By Travis Bader, founder of Silvercore Outdoors.
Last updated: 24 October 2026
You must report a new address to a Chief Firearms Officer within 30 days of moving. That duty is a condition attached to every individual firearms licence, and breaking a licence condition without lawful excuse is an offence under the Firearms Act. The RCMP lets you report the change online through Individual Web Services, by phone at 1-800-731-4000, or by mail to the Canadian Firearms Program.
What does the law require?
Section 15 of the Firearms Licences Regulations makes the duty a condition of your licence. It reads: "A chief firearms officer who issues a licence to an individual shall attach to it the condition that the individual shall report any changes in the individual's name or address to a chief firearms officer within 30 days after the change."
The duty covers a change of name as well as a change of address. The 30 days run from the change.
What happens if I do not report it?
The Firearms Act treats a breach of a licence condition as an offence. Section 110 states: "Every person commits an offence who, without lawful excuse, contravenes a condition of a licence, registration certificate or authorization held by the person." Under section 111, that offence can be prosecuted as an indictable offence, liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or as a summary conviction offence.
Section 70(1)(a)(ii) of the Act also allows a Chief Firearms Officer to revoke a licence where the holder contravenes any condition attached to it.
How do I report a new address?
The RCMP Contact the Canadian Firearms Program page lists three ways.
- Online through Individual Web Services. You need your firearms licence number and other personal information to confirm your identity.
- By phone at 1-800-731-4000 within Canada and the United States, or 1-506-624-6626 from outside Canada and the United States.
- By mail to Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Canadian Firearms Program, PO Box 1200, Miramichi NB E1N 5Z3.
If you mail it, the RCMP page asks you to include:
- your full name
- your firearms licence number
- your date of birth
- your old address
- your new address, with the mailing address and physical location if they are different
- your new phone number
- the date of the move
The RCMP page also says reporting the change helps the Canadian Firearms Program get your renewal and other notices to you on time. Our page on how to set up an RCMP Individual Web Services account walks through the online sign-up.
Do I need anything else if I own restricted or prohibited firearms?
Yes. The same RCMP page states: "If you own a restricted or prohibited firearm and are moving to a new address, you must obtain an Authorization to Transport prior to moving." The Chief Firearms Officer issues the Authorization to Transport. You can apply for one through Individual Web Services, by calling 1-800-731-4000, or on form RCMP 5490, as the RCMP Authorization to Transport page sets out.
Does a change of address with another government department update my PAL?
No. The Government of Canada change of address page states that you must change your address with each government department or agency, because your new address is not shared automatically between them. It lists the gun licence separately, under the RCMP's Canadian Firearms Program. Report the move to the Canadian Firearms Program directly.
Join the Silvercore Club. Members get regulatory updates by email, so changes to the firearms rules reach you without searching for them. Membership is $59 a year, and the Silvercore Club is open to anyone, with or without a PAL.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to report a change of address on my PAL?
You have 30 days. Section 15 of the Firearms Licences Regulations makes reporting a change of name or address to a Chief Firearms Officer within 30 days after the change a condition of every individual licence.
Can I update my PAL address online?
Yes. The RCMP lets you update your address online through Individual Web Services. You need your firearms licence number and other personal information to confirm your identity. You can also report the change by phone at 1-800-731-4000 or by mail to the Canadian Firearms Program in Miramichi, New Brunswick.
Is it an offence not to report a change of address?
Yes. Reporting a change of address within 30 days is a condition of your licence, and section 110 of the Firearms Act makes it an offence to contravene a licence condition without lawful excuse. A Chief Firearms Officer can also revoke a licence for a breach of a licence condition under section 70.
Do I need an ATT to move with restricted firearms?
Yes. The RCMP states that if you own a restricted or prohibited firearm and are moving to a new address, you must obtain an Authorization to Transport prior to moving. The Chief Firearms Officer issues it.
