By Travis Bader, founder of Silvercore Outdoors.
Last updated: 24 October 2026
Yes, the semi-automatic IWI Carmel is legal in Canada, and its class depends on barrel length. The RCMP Firearms Reference Table (FRT) classifies the version with a 406 mm (16-inch) barrel as restricted and the version with a 472 mm (18.5-inch) barrel as non-restricted. The original fully automatic Carmel is a prohibited firearm.
What does the Firearms Reference Table say?
The RCMP publishes the Firearms Reference Table for the public as a PDF. The edition valid as of 19 October 2026 has two Carmel records.
Firearm Reference Number (FRN) 198369, the semi-automatic Carmel made by Israel Weapon Industries (IWI)/IWI US:
- 406 mm barrel, 5.56mm NATO: Restricted, under Criminal Code subsection 84(1) "restricted firearm" paragraph (b).
- 472 mm barrel, 5.56mm NATO: Non-Restricted.
The record notes that this semi-automatic version was introduced for the United States market in 2023. It also notes that the barrel length does not include an attached device such as a flash hider or muzzle brake.
FRN 198368, the original Carmel made by IWI in Israel, is a fully automatic rifle. The FRT classifies it as Prohibited under Criminal Code subsection 84(1) "prohibited firearm" paragraph (c), which covers automatic firearms.
Why does barrel length change the class?
The Criminal Code defines a restricted firearm in subsection 84(1). Paragraph (b) covers a firearm that "(i) is not a prohibited firearm, (ii) has a barrel less than 470 mm in length, and (iii) is capable of discharging centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic manner".
The semi-automatic Carmel fires 5.56mm NATO, a centre-fire cartridge. At 406 mm the barrel is under 470 mm, so that version meets paragraph (b). At 472 mm the barrel is over the 470 mm line, and the FRT lists that version as non-restricted.
Is the Carmel on the list of banned firearms?
No. The prohibition regulations (SOR/98-462), as amended in May 2020, December 2024 and March 2025 (SOR/2020-96, SOR/2024-248 and SOR/2025-86), do not name the Carmel. The FRT classifies the semi-automatic version as restricted or non-restricted, and neither of those classes is prohibited.
What about the December 2023 rule for new semi-automatic designs?
Since 15 December 2023, the Criminal Code has defined one more kind of prohibited firearm. The RCMP Classes of firearms in Canada page describes it as a firearm that is not a handgun and that discharges centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic manner, was originally designed with a detachable cartridge magazine with a capacity of six cartridges or more, and is designed and manufactured on or after December 15, 2023.
The FRT record for the semi-automatic Carmel does not apply that paragraph. The record notes that the semi-automatic version is based on the Carmel design introduced in 2019. It lists paragraph (b) of the restricted firearm definition for the 406 mm version and no prohibited classification for either barrel length.
Does the FRT decide the legal class?
No. The RCMP states that the FRT is not a legal instrument. It is an administrative document built from technical assessments, and the Criminal Code, the Firearms Act and SOR/98-462 are the prevailing legal authority on classification. The RCMP built the FRT to assist law enforcement officers, customs officers and officials responsible for the regulation of firearms. Match the make, model and barrel length of the firearm you are looking at to its FRN record.
What magazines can the Carmel use in Canada?
The FRT notes that the Carmel takes AR15-type magazines. Under item 3(1)(a)(ii) of Part 4 of the schedule to SOR/98-462, a cartridge magazine capable of containing more than five cartridges of the type it was designed for, and designed or manufactured for use in a semi-automatic firearm other than a semi-automatic handgun, is a prohibited device. Our page on magazine capacity limits in Canada covers the exceptions.
Join the Silvercore Club. The RCMP says that to be authorized to have restricted firearms for target shooting, you must provide proof that you practise or compete at an approved shooting club or range. The Silvercore Club is $59 a year, and it is accepted in all provinces and territories across Canada.
Frequently asked questions
Is the IWI Carmel restricted or non-restricted?
Both, depending on barrel length. The RCMP Firearms Reference Table lists the semi-automatic Carmel (FRN 198369) as restricted with a 406 mm barrel and non-restricted with a 472 mm barrel.
Is the IWI Carmel banned in Canada?
No. The prohibition regulations do not name the Carmel, and the FRT classifies the semi-automatic version as restricted or non-restricted. Only the original fully automatic Carmel (FRN 198368) is prohibited, because it is an automatic firearm.
Why is the 16-inch IWI Carmel restricted?
Its barrel is 406 mm, which is less than 470 mm, it fires centre-fire ammunition in a semi-automatic manner, and it is not a prohibited firearm. Paragraph (b) of the Criminal Code definition of restricted firearm covers that combination.
What is the FRN for the IWI Carmel?
The semi-automatic IWI Carmel is FRN 198369 in the RCMP Firearms Reference Table. The original fully automatic Carmel is FRN 198368.
