PAL Wait Time

Hey fellaws,

I thought the thread was getting a little too quiet today so I'll be next to vent on how slow the PAL process is. My first suggestion is that they should do away with all their posted 45 day promises. I can't figure out how they add this up. I tried every possible way, subtracting weekends, holidays, the legislated waiting period. Still late... Anyway, has anyone got theirs this week? Here is where I'm at:

Nov 2, 2018 Signed up for CFSC
Jan 5-6, 2019 CFSC taken
Feb 1, 2019 Stamped test results received from province
Feb 2, 2019 PAL application mailed out snail mail
Feb 8, 2019 R.C.M.P. claimed to have received my application on this date.
March 11, 2019 Credit Card charged $60, Application listed "in progress" on website.
March 19, 2019 Phoned in and was told application is with CFO
March 21, 2019 Online status now reads "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."
April 10th, 2019 or Day 159 still waiting...
 
One of the printers are down so that’s why you don’t have your physical card yet. I believe they are printing Feb applications now.

Just get the full licence number including the .001 (example) and you can start ordering online.
 
One of the printers are down so that’s why you don’t have your physical card yet. I believe they are printing Feb applications now.

Just get the full licence number including the .001 (example) and you can start ordering online.

I am waiting on my card and I phoned in asking for exactly this and they told me no, because you can't do anything without the card anyway. How are people getting their PAL number from them before card arrives?
 
Just got a text alert on phone!!

"There was an authorization without the credit card present for $80.00 at RCMP-CFP GRC-PCAF on account **************** at 2:23 pm ET."

my timeline thus far:

March 09 - CFSC
March 16 - CRFSC
March 18 - Sent to RCMP by express post
March 21 - Received by RCMP
April 11 - Credit card charged

So that was day 22 from receipt of application that i was charged. So by them charging me that means everything is i order and accepted thus far?
Will call them next week to confirm all is in order and nothing missing.

PS. Just checked the online site
"Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date."
 
Last edited:
Man I’m only at 36 days and I’m already annoyed. There is another guy in Ontario who’s application arrived in New Brunswick 2 days after mine and he’s been approved since Tuesday.

Here’s to hoping the officer in charge actually calls me back.
 
My parents asked me to upgrade my PAL to RPAL as I am to inherit my dads collection of SAA revolvers and prohib guns. 4 weeks since I mailed it and they have not received my application. Here’s my timeline:

March 9th CRFC taken (upgrading from PAL to RPAL)
March 16th Renew range membership and sent in copy for ATT
March 18th mailed via snail mail
April 10th called in and was told they do not have my application and to call back in 2 weeks

Hopefully it’s there sittin in a pile and will be processed soon.. Starting to get worried, told my wife to send it via express post and when I asked for the tracking number she told me she didn’t have time to go to the post office so she sent it via regular post.
 
Did you send it registered mail? If not spend the money and send it again. I always send everything to the government registered so I know they received it than I call the next day to double check.


My parents asked me to upgrade my PAL to RPAL as I am to inherit my dads collection of SAA revolvers and prohib guns. 4 weeks since I mailed it and they have not received my application. Here’s my timeline:

March 9th CRFC taken (upgrading from PAL to RPAL)
March 16th Renew range membership and sent in copy for ATT
March 18th mailed via snail mail
April 10th called in and was told they do not have my application and to call back in 2 weeks

Hopefully it’s there sittin in a pile and will be processed soon.. Starting to get worried, told my wife to send it via express post and when I asked for the tracking number she told me she didn’t have time to go to the post office so she sent it via regular post.
 
I had a reference call the BC CFO for an interview as I had read here it would speed things up.
They got laughed at and said we will phone you if we want an interview.
I swear Ive read on here more than once that guys got approved the day of their reference calling in.
I called at day 45 and they said try back in 6 weeks.
WTF over
 
I am waiting on my card and I phoned in asking for exactly this and they told me no, because you can't do anything without the card anyway. How are people getting their PAL number from them before card arrives?

I've had my non-restricted PAL forever and recently took the CrFSC (January 2019). My rPAL was "Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued" on March 26. Since I knew my old PAL number and that the only thing that changes is the suffix (######x.0005) type thing so I knew enough of my yet to be received rPAL to order a handgun before I actually had the physical plastic PAL in hand. The guy at the online store said it would not be a problem since the card was technically issued without physically being issued. I made the purchase, the shop contacted the CFO for the transfer, and I received my CZ and initial registration notice in business 4 days later. On April 12 I received my formal registration card for the CZ. . . I still do not have my physical rPAL in hand. So, you can order online without the physical and I am to understand that if you ask the CFP people for your PAL number, they will provide it. So I've read anyway. All that said, I cannot take my CZ off the premises (my house).
 
Just called for an update. I asked what date of approval they were printing. I was told that they aren’t quite up to the end of March. So
I should still expect to wait at least two more weeks. 😡😤😥
 
Just called for an update. I asked what date of approval they were printing. I was told that they aren’t quite up to the end of March. So
I should still expect to wait at least two more weeks. ������

So what you're saying is I may stand a snowballs chance in hell of getting mine sometime in the coming week? Mine was approved on March 21
 
So what you're saying is I may stand a snowballs chance in hell of getting mine sometime in the coming week? Mine was approved on March 21

When I called Tuesday (April 9, 2019) the CFP representative said they were printing cards for PAL's approved March 18.
 
"PAL > RPAL

Course - Feb 10, 2019
Rec'd by RCMP - Feb 18
Showed up online & CC charged - Mar 15
Issued - Mar 18.

Waiting on Card."

Came in the mail today, Apr 12. Approximately 2 months for PAL > RPAL.
Waiting is a pain for sure.
Good luck all!
 
I thought your other post said Feb 18th? Was it actually March? That would be much better :D

They marked my application as "Your application has completed initial process. It is now in progress" effective to February 18. March 26 was the "Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued" date. I guess this means my rPAL may be printed in the coming week. . . Or not. . .
 
Last edited:
"PAL > RPAL

Course - Feb 10, 2019
Rec'd by RCMP - Feb 18
Showed up online & CC charged - Mar 15
Issued - Mar 18.

Waiting on Card."

Came in the mail today, Apr 12. Approximately 2 months for PAL > RPAL.
Waiting is a pain for sure.
Good luck all!

Geez my dates are about 4 days behind yours
I just called and they said to try back in 6 weeks
 
Geez my dates are about 4 days behind yours
I just called and they said to try back in 6 weeks

FWIW, there was a guy on Reddit I was talking to who was literally 2 days behind me (I was March 6th he was March 8th) and his Application has been approved and mine hasn’t. I think it all depends who at the CFO is processing your specific application. Mine apparently likes to take vacation days.
 
Back
Top Bottom