By Travis Bader, founder of Silvercore Outdoors.
Last updated: 24 October 2026
Individual Web Services (IWS) is the RCMP Canadian Firearms Program's online service for individual firearms licence holders. You complete a one-time sign-up with a GCKey or a Sign-in Partner account, and each time you sign in you enter an authentication code sent to your email. Once you are in, you can renew your licence, check an application status, register firearms, verify a buyer's licence, apply for an Authorization to Transport and update your information.
How do I sign up for IWS?
The RCMP Individual Web Services page sets out two steps:
- Complete a one-time sign-up by registering for a GCKey or a Sign-in Partner account.
- Each time you sign in, enter the authentication code the system sends to your email. If the code does not arrive, check your junk mail folder.
The sign-in button on that page is labelled "Proceed to the secure site for Individual Web Services". A GCKey is the Government of Canada's own sign-in credential. Sign-in Partners are private sector companies and organizations that have partnered with SecureKey Technologies, as the Canadian Firearms Program online services page explains.
The RCMP asks you to add an email address to your profile, because the Canadian Firearms Program is moving from paper correspondence to email. To update your information online, the RCMP Contact the Canadian Firearms Program page says you need your firearms licence number and other personal information to confirm your identity.
What can I do in IWS?
The RCMP lists six services:
- renew your firearms licence
- check your application status
- register firearms
- verify a buyer's licence for a non-restricted firearms transfer
- apply for an authorization to transport firearms
- update your information
The IWS page sets two conditions for renewing online or by mailed application: your licence expired on or after 30 November 2017, and you are within six months of its expiration date.
Is IWS where I apply for my first PAL?
No. First-time applicants who apply online use a separate MyCFP account, and the RCMP opens that online service to eligible Canadian residents. The RCMP apply for a firearms licence page says the online application is for a first-time applicant, someone who has never had a valid firearms licence, who is at least 12 years of age. It also states that deleting a MyCFP account does not affect your Individual Web Services account. Our page on how to get your PAL in Canada covers the full application.
What should I know before I submit anything online?
- Submitting a renewal online does not renew your licence on the spot. The application still goes through several stages of validation, and you receive a confirmation number to show it is in progress.
- Registering a firearm online works the same way. You receive a confirmation number, and you cannot print the registration certificate from the system.
- The application status shown online is general. Our page on checking your PAL application status explains what each status means and how long a mailed application takes to appear.
- The RCMP states there is no requirement to use the online service to register a firearm, and you can still renew by paper form, available for download or by mail.
- The RCMP states there is no functionality to renew a business licence online at this time. Businesses use the separate Business Web Services.
What browser and device do I need?
Your browser must support Transport Layer Security (TLS) 1.2 or higher, with TLS 1.3 recommended, and have cookies and JavaScript enabled. The RCMP recommends a modern desktop computer, warns that a device more than five years old may have difficulties, and states that it cannot provide support for mobile devices, including tablets and smartphones.
Who do I call for help?
IWS support is available Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm (nationwide) at 1-800-731-4000 extension 1040 for non-emergencies, or by email at [email protected], according to the RCMP contact page.
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
Do I need a GCKey to use Individual Web Services?
No. The RCMP lets you complete the one-time sign-up with either a GCKey or a Sign-in Partner account. Each time you sign in, you also enter an authentication code sent to your email.
Can I renew my PAL online through IWS?
Yes, if both of the RCMP's conditions apply: your licence expired on or after 30 November 2017, and you are within six months of its expiration date. Submitting online starts the renewal, and the application still goes through validation before the licence is renewed.
Can I use IWS on my phone?
Not with RCMP support. The RCMP states that it cannot provide support for internet-enabled mobile devices, including tablets and smartphones, and recommends a modern desktop computer.
Can I change my address in IWS?
Yes. Update your information is one of the IWS services, and the RCMP contact page lists IWS as one of three ways to report a new address. You must report a change of name or address to a Chief Firearms Officer within 30 days.
