A visit to Canada begins with a stop at the Canada Border Services Agency office. When you arrive at the border, declare the firearm to the customs officer in writing, provide any documents required, and answer all questions truthfully. The border services officer has to be satisfied that you have a valid reason for importing the firearm, and may check to ensure that you have transported your firearm properly. The officer will also review your documents and ensure that the firearm you have matches the one described on the documents. If you do not declare all firearms or weapons, Canada Border Services Agency will seize them and you could face criminal charges.

Under Canada's firearms laws, all firearms are classified as non-restricted, restricted, or prohibited. There are also different categories for weapons and devices. Visitors cannot, under any circumstances, import prohibited firearms.

Visitors may import non-restricted firearms for legitimate purposes such as:

• sporting or hunting use during hunting season;
• use in competitions;
• in-transit movement (i.e., moving in the most direct route possible from Point A to Point B) through Canada; or
• personal protection against wildlife in remote areas of Canada, as long as the border services officer is satisfied that the circumstances warrant the firearm being imported.

If you hunt in Ontario, you need a hunting licence from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. If you are not sure whether you can hunt or if you have any questions about wildlife management regulations in Ontario, contact:

Natural Resources Information Centre

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources

General Inquiry 1-800-667-1940

French Inquiry 1-800-667-1840

Website: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/pubs/pubmenu.html#hunting

E-mail: mnr.nric.mnr@ontario.ca

You can import 200 rounds of ammunition duty free for hunting purposes, or up to 1,500 rounds duty free for use at a recognized competition. You may make arrangements to import larger quantities through a Canadian shooting association, committee, or federation for team practice and competition at meets. For information on permits to import a larger amount of ammunition, contact:

Explosives Regulatory Division

Natural Resources Canada
Explosives Branch

1431 Merivale Road

Ottawa ON K1A 0G1

Telephone: (613) 948-5200

Web site: http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/explosif/over/conus_e.htm

If you need more information about Canada's firearms laws relating to a specific firearm, weapon, device, refer to document BSF5044 - Importing a Firearm or Weapon Into Canada published by the Canada Border Services Agency. For additional information, you may also contact the following federal agency:

Canada Firearms Centre

Ottawa, ON

K1A 1M6

Telephone: 1 800 731-4000 (toll free)

Fax: 1- 613 957-7325

Email: cfc-cafc@cfc-cafc.gc.ca

Website: http://www.cfc-cafc.gc.ca/

Alternatively, to speak to a firearms officer of the province of Ontario about importing weapons, contact:

Chief Firearms Officer

Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services

777 Memorial Avenue

Orillia, ON

L3V 7V3

Tel: (705) 329-5522

Fax: (705) 329-5623

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