Airport screening
These are the aviation security rules that apply at every Canadian airport, whichever airline you fly. They are separate from your airline's own rules and from the Firearms Act — all three apply at once.
Screening sets a floor, not a permission
CATSA never says "yes" to a firearm in checked baggage. Every one of its firearm and ammunition pages answers "Checked baggage: Check with carrier". Clearing screening rules does not mean your airline will carry it, so start with your airline's rules and treat this page as the minimum you must also satisfy.
- Carry-on
- Checked baggage
- Ammunition
- Banned outright
- Replicas and other items
- Knives
- Unanswered questions
Carry-on baggage: never
This is the one rule with no exceptions and no carrier discretion. Note Transport Canada's separate wording on telescopic sights, which CATSA does not repeat — see the unanswered questions below.
CATSA states that firearms, firearm parts, real ammunition and cartridges are not permitted in carry-on baggage under any circumstances.
What the source saysFirearms, firearm parts, real ammunition and cartridges are not permitted in carry-on baggage under any circumstances.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
Transport Canada's banned carry-on list includes any type of firearm, toy, replica and imitation weapons, and firearm parts except telescopic sights.
What the source saysGuns, firearms or another device that could seriously injure someone by launching harmful objects. This includes items that could be mistaken for this type of device (like a toy gun), like: any type of firearm toy, replica and imitation weapons firearm parts (except telescopic sights) compressed air and CO2 guns, like pistols pellet guns, rifles and ball bearing guns flare and starter pistols bows, cross bows and arrows harpoon guns and spear guns slingshots and catapults
Source: tc.canada.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 9 August 2021
Transport Canada's banned carry-on list includes ammunition (bullets), propellant powder and gunpowder.
What the source saysammunition (bullets), propellant powder, gunpowder
Source: tc.canada.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 9 August 2021
Checked baggage: what screening requires
CATSA's firearms item page shows "Carry on baggage: No" and "Checked baggage: Check with carrier".
What the source saysFirearms Carry on baggage No Checked baggage Check with carrier
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
CATSA states that firearms carried as checked baggage must be unloaded and packed in a locked hard-sided container.
What the source saysFirearms carried as checked baggage MUST be unloaded, packed in a locked hard-sided container.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
Transport Canada states that an unloaded firearm may be packed in checked baggage in a locked hard-sided container, and that all firearms, firearm parts, bullets and cartridges must be declared to the airline during check-in.
What the source saysYou can pack an unloaded firearm as long as it's placed in a locked, hard-sided container. You must also declare all firearms, firearm parts, bullets and cartridges to your airline during check-in. For details on how to transport these items in your checked baggage, please contact your airline.
Source: tc.canada.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 9 August 2021
CATSA states that all firearms, firearm parts, ammunition and cartridges must be declared to the air carrier during the check-in process.
What the source saysAll firearms, firearm parts, ammunition and cartridges must be declared to the air carrier during the check-in process.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
Ammunition
The 5 kg figure is the number most travellers need, and CATSA states it on its "Bullets and ammunition" page only. Your airline may be stricter — four of the five covered carriers publish a 5 kg limit of their own, and one publishes none at all.
CATSA states there is a 5 kg (11 lb) per person limit on ammunition.
What the source saysThere is a 5kg (11lb) per person limit on ammunition.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
This is the single most important screening number for the site. CATSA states it only on the "Bullets and ammunition" item page - it is NOT repeated on the "Firearms", "Cartridges" or "Bullet casings" item pages, nor on the Transport Canada page.
CATSA states that certain items may be transported in checked baggage if properly packaged and approved by the air carrier.
What the source saysCertain items may be transported in checked baggage if properly packaged and approved by the air carrier.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
CATSA's "Cartridges" item page repeats the carry-on ban, the packaging-and-approval condition, and the declaration requirement.
What the source saysFirearms, firearm parts, real ammunition and cartridges are not permitted in carry-on baggage under any circumstances. Certain items may be transported in checked baggage if properly packaged and approved by the air carrier. All firearms, firearm parts, ammunition and cartridges must be declared to the air carrier during the check-in process.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
CATSA treats bullet casings under the same text as firearms and ammunition: no carry-on, checked only if properly packaged and approved by the air carrier.
What the source saysFirearms, firearm parts, real ammunition and cartridges are not permitted in carry-on baggage under any circumstances. Certain items may be transported in checked baggage if properly packaged and approved by the air carrier.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
Worth calling out on the site: spent/empty casings and reloading components get the same screening answer as live ammunition, which surprises reloaders.
Banned from both carry-on and checked baggage
Unusually, CATSA refuses these outright rather than deferring to the airline. The powder rule catches muzzleloader shooters and handloaders, and it also differs from what the CBSA allows across a land border — border-legal is not flight-legal.
CATSA states that black and smokeless powders are not permitted in carry-on baggage and not permitted in checked baggage.
What the source saysBlack and smokeless powders: This item is not permitted in carry-on baggage and it is not permitted in checked baggage.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
CATSA states that replica explosives and replica illegal weapons are not permitted in carry-on or checked bags.
What the source saysReplica illegal weapons: Replica weapons look like real weapons. These include replica explosives and replica illegal weapons. Most people could easily mistake a replica weapon for a real weapon. Replica explosives and replica illegal weapons are not permitted in carry-on or checked bags.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
Transport Canada states that anything illegal under the Criminal Code of Canada, any explosive substance, and any device that can ignite are banned from checked baggage.
What the source saysIn Canada, you aren't allowed to pack these items in your check baggage: anything that's illegal under the Criminal Code of Canada any explosive substance, or any device that can ignite
Source: tc.canada.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 9 August 2021
Replicas, paintball guns, flares and sporting equipment
Keep replica firearms and replicas of illegal weapons distinct: the first is checked-only in consultation with the carrier, the second is banned from both.
CATSA states that replica firearms look like real firearms and are permitted in checked bags only in consultation with the air carrier.
What the source saysReplica firearms: Replica firearms look like real firearms. Replica firearms are permitted in checked bags only in consultation with the air carrier.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
CATSA states that a paintball gun may be permitted in checked baggage if approved by the air carrier, and is not permitted in carry-on.
What the source saysPaintball gun: May be permitted in checked baggage if approved by air carrier.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
CATSA states that road/distress flares may be permitted in checked baggage if approved by the air carrier, and are not permitted in carry-on.
What the source saysRoad/distress flares: May be permitted in checked baggage if approved by air carrier.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
CATSA states that toy ammunition and toy weapons that would not be mistaken for real ones are permitted in carry-on and in checked bags.
What the source saysMost people would not mistake a toy weapon for a real weapon. These are permitted in carry-on and in checked bags. Some toy weapons look real. These are considered "replica weapons" and are treated differently. Please consult "replica weapons" and "replica firearms" in this list.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
CATSA's camping and sporting equipment page lists "Rifles and ammunition" under hunting as items for checked baggage rather than carry-on.
What the source saysHunting Rifles and ammunition
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 2 February 2024
Knives — not a firearm rule, but hunters trip on it
CATSA states that hunting knives with a blade 6 cm or less are permitted when flying within Canada or to an international non-US destination, and that knives of any type or length are not permitted in carry-on on flights to the US.
What the source saysHunting knives with a blade 6 cm or less are permitted when flying within Canada or to an international (non-U.S.) destination. Knives of any type or length are not permitted in your carry-on on flights to the U.S.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 2 February 2024
Transport Canada states that on a flight to the US being precleared in Canada, no type of knife may be packed in carry-on.
What the source saysSome Canadian airports have preclearance facilities where you and your baggage are cleared to enter the United States before you arrive. If you're taking a flight to the US that's being precleared in Canada, you can't pack any type of knife.
Source: tc.canada.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 9 August 2021
Where CATSA sends you next
CATSA directs passengers to their air carrier for checked-baggage details and notes passengers may also contact the Canada Firearms Program website.
What the source saysFor more details on how to transport these items in your checked baggage, please contact your air carrier. Passengers may also contact the Canada Firearms Program website .
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Official page last modified: 22 December 2022
CATSA states that prohibited items include specific weapons illegal under the Criminal Code of Canada, which a traveller may not possess regardless of a security checkpoint.
What the source saysProhibited items include specific weapons that are illegal under the Criminal Code of Canada . You are not allowed to have these items in your possession, regardless of whether you are going through a security checkpoint or not.
Source: catsa-acsta.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026
Questions the official sources do not answer
These are places where FlyerArms deliberately stops. Official sources are silent or ambiguous, so rather than guess, here is who to ask.