PAL Wait Time

June 12: PAL/RPAL application sent (Expresspost) From Winnipeg, MB
June 14: Mail received

Online Check: Still Unavailable
 
78 days now if I count the weekends here in Ontario. I keep getting the run around. It's with your CFO. My background is clean, I don't even drink alcohol.. I'm straight as an arrow. Brothers in the RCAF. Dad worked DoD. I just wanna hunt. Ima family man. I already missed out on a really cool potential job offer in wildlife because my pal didn't get approved in time. Talk about infringement. God forbid, I was a real farmer and had actual livestock or veggies, it all be dead by the time I got a rifle to fight off wildlife. Please Mr.Gubmint, can I feed my family already?
 
---BC---
Firearms Safety Course Passed: 2017-06-06
Canada Post snail mail to my reference then to Miramichi: 2017-06-14
Application Received: 2017-06-20
Status showed up online: 2017-07-20
Credit Card $80 charged Ottawa: 2017-07-25

Called RCMP to cancel my RPAL application to speed up the process; the lady officer thought that was brilliant: 2017-08-08
Ottawa returned $20 to my credit card: 2017-08-11

File quickly transferred to BC CFO and went into never-never land.... called a couple of times in Sept, Oct... Still sat on
CFO's desk. Then, I recalled I and my wife one afternoon, 6 years ago argued soooooo loud neighbors called the police. RCMP
came, calmed things down & sent me away to my friend's place for a night. That was it. Nothing charged or anything at all after that.
OK, so be it. My half year long gun fever subsided.

Jan 5th, 2018, I received a letter from RCMP and there was this plastic card in it ---- PAL!

They never called my references.
 
Last edited:
June 21: PAL/RPAL application sent (Expresspost)
June 23: Application received

it hasn't shown up online yet

UPDATE

July 29: Showed up online

UPDATE

August 11th : Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued. If you have not received your licence within 2 weeks please contact the Canadian Firearms Program Toll Free number. (1-800 731-4000)
 
Last edited:
MB

May 27 & 28 PAL & RPAL courses
June 2 Mailed my application snail mail
July 28 had my reference call in
August 4 had my PAL and RPAL

Getting the reference to call in took a couple of weeks off the time. RCMP never tried to call them, instead the sent a letter to them asking them to call in. They got the letter one day before I got my license in he mail.
 
Both my reference's missed their call last Tuesday and I found out when I called in Friday,then had them calling all day Friday only to find out the interviewers had gone home early for the long weekend due to power and internet outages on the east coast.
 
Received by RCMP March 7, 2017
Reference called in May 9, 2017
"Completed initial processing" still as of Aug 9, 2017

Been calling every 2 weeks lately and all I can get is that it's with the Alberta CFO and there's no missing information or anything I can help with. PAL/RPAL
 
In BC

Received by RCMP June 29th
Credit card charged Aug 2nd
Phoned in and talked to very friendly lady that said all was well and my photo was being scanned for the card Aug 8th
Not showing up online as of today

Edit. Just checked online, and it is finally there and showing that the license has been issued Aug 16th

Edit. In my hand Aug 21
 
Last edited:
I just thought that I would take a moment to post my timeline for my PAL. I have found this thread very informative as to what my expectations should be for me to obtain my PAL. Here is my timeline:

June 19/20 CFSC/CRFSC completed through Silvercore (I am located in BC and I highly recommend this course if you have access to it. The instructor gave us a copy of our exam results after our written and practical so that we could apply for our PAL immediately.
June 26 mailed my application to Miramichi through registered mail
June 29 received by RCMP Miramichi
August 4 application is posted online
August 5 credit card was charged
August 14 I had 1 of my references call in with my application # to expedite the interview process ( I would highly recommend this to anyone applying. The interview took 5 minutes)
August 14 Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued. If you have not received your licence within 2 weeks please contact the Canadian Firearms Program Toll Free number. (1-800 731-4000)

So to summarize:
1. It takes about 30 days for your application to come online
2. cc payment should follow shortly after
3. If you want to expedite the process. Wait until your cc or cheque is cashed and then have a reference call in with your application # to request an interview

Finally, I have read about those who have had their application forwarded to their provinces CFO. This means you have been flagged for some reason. This will delay the process for sure...
 
Seems like this would be a good first post as I've lurked on this thread during my own application process.

June 17-18 CFSC/CRFSC course
June 19th, mailed my application
June 26th Received (message didn't pop up till two weeks later though)
Just as I was about to get my references to call in, I checked the online status yesterday (August 16th) and got the licence issued status. I hadn't checked in a week so can't give you guys the exact date.

Basically overall was just under two months. Doesn't seem too bad to me.
 
Last edited:
I am thinking like Maximmmm. Waiting for my approval. It has been at least four months. Checking the website it says that it was received May 18,2017. Completed initial processing and is now in progress. Should I call them to see what they delay is. Another question should I have my references call in as well. From reading other posts I guess 3 months is not to long of a wait. Just asking for suggestions.
 
I am thinking like Maximmmm. Waiting for my approval. It has been at least four months. Checking the website it says that it was received May 18,2017. Completed initial processing and is now in progress. Should I call them to see what they delay is. Another question should I have my references call in as well. From reading other posts I guess 3 months is not to long of a wait. Just asking for suggestions.

PAL & RPAL

May 13 Non-restricted firearm safty course
May 14 Restricted firearm safty course
June 16 Sent application by Xpresspost
June 19 RCMP received by Xpresspost
July 24 Credit Card payment processed
July 24 Check status online and in process/awaiting futher info
July 25 Faxed and emailed CFSC/CRFSC Student Reports
July 26 Changed status to final processing.
July 26 Called in and was told reference can call in.
July 26 (hour later) Reference called in.
July 26 (20min later) Checked online. Status changed to "Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued."
Arrived August 2nd.

I'd call in...
 
I am thinking like Maximmmm. Waiting for my approval. It has been at least four months. Checking the website it says that it was received May 18,2017. Completed initial processing and is now in progress. Should I call them to see what they delay is. Another question should I have my references call in as well. From reading other posts I guess 3 months is not to long of a wait. Just asking for suggestions.

Had one of my references call me to say the RCMP phoned and talked to her. I hope the approval will be granted soon.
 
I sent my application in and it was received on July 20th. I called once the week before last after a week of seeing no info on the website and was told it hadn't been looked at. This past weekend it still hadn't shown up on the website. Day before yesterday (Wednesday) it showed that my application had passed initial processing and was on the next step, that's when I checked my credit card and it had been charged the $80 as well. So last night I checked and my application has been completed and my license has been issued! Woot! That will be 36 calendar days, or 24 business since my application was received. :p
Also, neither of my references even mentioned that they had been contacted.
 
I sent my application in and it was received on July 20th. I called once the week before last after a week of seeing no info on the website and was told it hadn't been looked at. This past weekend it still hadn't shown up on the website. Day before yesterday (Wednesday) it showed that my application had passed initial processing and was on the next step, that's when I checked my credit card and it had been charged the $80 as well. So last night I checked and my application has been completed and my license has been issued! Woot! That will be 36 calendar days, or 24 business since my application was received. :p
Also, neither of my references even mentioned that they had been contacted.

Wow, I thought I did good with 39 business from the day that my application was received until I had my license in my hand.
 
Wow, I thought I did good with 39 business from the day that my application was received until I had my license in my hand.

Interesting. This is the same as mine. Called right after 31 days. Showed online 2 days later. 2 dates after that is showing as issued. Restricted with no references called. Total time 35 days!
 
Interesting. This is the same as mine. Called right after 31 days. Showed online 2 days later. 2 dates after that is showing as issued. Restricted with no references called. Total time 35 days!

LUCKY!!! I'm on day 80, still not issued (or denied)
 
Back
Top Bottom