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.
