PAL/RPAL Timelines

RobertMcC, yeah, in knew that. Just the mandatory 28 days I wasn't sure about. Figure it will be at least another 1-2 months after the 28 day period before I see it.
 
UPDATE:
I finally got the:
'Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date. "

Now, I will bug them every week for updates. :)
 
Well mine has been “in progress” for 56 days. It’s an upgrade application ahead of my regular PAL that doesn’t expire until end of next year.

I’ve had some light shed on the process. Provinces like Ontario where you can send in your application while your waiting for stamped test results can overcome the 4 week waiting period at the same time while waiting for test results to be stamped. However. Provinces like AB/SK you get your signed test results(not CFO signed) and send with your application. They hold for the 4 weeks before your test results are reviewed and approved by a CFO. Possibly another 4 weeks and that’s only if your application did not contain any errors and you pass your background check. Then of course IF they decide to contact your references after these steps.

I’m on day 106. Could be a few more weeks. Nothing we can do to rush these guys. Most of the CFO offices are over worked, under staffed and under funded to hire additional staff. Good thing C-71 plans to give all these poor men and women more work load and no funding that I’ve seen to back that up.

Regardless, even if you find yourself in a long wait like myself. Ignore the “45 days to process”. Stay cool, and be patient cause you know it’s worth the wait anyway.


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Anything questionable in the new applicants FIP file can really slow things down.
 
Sharing my experience

Pal/RPAL courses done on March 10 and 11. Got the result same day.

13th March Application sent (non registered mail)

Called the application center on 17-4-2018 and was told that they cannot check my status because it has not been entered into the system yet. Lady officer was really kind and informed that they are taking a little over 28 days right now to complete applications and my application should be online any day now.
I was told to call every few days because sometimes online does not give out all the information.

Apr- 18-2018 . Day after calling the application center, the status " Your application has completed the initial process. It is now in progress"appeared online. They received my application on the 19th of March. So it appeared online in 30 days. Not sure if my phone call made any difference because it appeared online the next day after I called.

Apr -20-2018I called them to make sure my application was complete and there is no missing information. I was advised that there is nothing they need from me and the next step for them is to scan my picture and continue with the "progress".

April 27-2018 . Status changed to "Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued. If you have not received your licence within 2 weeks please contact the Canadian Firearms Program Toll Free number. (1-800 731-4000) ".

No references called.

It took exact 46 days from me sending the application till the license being issued. Technically they took less than 45 days to complete their process after receiving application.

It's shopping time.

UPDATE License received in mail on 03/May/2018
 
Last edited:
Just fyi - I just renewed my PAL - sent by mail March 26th, received by mail today. So 33 days total, including mailing times. I have to say I was pretty surprised when it popped through the mail-slot this afternoon. :)
 
Whiteannerdy said:
Well mine has been “in progress” for 56 days. It’s an upgrade application ahead of my regular PAL that doesn’t expire until end of next year.

I’ve had some light shed on the process. Provinces like Ontario where you can send in your application while your waiting for stamped test results can overcome the 4 week waiting period at the same time while waiting for test results to be stamped. However. Provinces like AB/SK you get your signed test results(not CFO signed) and send with your application. They hold for the 4 weeks before your test results are reviewed and approved by a CFO. Possibly another 4 weeks and that’s only if your application did not contain any errors and you pass your background check. Then of course IF they decide to contact your references after these steps.

I’m on day 106. Could be a few more weeks. Nothing we can do to rush these guys. Most of the CFO offices are over worked, under staffed and under funded to hire additional staff. Good thing C-71 plans to give all these poor men and women more work load and no funding that I’ve seen to back that up.

Regardless, even if you find yourself in a long wait like myself. Ignore the “45 days to process”. Stay cool, and be patient cause you know it’s worth the wait anyway.


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Click to expand...

its the same as my friend. he has been waiting 5 months. his just says Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date for 5 months now. he has called in several times and they say he passed all background checks and it sitting in the cfo desk waiting for final approval. and the stupid thing is we took the pal/rpal course at the same time and they received our applications at the same time and i got mine in 45 days to the day and yet he is still waiting.
 
PAL/RPAL Timelines

mnathan said:
its the same as my friend. he has been waiting 5 months. his just says Your application has completed initial processing. It is now in progress. Please check the status again at a later date for 5 months now. he has called in several times and they say he passed all background checks and it sitting in the cfo desk waiting for final approval. and the stupid thing is we took the pal/rpal course at the same time and they received our applications at the same time and i got mine in 45 days to the day and yet he is still waiting.
Click to expand...

Random selection on his? Errors in his details, checked yes to one of the questions, or they were not satisfied with a reference?

Or your friend just got the slowest CFO in the office and you got the energetic one who’s efficient as fuck.


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hi there, newb here.
4/19 delivered, regular mail.
Hope i can get it asap.
 
"Your application has been processed and your licence has been issued" If there was a Sentence Olympics, this would win gold every time.
 
13th March Application sent for RPAL/PAL
19th March Application received by CFP
27th April License Issued
3rd May License received

No references called

Total days =52 Including mail time.
 
Mr Singh said:
13th March Application sent for RPAL/PAL
19th March Application received by CFP
27th April License Issued
3rd May License received

No references called

Total days =52 Including mail time.
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Hey, that's a pretty good timeline ! Which province are you in ? Did you call them after 28 days, to enquire ?

Thanks !
 
Niklasky said:
Hey, that's a pretty good timeline ! Which province are you in ? Did you call them after 28 days, to enquire ?

Thanks !
Click to expand...

Yes. All my friends are schocked because some had to wait almost one year.

I live in BC. I did called CFS after 28 days. My application status appeared online a day after I called. I followed up with couple of more calls after it appeared online to make sure there is nothing missing. Both occasions I was told that my picture is sent out for scan and next thing I know it was approved.

I don't know if calling them made any difference but there is no harm in checking every few days. Matter of fact I was told by the staff to call every few days as online information is not completely reliable. Hope it helps.
 
Matter of fact I was told by the staff to call every few days as online information is not completely reliable. Hope it helps.
Click to expand...

Good to know. Mine should be past the 28 days by the end of next week.
 
Mr Singh said:
Yes. All my friends are schocked because some had to wait almost one year.

I live in BC. I did called CFS after 28 days. My application status appeared online a day after I called. I followed up with couple of more calls after it appeared online to make sure there is nothing missing. Both occasions I was told that my picture is sent out for scan and next thing I know it was approved.

I don't know if calling them made any difference but there is no harm in checking every few days. Matter of fact I was told by the staff to call every few days as online information is not completely reliable. Hope it helps.
Click to expand...

We'll, congrats on getting your RPAL. I hope my timeline will be as short as yours.
 
Day 118 and waiting. 68 days since it “completed initial processing. It is now in progress”

Done my interview with the RCMP but no references called yet.


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Niklasky said:
We'll, congrats on getting your RPAL. I hope my timeline will be as short as yours.
Click to expand...

Thank you. It's still a long process to shoot restricted firearm even after having license in your hand. I had to sign up with my local range and call CFO to provide membership details. Than I paid for my firearm and waited for the transfer to be completed by local CFO. Luckily it was done in 1 day. I am picking my firearm today but still can't shoot because I will have to wait for another 2 weeks before I get registration certificated for the firearm. So yeah it's another couple of weeks wait before you can actually shoot out of your restricted firearm.
 
renewal - applied online.
Did everything including the photo on my smartphone in 10 minutes.

About 2 weeks later the card arrived (non-restricted & restricted).
Nothing about club memberships whatsoever.

Don't own any restricted firearms anyway and never will.
If they want to take restricted off my license I'll be expecting the $20 difference in fees between RPAL & PAL.
 
Doug_M said:
Just got my renewal in the mail today. Took all of 15 days! I pre-emptively emailed the CFO my proof of range membership a couple days after I filed the renewal online.

If anyone's PAL is up for renewal at any time in 2018 you might want to renew it now before C-71 becomes law in the Fall and creates a massive backlog.
Click to expand...

Especially if you have 'events' in your pre-5 years ago background you'd rather not divulge/discuss on the application.

The CFO/RCMP probably know about them anyway and if they mattered you wouldn't have a license to renew but they want to bait you into lying so they can disqualify your application and probably charge you for giving false/misleading/incomplete information on a license application so you won't be able to get a PAL in the future.

Nobody knows what kind of 'booby trap' questions will be on the 'new applicant' & renewal applications so best to renew NOW before c71 becomes law.
 
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