r/canadaguns • u/miuyao • Apr 10 '26
Misc Waiting 7 months for PAL
I took the course and passed my test with 98% back in early September last year and immediately submitted my application, it was quickly marked as "completed initial review" (within a few days) and then it has just sat like that ever since. It has been 208 days as of today. I have called multiple times and the person on the phone simply tells me "we don't know anything either, they keep us in the dark too, call again in 4 weeks I guess" but before that it was "it's on the CFO's desk" ??? Rinse and repeat for the last 7 months.
My application was complete, I had one issue in my earlier years where I had to physically defend myself from an abusive partner with a cooking pot- but it was literally just one hit to get him off of me and I ran out. Otherwise I have never had any issues. I feel like if this was the cause, they've had a long time to interview me about it?
I am beginning to feel a bit ignored by them despite my calls it's like no one works there. It cannot possibly take this long to decide yes or no. I just want to go hunting. Is this normal??
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u/AnthoBMTH Apr 10 '26
There's nothing you can do, i waited 13 months for mine, i don't have any criminal record or anything like that. I called 10+ times every time they told me there's nothing they can do i just need to wait, that it people told me to call my mp, i did, they said there's nothing they can do. Called another agency in quebec that deals with burocratic BS, they told me i need a wait at least 1 year before they can do anything The best answer i got from them is that they have 1 year+ of backup application and they were able to tell me that right now they were doing which month a which year of application
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u/miuyao Apr 10 '26
I just don't understand how they can say they have 1 year of backups when other people are applying and getting theirs approved in weeks. That sounds like a load of huey.
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u/groggygirl Apr 10 '26
I would guess that it's a one year backup for people who need a human to look into their file. If you pass the initial checks (ie no divorce, custody battles, police interactions, mental health treatment, lifelong Canadian resident, etc) you'll get it in 30 days.
But the second something in your application gets flagged and a human needs to do some research, it is at the mercy of how deep the pile of applications is. Not to mention the process for deciding if the red flag is a real concern or not (which I'm guessing takes more than one person to decide).
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u/AnthoBMTH Apr 10 '26
It sure does, one of my friend applied 2 months after me and got it within 8 weeks. There's something really off with the process
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u/AnthoBMTH Apr 10 '26
Also was pretty recent, did my course in 2024 and did my application the same day i received my results
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u/YourLoveLife Apr 10 '26
I ticked the yes box under one of the personal history questions because I’m taking medication for depression/anxiety and mine ended up taking around 12 months.
It was during one of their busiest times as well I believe due to covid.
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u/Response-Cheap Apr 10 '26
Mine took 7 or 8 months, and a few calls to the CFO. In one of the calls I mentioned that I had a groundhog problem that needed to be rectified. Got it like a week later.
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u/BJ9293 Apr 10 '26
Got my PAL in 1 month. Checked my mailbox at 6 weeks and it was sitting there for 2 weeks. It's a crapshoot.
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u/Honest-Ad-7077 Apr 10 '26
I wrote the test in October and got my pal in the mail around Christmas. That was with a 2 week delay to get my references to log-in and give the okay.
There's something going on with yours.
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u/Cager_CA Apr 10 '26
Are you calling the RCMP or are you calling your CFO's office?.
What province are you in?
The CFO told me 9 months in Ontario and when I emailed them after 9 months had passed they approved it then and there and mailed it out
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u/miuyao Apr 10 '26
I am calling the number on my PAL portal- I believe it was RCMP. I am in BC. No one has given me any sort of timeline except what it outlined on the RCMP website which says 45 days.
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u/MannerCurrent7912 Apr 11 '26
I don’t understand these long wait times. I’ve been waiting 5 months.
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u/Spydude84 Apr 11 '26
I ticked the box for previous depression and waited a full year for mine. Welcome to the club.
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u/pooshlinger Apr 15 '26
I waited 9 months. I thought it was because I take medications and had to mention it to them, but I think they were waiting to send it to me until after the next set of bans. Almost right after the last set of bans it arrived in the mail. I think they like to send them out in batches preventing people from acquiring things that will be banned in the near future. Just my two cents. Was most likely my medical history.
Which more interestingly, never received a phone call interview nor did my references. Which actually kind of pissed me off that the system in place isnt being put to use properly. They didnt even bother call me and ask some questions to see if I was a decent person or not. Whatever i got my PAL so im happy.
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u/miuyao Apr 15 '26
I was just musing about this again today and it baffles me that we have this expensive course, testing and applications but zero examining beforehand. In aviation, people get their medicals done before they do all the bookwork and flying. Why tf don’t we have some sort of aptitude test before!? (It’s so we spend the money obviously but really)
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Apr 10 '26
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u/miuyao Apr 10 '26
That's what I figured, which is fair, but 7 months without a single word or update is a bit absurd. I figure at least someone would know if it needed further interest, or something.
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Apr 10 '26
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u/theservman on Apr 10 '26
A student I trained is still waiting nearly two years later. I've suggested several times that the next step is to reach out to her MP, but she hasn't done that yet. I think that's the only thing that will get this to budge.
I'd suggest MP is your next step as well.
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u/airchinapilot Apr 10 '26
Your next step is to go to your MP and have them bring up the case. It has worked for many people.