People ask me what a PAL costs and expect a single number. I get it. You want to know what you are in for before you commit. The honest answer is that the licence fee the RCMP charges is the smallest part of it, and the providers who quote you only that number are leaving out the part that actually costs you money.

So here is the whole picture, every line of it, the way I would walk a student through it at the counter.

Continue on the Silvercore Path

If you are still working out the bigger picture, start with the pillar and the pieces around it:

• How to Get Your PAL in Canada (start here)
• PAL vs RPAL: Which One Do You Need?
• How Long Does It Take to Get Your PAL?
• Pro Tips for Renewing Your Firearms Licence

How much does a PAL cost in Canada in total?

For most people getting a non-restricted PAL, budget somewhere in the range of $260 to $275 all in. That covers the required CFSC course at $190 plus the RCMP application fee of $70.38, before any small incidentals like a photo or postage.

The two big pieces are the course and the application fee. The course is where most of your money goes, and it is also the part you cannot skip. There is no way to test out of it (more on that below). The RCMP fee is fixed and small by comparison.

What does the RCMP charge for the PAL application?

The application fees, effective March 31, 2026, are:

• Non-restricted PAL: $70.38
• Full licence including restricted (often called the RPAL): $93.84
• Upgrading an existing non-restricted PAL to add restricted: $46.92

That is the number people fixate on, and it is the one that matters least to your total. You pay it to the RCMP when you apply, after you have passed your course.

How much is the CFSC course?

The Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CFSC) is the required training for a non-restricted PAL. You take it in person, you handle the training firearms, and you pass a written test and a practical test. There is no live fire in the course. It is a safety and handling course, not a shooting course.

I will be straight about our pricing because most providers are vague about theirs. The CFSC on its own runs $190.

A note that saves people money: you cannot challenge or test out of the CFSC. That option was removed years ago. Everyone takes the full in-person course and passes both tests, no exceptions, no matter how much experience you have. If a provider tells you otherwise, walk away.

How much is the CRFSC course?

The Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) is the additional training you need if you want the restricted side of the licence, for handguns and certain rifles. It builds on the CFSC, so you take the CFSC first. On its own, the CRFSC runs $135.

Most people who think they only need non-restricted end up wishing they had done both from the start. That is why we run a combined course.

Is the combined CFSC and CRFSC course cheaper?

Yes, and this is the part most cost pages miss. Booked separately the two courses run $325 ($190 plus $135). Booked together, the combined course is $270 plus tax, includes both exams, and saves you $55. You walk out qualified for the full licence in one go.

If there is any chance you will want a handgun down the road, the combined course is the cheaper path. Doing the CRFSC later as a standalone costs more and means a second day in a classroom.

Ready to book? Our combined course covers both the non-restricted and restricted training in one sitting, both exams included. Book the combined CFSC/CRFSC course

What about photos, references, and other costs?

The incidentals are minor but real, so budget for them:

• A passport-style photo if you do not already have one that works.
• Printing or postage if you apply by mail rather than online. Residents can apply online. Non-residents apply by mail.
• Nothing else is mandatory. References do not cost you anything beyond the favour of asking.

That is the full list. Anyone adding "processing fees" or "administration charges" on top of the course and the RCMP fee is padding the bill.

What does a cheap PAL course actually cost you?

This is the part I care about most, because I have watched it play out for 30 years.

We get calls regularly from people who took a fast, cheap, "guaranteed pass" course somewhere else and walked away without the skills the course is supposed to give them. Some of them failed the test and had to pay to take the course again. Some passed on paper and then called us because they did not actually know how to safely handle the firearm they had just bought. Either way, they paid twice.

The licence costs the same no matter who trains you. The number on the RCMP form does not change. What changes is whether the training behind it was worth anything. A course that gets you through the test but leaves you unsafe is the most expensive course you can take, and the bill comes later.

How much does it cost to renew a PAL?

Renewing is a separate fee from the initial application, and the process has its own quirks worth knowing before your licence lapses. I have written that up in full here: Pro Tips for Renewing Your Firearms Licence.

Are there ways to reduce the cost?

A few honest ones:

• Book the combined course if there is any chance you will want restricted firearms. It is cheaper than doing them separately and saves you a second classroom day.
• Prepare before you attend so you pass the first time and never pay for a retake. Our pro tips for passing the CFSC and CRFSC cover exactly how.
• Join the Silvercore Club. For anyone who plans to keep learning and buying gear, the membership pays for itself fairly quickly. I have broken down how below.

Does the Silvercore Club save you money on the PAL process?

Honestly, yes, and on a page about cost it would be a disservice not to lay it out. The Silvercore Club is $59 a year, and two of the benefits put real money back in your pocket while you are going through this.

First, our online courses are included free with membership. If you use the online firearms safety course to prepare before your in-person training, that preparation is covered by the membership rather than a separate cost. The better prepared you walk in, the less likely you are to need a retake, which is the most expensive line item a student can hit.

Second, the partner discounts. New licence holders almost always buy gear, and the Club partner roster is where the membership earns its keep. A few from the current list: 20% off at Stoeger, member codes on Tangent Theta, SAI, and Tenebraex optics, 15% off Grayl water filters, 20% off Nanuk cases, discounts at Frontiersmen Gear, Stuffers Supply, and more, plus 10% off Silvercore branded merchandise. One decent optic or case purchase can cover the $59 several times over.

On top of the savings, membership is what makes you eligible for an Authorization to Transport, which you will need if you go the restricted route. So for someone heading toward the full licence, the Club is not an add-on cost. It is part of how the math works in your favour.

Join the Silvercore Club

The bottom line

Plan for the course plus the RCMP fee, with a small allowance for a photo and postage. Ignore anyone quoting you only the licence fee, and ignore anyone promising a shortcut around the course, because there isn't one. Spend your money on training that is actually worth something, pass the first time, and the total cost takes care of itself.

Travis Bader Silvercore Outdoors

FAQ BLOCK

How much does a PAL cost in Canada in 2026? For a non-restricted PAL, budget roughly $260 to $275 all in: the required CFSC course at $190 plus the RCMP application fee of $70.38, before small incidentals. The course, not the fee, is the largest part of the cost.

What is the RCMP fee for a PAL? As of March 31, 2026, the fee is $70.38 for a non-restricted PAL and $93.84 for the full licence including restricted. Upgrading an existing PAL to add restricted is $46.92. You pay this to the RCMP after passing your course.

Can I skip the course to save money? No. There is no option to challenge or test out of the CFSC or CRFSC. Everyone takes the full in-person course and passes both the written and practical tests, regardless of experience.

Is it cheaper to take the CFSC and CRFSC together? Yes. Booked separately the two run $325. Our combined course is $270 plus tax, includes both exams, and saves $55. If you may want restricted firearms later, the combined course is the cheaper route.

How much does it cost to renew a PAL? Renewal is a separate fee from the initial application. See our full guide: Pro Tips for Renewing Your Firearms Licence.