The PAL is the firearms licence, the card. (some used to be POSSESSION ONLY, but not any more)

On the back is what you can do with it.
Everytime something new is added to the back, the CFO/CFP sends you a new PAL.

A PAL looks like this


An RPAL looks like this


A while back, a few POSSESSION ONLY licences were converted to PALs incorrectly and didn't get non-restricted under ACQUISITION.
One fella had that around the same time as he took the CRFSC, and it looked like this.
Note the weird situation where they're allowed to possess non-restricted and purchase restricted, but not purchase non-restricted.
Stores may not sell to you unless the firearm classification is one you are allowed to ACQUISITION, so they wouldn't sell non-restricted to this guy.
The CFOs quickly replaced his PAL with the RPAL above, and he was able to purchase his non-restricted.


I don't know what a Prohibited PAL looks like, but I assume it's like this, listing the 12.x sections a person may POSSESSION and ACQUISITION.


12.2: FA Full Automatic
12.3: CA Converted Automatic
12.4: OIC # 12 (OIC = Order in Council) A small class, examples are: Sterling MK6, Steyr AUG, Uzi carbine, Mod A and mini Uzi
12.5: OIC #13 A large class, examples are: FN FAL, H&K, AK47, Thompsons etc.
12.6: Handgun All .25, .32 (some exceptions) and handguns with a barrel length of 105mm and less. Registered before 14 Feb 1995
12.7: PROHIBITED 12.6 handguns inheritable by immediate next of kin as they were manufactured before 1946.