Shorten PAL Approval Times

Update - Ontario application

March 18 - I mailed my application (PAL/RPAL) via registered mail
March 21 - Received in Miramichi
April 23 - Call from RCMP to confirm credit card details. Said that the application is now being sent to provincial.
April 23 - Status on the web says initial is complete and that it is in progress
May 6 - License issued

Total of 47 days.
No call to myself, either of my references or my spouse.
 
YoungestPiperCub said:
My update - Rpal Upgrade in Ontario

Mar 15 - Hear about new gun control bill coming - Decide to do my RPal (Have PAL already)
Mar 18 - Complete restricted Pal course (Test needs to go for stamping)
Mar 20 - Got signatures from everyone and picture taken
Mar 21 - Priority mailed application and photo to Miramichi
Mar 23 - Delivered with signature (DAY 0)
Mar 23 - Sign up for club level course
Mar 29 - Test Stamped and mailed back (date on test)
April 03 - Join restricted shooting range.
April 03 - Test arrives back from stamping (Ontario)
April 04 - Called to ask where to send in stamped test. Told application not in system. Given fax number (Day 12)
April 21/22 - Complete club level safety course
April 23 - Called again to check about faxing, told not in system should be soon call in 2 weeks if not online (Day 31)
April 25 - Shows up online, Credit Card Charged - Called and faxed/emailed in report (Day 33)
April 26 - Emailed that form was added. Online changed to completed initial now in progress. (Day 34)
April 27 - Called to ask if anything was needed. Told its waiting for shoto scan. (Day 35)
April 30 - Called again to ask status. Waiting for photo scan then CFO for approval (Day 38)

May 02 - Called to ask status and if interview was ready. Was told this no longer is a requirement and they would contact me if needed. Lady was extremely helpful and explained/ answered a lot of questions. Current photo scans take 7-12 days generally but can be up to 2 weeks. After that goes to CFO office of your province. Ontario has been quick but she mentioned they are getting busier (My guess has to do with clearing restricted transfers.) Sometimes that can be quick with no issues on application (few days) sometimes it can take up to 12 weeks. She recommended calling in 7 days to verify the photo scan was complete and hopefully license was issued. One interesting point she made, once the new card is approved, that old one is no longer valid. So for that time she recommended not using the old card for anything or going shooting for those days while the new card is in the mail. (Day 40)

Hoping in a few days it is done and clears CFO quick!
Click to expand...

Called today still waiting for photoscan...... smh
 
I'm at day 32 of my wait for rpal, and I'm moving this weekend. Should I just update my address on the RCMP site? Will they look at the over the address I have on my application? I don't want to mess things up for myself, but I know I have to change the address no matter what for my unrestricted. I also don't want them to send it to my old address and have my license potentially be in someone else's hands
 
Mandi_S said:
I'm at day 32 of my wait for rpal, and I'm moving this weekend. Should I just update my address on the RCMP site? Will they look at the over the address I have on my application? I don't want to mess things up for myself, but I know I have to change the address no matter what for my unrestricted. I also don't want them to send it to my old address and have my license potentially be in someone else's hands
Click to expand...

Call the firearms program and ask. 1-800-731-4000
 
Ontario RPal Upgrade Complete timeline.

Mar 15 - Hear about new gun control bill coming - Decide to do my RPal (Have PAL already)
Mar 18 - Complete restricted Pal course (Test needs to go for stamping)
Mar 21 - Priority mailed application and photo to Miramichi
Mar 23 - Delivered with signature (DAY 0)
Mar 29 - Test Stamped and mailed back (date on test)
April 03 - Test arrives back from stamping (Ontario)
April 04 - Called to ask where to send in stamped test. Told application not in system. Given fax number (Day 12)
April 23 - Called again to check about faxing, told not in system should be soon call in 2 weeks if not online (Day 31)
April 25 - Shows up online, Credit Card Charged - Called and faxed/emailed in report (Day 33)
April 26 - Emailed that form was added. Online changed to completed initial now in progress. (Day 34)
April 27 - Called to ask if anything was needed. Told its waiting for photo scan. (Day 35)
April 30 - Called again to ask status. Waiting for photo scan then CFO for approval (Day 38)
May 02 - Called to ask status and if interview was ready. Was told this no longer is a requirement and they would contact me if needed. Lady was extremely helpful and explained/ answered a lot of questions. Current photo scans take 7-12 days generally but can be up to 2 weeks. After that it goes to CFO office of your province. Ontario has been quick but she mentioned they are getting busier (My guess has to do with clearing restricted transfers.) Sometimes that can be quick with no issues on application (few days) sometimes it can take up to 12 weeks. She recommended calling in 7 days to verify the photo scan was complete and hopefully license was issued. One interesting point she made, once the new card is approved that old one is no longer valid. So for that time she recommended not using the old card for anything or going shooting for those days while the new card is in the mail. (Day 40)
May 04 - Called in to ask status. Still waiting for photo scan. (Day 42)
May 08 - Called in to ask status at 4:30pm. Still waiting for photo scan told it can be 45 days at CFO office. (Day 46)
May 09 - 7:30 am "Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued" (Day 47) (No Refs Called)

Silly, I called end of day yesterday and was told photo scans can take weeks and the 45 day wait is at the CFO you can call us back in 2-3 weeks and see. Was very frustrated. This morning I went online and it has been issued.... It seems like as soon as photo scan is complete the Ontario CFO approves and it is issued.

I have 2 Restricted Firearms paid for waiting for the PAL number to get everything moving. We will see how long transfers and ATTs take.
 
My Wife just did her RPAL in MB:

  • Mailed March 7th
  • Received in Miramachi March 16th
  • Online and credit card charged April 16th
  • Received in Mail May 2nd

The day it arrived in the mail I was just checking online to see if anything had changed and was going to get her to call in to see if they were ready for her reference to call. I confirmed neither of her references were contacted which I found odd for an RPAL. Perhaps a CFC employee used common sense and realized I already have an RPAL and there is multiple restricteds already in her place of residence.
 
Chilidip said:
My Wife just did her RPAL in MB:

  • Mailed March 7th
  • Received in Miramachi March 16th
  • Online and credit card charged April 16th
  • Received in Mail May 2nd

The day it arrived in the mail I was just checking online to see if anything had changed and was going to get her to call in to see if they were ready for her reference to call. I confirmed neither of her references were contacted which I found odd for an RPAL. Perhaps a CFC employee used common sense and realized I already have an RPAL and there is multiple restricteds already in her place of residence.
Click to expand...

They are not checking any references right now in 99% of cases. you have to remeber that after c-68 was scrapped something like 300k new licenses were processed in 2012 all these are up for renewal now plus restricted pals are up like 10% year over year.

I just upgraded to RPAL and from the conversations I had with CFP the second my photo was scanned it was sent to CFO and it came right back a few minutes later as approved.

It goes to show you that right now they are so busy they are not doing the proper due diligence. If they are stretched to the limit what will happen after C-71
 
Last edited:
Received last year, still waiting, nothing happened after called in every month. I have a very clean background though.
My friend mailed in his application one month after mine, and he got all his licenses already. I guess I'm just that lucky guy.
The ppl tell you to be a responsible firearm owner but they just stupidly being irresponsible. Feel sad for the CFO in Alberta
 
marvin87 said:
Received last year, still waiting, nothing happened after called in every month. I have a very clean background though.
My friend mailed in his application one month after mine, and he got all his licenses already. I guess I'm just that lucky guy.
The ppl tell you to be a responsible firearm owner but they just stupidly being irresponsible. Feel sad for the CFO in Alberta
Click to expand...

Call more often. Like every other day. Ask questions. What is the next step. Does it normally take this long. Ask to be transferred to CFO office.
 
Maritimer67 said:
I suppose anything is possible. I think as long as one is honest and polite things should be fine, even if one has to wait. It may be hard for some people to realise that newbies can be quite excited about their new hobby to be, given that firearms are involved, and all the negative press out there. Before I realized I wanted to make this my new hobby, I had gone to a local range 3 times and shot 100s of rounds. After the courses, I did the additional range course right away, even though I knew my RPAL would be a while. After that 2 ½ day course and shooting another 600 or so rounds I realized that this was my new thing. I have had some interesting hobbies in my life, including skydiving X6 years-gave it up when my career changed and I got married, hockey as adult for 10 years & martial arts X7 years; had to give those up due to injuries, so now all I have is the gym...not that exciting....
Click to expand...

I recently gave up skydiving here in N.S. Going to try shooting sports for a while.
 
If you have no mental, medical or anger issues and no criminal history to cause a reasonable delay. I would first start by calling if you haven’t. If that gets you no progress then you could contact your member of parliament.

Last case you could file a complaint but I don’t know that would do you much good. Not sure if they need a reason to deny your application. But honestly it sounds like your application got lost behind someone’s desk or filed as complete. One complaint could deny your application if they’re unhappy. Who knows with the feds.

EDIT:

Sorry I missed your previous posts about history and calling. Definitely call your MP in regards or contact your local CFO office directly. In SK we have an extension number we can call. Or the Regina office.
 
Last edited:
RPAL Upgrade Quebec: Checked no to all boxes, no police record at all. Non-restricted firearm owner for over 2 years.

Received: Feb 8, 2018
Called Quebec office a few times, always told it is going to be another month before they call me. The date they give me always comes and goes but still no call.
 
Whiteannerdy said:
If you have no mental, medical or anger issues and no criminal history to cause a reasonable delay. I would first start by calling if you haven’t. If that gets you no progress then you could contact your member of parliament.

Last case you could file a complaint but I don’t know that would do you much good. Not sure if they need a reason to deny your application. But honestly it sounds like your application got lost behind someone’s desk or filed as complete. One complaint could deny your application if they’re unhappy. Who knows with the feds.

EDIT:

Sorry I missed your previous posts about history and calling. Definitely call your MP in regards or contact your local CFO office directly. In SK we have an extension number we can call. Or the Regina office.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for the input. Contacting the MP will be considered. In my last call to the Alberta CFO, the lady has spent a couple minutes reviewing my file, and then told me that my background check passed, photo scanned and test results were on file correctly. My file has been left on someone's desk for approval since March, this is absolute an unreasonable delay.
 
Last edited:
I’ve been told 3 times to call back in 30 days. Each time I have. Last update was over a month ago where I had my interview and now 30 days has passed and was told to call back in another 30 days. I know they’re backlogged but I still don’t understand the problems that randomly cause delays.
 
My rpal was issued yesterday or today and is in the mail. Recieved in NB April 6th. No calls to me or my refences. Alberta. 53 days including weekends.
 
Hello, first post but I've been lurking this thread while waiting my approval.

PAL/RPAL combined, 1st time, "no" to all boxes, no criminal/health record, employed and single.

BC here, April 4 to May 29 = 50 days total.
No references were contacted or a personal call.

Also noted that I could not access my information online from start to finish.
Just patience & now very happy.

Many thanks to everyone for providing updates and information!
 
Here's my timeline in Ontario (GTA)

April 3rd and 4th - PAL/RPAL courses complete
April 6th - application mailed in (snail mail)
May 4th - stamped test results are received at my location
May 14th- application shows up online
May 24th - test results faxed in
June 4th - license issued
No just waiting to receive the physical licence :)

I only called a total of two times. Once to get the fax number and a second time to make sure they received it. They didn't call me or any of my references.

Considering I took my time with the process, the 45 day processing time is quite accurate. But, I hear they really make you wait for transfer of restricted, I guess I'll find out soon.
 
Finally approved. Summary of progress not including call ins for what’s going on.

Day 1 - Received application Jan 9th
Day 28 - Card billed Feb 5th
Day 51 - Status updated too “completed initial processing. It is now in progress” Feb 28th
Day 74 - Called my local CFO office for their fax number to send over renewed club and range memberships. March 23rd.
Day 107 - Contacted by my CFO to setup an interview. April 25th.
Day 108 - Interview about divorce situation on my application. April 26th.
Day 155 - Application approved. June 12th.

No references called, but I did make 11 phone calls. Now just waiting for my updated card so I can initiate the transfer of my first pistol. Few more weeks of waiting for the transfer, shipment of pistol and registration of pistol before I’m at the range.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom