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Not legal advice. An independent guide, not affiliated with any airline or government agency. Verified 1 November 2026

Storage and handling by class

Firearms prohibited by Order in Council

Three Orders in Council — on 1 May 2020, 5 December 2024 and 7 March 2025 — moved firearms that had been classified non-restricted or restricted into the prohibited class. An owner's firearm can therefore have changed class without the owner doing anything. Amnesty Orders protect affected owners from criminal liability while they come into compliance, and set out what they may do in the meantime.

There is no official route to fly with one of these firearms

No official source states that air travel with an OIC-affected firearm is permitted, for any purpose. The Amnesty Order permits transport only for a closed list of disposal purposes, and attaches conditions — the firearm in the trunk or not visible from outside, and the vehicle never left unattended — that a passenger on a commercial flight cannot meet. FlyerArms does not read the Order’s silence on aircraft as permission, and does not claim it contains an explicit ban. If you need an answer for your situation, it has to come from the Canadian Firearms Program.

Canadian Firearms Program: 1-800-731-4000.

What the prohibition did

The RCMP states that, effective immediately on March 7, 2025, the newly prohibited firearms can no longer be legally used, sold, imported or transferred to another individual, and can only be transported as provided in the Amnesty Order.

What the source says

Effective immediately, the newly prohibited firearms can no longer be legally used, sold, imported, or transferred to another individual, and can only be transported as provided in the Amnesty Order.

Source: rcmp.ca Verified 1 November 2026

Official page last modified: 30 October 2026

Provision 1

SOR/2025-87 defines "specified firearm" as a prohibited firearm referred to in any of items 201 to 240 of Part 1 of the schedule to the Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted.

What the source says — Provision 1

1 In this Order, specified firearm means a prohibited firearm referred to in any of items 201 to 240 of Part 1 of the schedule to the Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited or Restricted.

Source: gazette.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026

Is my firearm affected?

The RCMP publishes a downloadable list for each of the three rounds, so you can check your make and model against the round you are asking about. FlyerArms does not classify firearms and does not reproduce the lists — they run to thousands of entries and are revised, so the only trustworthy copy is the RCMP's current one.

Note the full Firearms Reference Table download is around 231 MB. The three per-round prohibited-firearms lists are far smaller.

The RCMP states that members of the public can download the Firearms Reference Table and the lists of firearms prohibited by the May 1, 2020 Order in Council (SOR/2020-96), the December 5, 2024 Order in Council (SOR/2024-248) and the March 7, 2025 Order in Council (SOR/2025-0086). Each of the four PDFs shows "Last updated: 2026-10-19". The RCMP separately directs policing agencies, public agents and firearm verifiers to use the online Firearms Reference Table rather than the PDF to ensure the most up-to-date information.

What the source says

Access to the Firearms Reference Table for the public Members of the public can download the Firearms Reference Table and the lists of firearms prohibited by the May 1, 2020 Order in Council, SOR/2020-96, the December 5, 2024 Order in Council, SOR/2024-248, and the March 7, 2025 Order in Council, SOR/2025-0086 (Regulations Amending the Regulations Prescribing Certain Firearms and Other Weapons, Components and Parts of Weapons, Accessories, Cartridge Magazines, Ammunition and Projectiles as Prohibited, Restricted or Non-Restricted). Policing agencies, public agents and firearm verifiers: Please use the online Firearms Reference Table and not the PDF to ensure you are accessing the most up-to-date information.

Source: rcmp.ca Verified 1 November 2026

Official page last modified: 22 October 2026

Who the amnesty covers

The 2025 Order's first category is the ordinary case: someone who owned or possessed one of the newly prohibited firearms when the order came into force and holds a Firearms Act licence. The Order lists further categories covering businesses, carriers, deactivation businesses and people storing a firearm on an owner's behalf.

Provision 2(1)(a)(i)

SOR/2025-87 extends the amnesty to a person who, on the day the order came into force, owns or possesses a specified firearm and holds a licence issued under the Firearms Act. The order lists further categories, including persons storing a firearm on an owner's behalf, businesses, carriers and deactivation businesses.

What the source says — Provision 2(1)(a)(i)

(i) on the day on which this Order comes into force, owns or possesses a specified firearm and holds a licence that was issued under the Firearms Act,

Source: gazette.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026

How to store an affected firearm

Store it to its old class, not to the prohibited rule

This catches people out. Because the firearm is now classified prohibited, the instinct is to apply the prohibited-firearm storage section. The Amnesty Order says otherwise: store it under SOR/98-209 s.5 if it was non-restricted the day before the prohibition, or s.6 if it was restricted.

What s.5 requires What s.6 requires

Provision 2(2)(a)(x)

SOR/2025-87 permits a covered person to possess a specified firearm before doing any of the permitted disposal things, as long as it is stored in accordance with section 5 or 6 of the Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations according to the firearm's classification on the day before the order came into force - so section 5 if it was non-restricted, section 6 if it was restricted - or, for a business, section 5 of the equivalent business regulations.

What the source says — Provision 2(2)(a)(x)

(x) possess the specified firearm before doing any of the things described in subparagraphs (i) to (ix), as long as it is stored in accordance with (A) section 5 or 6 of the Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations, according to the classification of the firearm on the day before the day on which this Order comes into force, if the person is an individual, or (B) section 5 of the Storage, Display and Transportation of Firearms and Other Weapons by Businesses Regulations, if the person is a business as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Firearms Act;

Source: gazette.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026

The RCMP states affected firearms must be securely stored in accordance with their previous classification, and may not be used for hunting or sport shooting, at a range or elsewhere, unless allowed through the amnesty.

What the source says

Affected firearms must be securely stored in accordance with their previous classification. They may not be used for hunting or sport shooting, either at a range or elsewhere, unless allowed through the amnesty.

Source: rcmp.ca Verified 1 November 2026

Official page last modified: 30 October 2026

What transport the Order allows

The permitted purposes are a closed list, and all of them are about getting the firearm out of your hands: deactivating it, handing it to a police officer, returning it to its owner, exporting it lawfully, or — for a business — returning it to the manufacturer or passing it on to be destroyed or deactivated. There is also permission to move it for storage. Transport for any other reason is not covered.

Each permitted trip carries conditions: a reasonably direct route, the firearm unloaded with no ammunition in the vehicle, the firearm in the trunk or not visible from outside, and the vehicle never left unattended.

Why this does not add up to a flight

The Order says "by vehicle", and under these regulations a vehicle includes a conveyance used for transport by air — so the wording alone does not rule out a flight. The conditions do. A passenger cannot put a firearm in an aircraft's trunk, and cannot keep the aircraft attended. No official source addresses air travel with one of these firearms either way, so FlyerArms states what the Order requires and leaves the conclusion where the sources leave it.

Provision 2(2)(a)(vi), 2(2)(a)(vii)

SOR/2025-87 permits a covered person to transport a specified firearm by vehicle only for the purposes listed in the order - deactivation, delivery to a police officer for destruction or other disposal, delivery to its owner, lawful export, and for businesses return to the manufacturer or delivery for shipment to be destroyed or deactivated - and only by a reasonably direct route, with the firearm unloaded and no ammunition in the vehicle, the firearm in the trunk or otherwise not visible from outside, and the vehicle never left unattended. A second provision permits transport on the same conditions for the purpose of storing the firearm or having it stored by, or retrieved from, a permitted storer, with notice to the chief firearms officer.

What the source says — Provision 2(2)(a)(vi), 2(2)(a)(vii)

(vi) transport the specified firearm by vehicle, for the purpose of doing any of the things described in subparagraphs (i) to (v), by a route that, in all the circumstances, is reasonably direct, as long as, during transportation, (A) the firearm is unloaded and no ammunition is present in the vehicle, (B) the firearm is in the trunk of the vehicle or, if there is no trunk, the firearm is not visible from outside the vehicle, and (C) the vehicle is not left unattended, (vii) transport the specified firearm by vehicle, in the manner referred to in subparagraph (vi), for the purpose of (A) storing it in accordance with subparagraph (x), or (B) having it stored by or, following storage, retrieving it from a person referred to in paragraph (1)(c), if the owner first notifies the chief firearms officer for the province in which they reside of the transport,

Source: gazette.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026

SOR/2025-87 contains no reference to an Authorization to Transport. The order states its own transport purposes and conditions directly. Its only uses of "authoriz-" wording concern an organization authorized under an Act of Parliament to transport firearms, and a business licensed to possess prohibited firearms for deactivation - neither is an ATT.

What the source says

not_stated

Source: gazette.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026

The hunting carve-out

One narrow exception exists, and it applies only to a firearm that was non-restricted the day before the prohibition. An owner may continue to use it to hunt in the exercise of a right recognised and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, or to sustain themselves or their family, until they can obtain another firearm for that use — and may transport it for that purpose under the ordinary non-restricted transport section rather than under the conditions above.

Whether that applies to you is not something this site can assess, and it is not a travel provision. If you think it covers your situation, confirm it with the Canadian Firearms Program at 1-800-731-4000.

Provision 2(2)(a)(viii), 2(2)(a)(ix)

SOR/2025-87 permits an individual whose specified firearm was a non-restricted firearm on the day before the order came into force to use it to hunt in the exercise of a right recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, or to sustain themselves or their family, until they are able to obtain another firearm for that use - and to transport it for that purpose in accordance with section 10 of the Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations, rather than under the order's own trunk-and-unattended transport conditions.

What the source says — Provision 2(2)(a)(viii), 2(2)(a)(ix)

(viii) in the case of a person referred to in paragraph (1)(a), if the specified firearm was, on the day before the day on which this Order comes into force, a non-restricted firearm, use it to hunt in the exercise of a right recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 or to sustain the person or their family, until they are able to obtain another firearm for that use, (ix) in the case of a person referred to in paragraph (1)(a), transport the specified firearm whose use is permitted under subparagraph (viii) in accordance with section 10 of the Storage, Display, Transportation and Handling of Firearms by Individuals Regulations for the purpose of doing the thing described in that subparagraph or giving temporary possession of the firearm to a person referred to in paragraph (1)(d), and

Source: gazette.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026

The RCMP states the amnesty period allows the continued use of previously non-restricted firearms in limited circumstances - for example by Indigenous persons exercising Aboriginal or treaty rights to hunt, and by those who hunt or trap to sustain themselves or their families - until the end of the amnesty period.

What the source says

The amnesty period allows for the continued use of previously non-restricted firearms in limited circumstances (for example, by Indigenous persons exercising Aboriginal or treaty rights to hunt and by those who hunt or trap to sustain themselves or their families), until the end of the amnesty period.

Source: rcmp.ca Verified 1 November 2026

Official page last modified: 30 October 2026

When the amnesty ends

No end date can be published, and FlyerArms will not calculate one

The amnesty orders do not have a fixed end date. Each one runs until the 90th day after Supreme Court of Canada appeals 41858, 41859, 41860 and 41861 are terminated — by discontinuance, judgment or dismissal — and if they end on different days, the clock runs from the latest of them. No decision had been released when this page was last checked. FlyerArms publishes no expiry date because there is none to publish, and it does not calculate one. Newly prohibited firearms may only be transported as the amnesty order provides.

Note that the RCMP and Public Safety Canada both describe the trigger as 90 days after the Supreme Court "renders its decision". The Order itself is more precise: it runs from the appeals being terminated by discontinuance, judgment or dismissal. An appeal can end without a decision. Where the two differ, the Order is the text that governs, and it is quoted first below.

Provision amending provision for SOR/2025-87 s.2(3)

SOR/2026-114 amended all three Amnesty Orders (2020, 2024 and 2025) so that each amnesty period ends on the 90th day after the day on which the Supreme Court of Canada appeals bearing case numbers 41858, 41859, 41860 or 41861 are terminated by discontinuance in accordance with the Supreme Court Act, judgment or dismissal - and, if the appeals are terminated on different days, on the 90th day after the latest of those days.

What the source says — Provision amending provision for SOR/2025-87 s.2(3)

(3) The amnesty period begins on March 7, 2025 and ends on the 90th day after the day on which the appeals bearing the Supreme Court of Canada case numbers 41858, 41859, 41860 or 41861 are terminated by discontinuance in accordance with the Supreme Court Act, judgment or dismissal. However, if the appeals are terminated on different days, the amnesty period ends on the 90th day after the latest of those days.

Source: gazette.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026

The Supreme Court of Canada granted leave to appeal on March 19, 2026 from the April 15, 2025 judgment of the Federal Court of Appeal (A-324-23, 2025 FCA 82), and directed that the appeal be heard together with three others. The four consolidated dockets are 41858 (Christine Generoux, et al. v. Attorney General of Canada), 41859 (Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, et al.), 41860 (Michael John Doherty, et al.) and 41861 (Jennifer Eichenberg, et al.), each against the Attorney General of Canada. The appeal hearing is scheduled for November 9, 2026 (Day 1) and November 10, 2026 (Day 2). No decision has been released as of 2026-11-01.

What the source says

Judgment of the Court on the application for leave to appeal, The application for leave to appeal from the judgment of the Federal Court of Appeal, Number A-324-23, 2025 FCA 82, dated April 15, 2025, is granted. This appeal will be heard with Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights, et al. v. Attorney General of Canada (41859), with Michael John Doherty, et al. v. Attorney General of Canada (41860), and with Jennifer Eichenberg, et al. v. Attorney General of Canada (41861). Granted Appeal hearing scheduled, 2026-11-09, DAY 1 Appeal hearing scheduled, 2026-11-10, DAY 2 FOR WEBCAST PURPOSE ONLY

Source: scc-csc.ca Verified 1 November 2026

Public Safety Canada states that in March 2026 the Supreme Court of Canada agreed to hear an appeal challenging the May 2020 prohibition of assault-style firearms, and that in light of this the Amnesty Orders for the 2020, 2024 and 2025 prohibitions have been extended and set to expire 90 days following the date the Court renders its decision, which is expected next year. It states that owners who chose not to participate in the compensation program must dispose of their prohibited firearms and comply with the law before the end of the amnesty or risk criminal charges and prosecution.

What the source says

In March 2026, the Supreme Court of Canada agreed to hear an appeal challenging the May 2020 prohibition of assault-style firearms. In light of this, the Amnesty Orders for the 2020, 2024, and 2025 prohibitions have been extended and set to expire 90 days following the date the Supreme Court of Canada renders its decision, which is expected next year. The extension of the amnesty period does not impact the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP). It remains the only opportunity for firearm owners to get compensation. Individual owners and businesses who chose not to participate in the ASFCP must dispose of their prohibited firearms and comply with the law before the end of the amnesty or risk criminal charges and prosecution.

Source: canada.ca Verified 1 November 2026

Official page last modified: 9 June 2026

The amnesty has already been extended more than once

Worth knowing if you are deciding how much time you have: the 2025 Order originally ran to 1 March 2026, was later extended to 30 October 2026, and now runs from the termination of the appeals. The Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement accompanying the most recent extension said the Court was unlikely to decide before the then-current expiry.

Provision 2(3)

As originally made, SOR/2025-87 set the amnesty period to begin when the order came into force and end on March 1, 2026. This date has been superseded by later amending orders - see sor2026_114_amnesty_tied_to_scc_appeals.

What the source says — Provision 2(3)

(3) The amnesty period begins on the day on which this Order comes into force and ends on March 1, 2026.

Source: gazette.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026

Provision Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement

The Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement accompanying SOR/2026-114 states that the Amnesty Orders expired on October 30, 2026 before this amendment, that the Supreme Court of Canada granted leave to appeal on March 19, 2026 in four applications challenging the May 1, 2020 prohibition, and that the Court was unlikely to render its decision before that expiry - which is why the orders were amended to run from the termination of the appeals instead.

What the source says — Provision Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement

On March 19, 2026, the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) granted leave to appeal in four applications challenging the Governor in Council's (GIC) decision to prohibit the ASFs by regulation passed on May 1, 2020. The SCC is unlikely to render its decision before the Amnesty Orders expire. Upon expiration of the Amnesty Orders, individuals and businesses who remain in possession of the prohibited items could be subject to criminal liability and possible imprisonment under the Criminal Code, including for unlawful possession of prohibited firearms while the SCC cases are ongoing.

Source: gazette.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026

Compensation

The Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program is the route the government set up for handing these firearms in. The declaration period for individuals has closed. FlyerArms publishes no figures for how many firearms have been declared or collected, because the numbers that circulate could not be confirmed against a current official page.

Public Safety Canada states the declaration period for individuals under the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program has ended, with collection, deactivation and compensation processes expected to run from spring to early fall 2026; that the program for businesses has closed with no new claims accepted, though businesses may still check existing claim status in the web portal; and that Canada has banned more than 2,500 makes and models of assault-style firearms since May 2020.

What the source says

The declaration period for individuals has now ended. The collection, deactivation and compensation processes are expected to run from spring to early fall 2026. The program for businesses has now closed. No new claims can be submitted. Businesses may still access the web portal to check the status of their existing claims. As part of its long-standing commitment to tackling gun violence in Canadian communities, the Government of Canada has banned more than 2,500 makes and models of assault-style firearms since May 2020.

Source: canada.ca Verified 1 November 2026

Official page last modified: 24 June 2026

Provision amending provision adding s.2(2)(a)(ii.3)

SOR/2026-114 also added a permitted purpose allowing an individual who has entered into an agreement with the Government of Canada to have specified firearms destroyed to deliver the firearm to a carrier, as defined in the Firearms Act, for shipping in accordance with that agreement to a location specified by the Government of Canada, for destruction.

What the source says — Provision amending provision adding s.2(2)(a)(ii.3)

(ii.3) if the person is an individual who has entered into an agreement with the Government of Canada to have specified firearms destroyed, deliver the specified firearm to a carrier, as defined in subsection 2(1) of the Firearms Act, for the purpose of shipping it in accordance with that agreement, to a location specified by the Government of Canada, for destruction,

Source: gazette.gc.ca Verified 1 November 2026

What this page does not cover, and who to ask

The Amnesty Order text quoted here is the 7 March 2025 order. The orders for the 2020 and 2024 rounds have not been read against their own text, so where this page quotes specific permissions and conditions, they are that order's. The RCMP's plain-language statements — store to the previous classification, transport only as the Amnesty Order provides — are published for all three rounds.

FlyerArms also does not advise on deactivation, export, valuation, or filling in a compensation claim, and does not tell you whether your firearm is affected. For any of that, and for anything about travelling with an affected firearm, the Canadian Firearms Program is the authority.

The RCMP Canadian Firearms Program states its hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm (nationwide), with a toll-free number 1-800-731-4000 within Canada and the United States, 1-506-624-6626 from outside Canada and the United States, email cfp-pcaf@rcmp-grc.gc.ca and fax 613-825-0297. The Firearms Reference Table page gives the same toll-free number with extension 1082 and states hours as 9 am to 5 pm Eastern time.

What the source says

The hours of operation are Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm (nationwide). 1-800-731-4000 (within Canada and the United States) 1-506-624-6626 (outside of Canada and the United States) cfp-pcaf@rcmp-grc.gc.ca 613-825-0297

Source: rcmp.ca Verified 1 November 2026

Official page last modified: 18 November 2025

Related

Which class is my firearm? Storage by class Transport rules