.net/ I think I friend of mine recently did hist test with (I think) Don Gibson, who should show up in a search for an instructor in the Kitchener/Waterloo area. He said Don (if I've got the right guy) was really good.
RG
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Chuckbuster
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Welcome to the Peoples Republic of Canada!
After reading a few pages of posts it's easy to forget if someone mentioned specific points. so, I'll make mine with apologies if they have already been discussed.
Others have correctly observed that firearms ownership in Canada is only at the pleasure of the state. As I have read elsewhere, and concur with, this is the case because government in Canada views firearms ownership and use as questionable. There is a pervasive attitude within the firearms control bureaucracy here that anyone wanting a firearm must want it for nefarious purposes...hence mounds of red tape.
And now, speaking of red tape, in terms of your ATT (Authorization to Transport), once you are settled and have passed your restricted course and/or test, you will not automatically be granted an ATT to go and shoot(although, you may legally purchase restricted firearms for which Short term ATTs will be granted so you can take them home). You will have to join a gun club and have the club vouch for you. Once you have satisfied your club specific requirements as to membership and competency levels you can apply for an ATT through that club. Once you have a long-term ATT through the club, you may take your restricted firearms to that or any approved range to shoot. And that's it! You must go directly to the range and back again. By the most direct route and with no stops for lunch etc along the way, and the firearms must be double locked and completely hidden from view as such. If you wish to take your restricted firearms in for repair or for sale at a business, you will have to apply for a specific short term ATT for that reason...phew! Are you still coming?
After reading a few pages of posts it's easy to forget if someone mentioned specific points. so, I'll make mine with apologies if they have already been discussed.
Others have correctly observed that firearms ownership in Canada is only at the pleasure of the state. As I have read elsewhere, and concur with, this is the case because government in Canada views firearms ownership and use as questionable. There is a pervasive attitude within the firearms control bureaucracy here that anyone wanting a firearm must want it for nefarious purposes...hence mounds of red tape.
And now, speaking of red tape, in terms of your ATT (Authorization to Transport), once you are settled and have passed your restricted course and/or test, you will not automatically be granted an ATT to go and shoot(although, you may legally purchase restricted firearms for which Short term ATTs will be granted so you can take them home). You will have to join a gun club and have the club vouch for you. Once you have satisfied your club specific requirements as to membership and competency levels you can apply for an ATT through that club. Once you have a long-term ATT through the club, you may take your restricted firearms to that or any approved range to shoot. And that's it! You must go directly to the range and back again. By the most direct route and with no stops for lunch etc along the way, and the firearms must be double locked and completely hidden from view as such. If you wish to take your restricted firearms in for repair or for sale at a business, you will have to apply for a specific short term ATT for that reason...phew! Are you still coming?
- Location
- Toronto
I believe it is actually OK to stop for lunch, gas, or even an overnight stay, if reasonable under the circumstances.
Don't forget about those nasty Inuit Carvings, Shawinigan Strangler Model. Can be had by anyone...
Congrats on the woman.
Slap yourself hard for not insisting she come to the US...
- Location
- Southern Ontario
holy crap!
Yeah i am worried about all the red tape but am going to do what i have to. What happens if they are confiscated for some reason? can i fight with my US rights to get them back? I'm guessing no. and sadly, we are not far behind. if obama gets in and he probably will. he will take them all away.
sorry i have not been so responsive work is hell after missing a day. am now im off to go riding atv's for the weekend.
I really appreciate all the advice guys. and I will be getting in touch with several of you for more information and hopefully even to go shooting. its difficult some times to move to a new place. even know i have my wife and her family, they do not share my passions for shooting, hunting, atv;s and generally the outdoors which was ironic to me because Canada is the largest outdoor arena around!
Thanks again, I will be responding after the weekend.
G
Yeah i am worried about all the red tape but am going to do what i have to. What happens if they are confiscated for some reason? can i fight with my US rights to get them back? I'm guessing no. and sadly, we are not far behind. if obama gets in and he probably will. he will take them all away.
sorry i have not been so responsive work is hell after missing a day. am now im off to go riding atv's for the weekend.
I really appreciate all the advice guys. and I will be getting in touch with several of you for more information and hopefully even to go shooting. its difficult some times to move to a new place. even know i have my wife and her family, they do not share my passions for shooting, hunting, atv;s and generally the outdoors which was ironic to me because Canada is the largest outdoor arena around!
Thanks again, I will be responding after the weekend.
G
