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News Analysis

Firearms Compensation Program Deadline Is March 31: What Gun Owners Must Do Before Time Runs Out

The federal Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program declaration window closes March 31, 2026. If you own a prohibited firearm and haven't submitted your declaration, here's exactly what you need to do — and what happens if you miss the deadline.

By Refdesk Team

Firearms Compensation Program Deadline Is March 31: What Gun Owners Must Do Before Time Runs Out

What This Means for You

If you own one of the more than 2,500 makes and models of firearms that the federal government has prohibited since May 2020, you have exactly four days left to submit your declaration to the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program (ASFCP). The declaration window closes on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, and the government has indicated no extensions are planned. Missing this deadline means you forfeit your right to financial compensation — and you still face a hard legal deadline of October 30, 2026, to dispose of or deactivate your firearms or risk criminal prosecution.

This is not an abstract policy debate. It's a time-sensitive financial and legal decision that affects an estimated 150,000+ Canadian gun owners. Whether you agree with the program or not, understanding your options and acting before March 31 is critical. Here's our step-by-step guide.

If You Own a Prohibited Firearm and Want Compensation

You must submit a declaration by March 31 to be eligible for any payment.

The ASFCP pays compensation to individual firearm owners who declare and surrender their prohibited firearms. Compensation amounts are based on the make, model, and condition of the firearm, with amounts generally ranging from approximately $400 to $700 per firearm for individuals. Lower receivers are compensated at a flat rate of $550 when the value of the fully assembled firearm is $550 or more.

How to submit your declaration:

  1. Go to the Government of Canada ASFCP portal: Visit canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/firearms-buyback.html
  2. Create an account if you haven't already. You'll need your Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) number.
  3. Declare each firearm you wish to surrender. You'll need the make, model, and serial number of each firearm.
  4. Choose your option: You can either surrender the firearm for compensation or declare that you will permanently deactivate it (deactivation reimbursement is a flat $400–$700).
  5. Submit before March 31, 2026. If submitting by mail, your paper declaration must be postmarked no later than March 31.

Important detail: Declarations are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, and compensation is subject to available program funds. If you submit your declaration on March 30 or 31, you are still eligible — but your place in the processing queue will be later than those who declared in January or February. Based on our analysis of government procurement budgets for the program, we believe funding is sufficient to cover the majority of expected declarations, but there is no formal government guarantee that all declarants will receive compensation.

Example scenario: A gun owner in rural Alberta who owns a Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle (prohibited since May 2020) and a CZ Scorpion EVO 3 (prohibited since December 2024). Based on the government's compensation model, the Ruger Mini-14 is valued at approximately $650 and the CZ Scorpion at approximately $600. By submitting a declaration for both firearms before March 31, this owner could receive approximately $1,250 in total compensation. If they miss the deadline, they receive nothing — but must still dispose of both firearms by October 30 or face criminal charges.

If You Own a Prohibited Firearm and Want to Keep It (Deactivated)

You can keep your firearm if you permanently deactivate it — but you still must declare by March 31.

The program allows owners to retain their prohibited firearms in deactivated form rather than surrendering them for destruction. However, you must still submit a declaration during the current window to participate in this option.

Deactivation requirements:

  • The firearm must be permanently rendered inoperable by a certified gunsmith according to the RCMP's deactivation standards
  • You will be reimbursed for the cost of deactivation (up to the compensation value of the firearm)
  • The deactivated firearm can be kept as a collectible or display piece, but it cannot be restored to functional condition

What to consider:

  • Cost of deactivation: Certified gunsmiths typically charge $100–$300 per firearm for permanent deactivation, depending on the model. Since the government reimburses this cost, the net financial impact to you is minimal — but you need to arrange the work with a certified gunsmith before the October 30 amnesty deadline.
  • Finding a certified gunsmith: Not all gunsmiths are certified for ASFCP deactivation work. Check with your provincial firearms office or the Canadian Firearms Program at 1-800-731-4000 for a list of approved deactivation service providers in your area.
  • Sentimental value: If you inherited a firearm or it has personal significance, deactivation lets you keep the physical item while complying with the law. Many owners of inherited sporting rifles are choosing this option.

If You Missed the Original Awareness and Just Learned About This

Don't panic — but act immediately. You still have time.

The ASFCP declaration portal is available 24/7 online. If you have your PAL number and firearm details ready, the online declaration process takes approximately 15–30 minutes per firearm. Even if the deadline is Tuesday, March 31, you can complete the process over the weekend.

What you need to gather before starting:

  1. Your valid PAL — the program requires a current Possession and Acquisition Licence. If your PAL has expired, you may not be eligible for compensation, though you are still legally required to dispose of your prohibited firearms.
  2. Firearm details — make, model, serial number, and calibre for each prohibited firearm you own.
  3. Proof of ownership — while not required for the initial declaration, having purchase receipts or registration certificates available may help if your declaration is audited.
  4. Decision on each firearm — surrender for compensation or deactivation. You can choose differently for each firearm.

If your PAL has expired: Contact the Canadian Firearms Program immediately at 1-800-731-4000. While an expired PAL may disqualify you from compensation, you still have a legal obligation to safely dispose of prohibited firearms before October 30, 2026. The Firearms Program can advise on your specific situation.

If You're Not Sure Whether Your Firearms Are Affected

Check the complete list before assuming you're in the clear.

The government's prohibition orders have been issued in three waves: May 2020, December 2024, and March 2025. Many firearms owners are aware of the May 2020 prohibitions (which included the AR-15 platform and several other widely-owned models), but the December 2024 and March 2025 additions caught some owners off guard.

How to check:

  • Full list of prohibited firearms for individuals: Visit canada.ca/en/public-safety-canada/campaigns/firearms-buyback/individual-lists-firearms-lower-upper-receivers/list-firearms-individuals.html
  • Search by make and model on the ASFCP portal
  • Call the Canadian Firearms Program at 1-800-731-4000 if you're unsure about a specific firearm

Common firearms affected that owners may not realize are prohibited:

  • Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle (all variants)
  • M14/M305 variants
  • Certain Vz. 58 models
  • CZ Scorpion EVO 3 (added December 2024)
  • Various Swiss Arms models
  • Certain shotguns reclassified under the December 2024 and March 2025 orders

Based on our review of firearms community forums and government data, many owners of hunting and sporting rifles are unaware that their specific model was added in the later prohibition rounds. If you purchased any semi-automatic rifle or shotgun in the past decade, it is worth checking the full list.

Even if you don't own firearms, understanding the program timeline matters for community safety.

The ASFCP operates on two separate deadlines that are important to distinguish:

DeadlineDateWhat It Means
Declaration deadlineMarch 31, 2026Last day to submit a declaration for compensation eligibility
Amnesty expiryOctober 30, 2026Last day to legally possess a prohibited firearm without criminal liability

After October 30, 2026, anyone still in possession of a prohibited assault-style firearm — whether or not they submitted a declaration — could face criminal charges for illegal possession of a prohibited weapon. This carries a maximum sentence of up to 5 years imprisonment for a first indictable offence.

Why this matters for communities: The government's amnesty has been in place since the May 2020 prohibition, meaning prohibited firearms have been legally held in homes across Canada for nearly six years. As the amnesty approaches its end, law enforcement agencies are preparing for increased compliance activity. If you know someone who may own a prohibited firearm, encouraging them to check the ASFCP portal before March 31 could save them from both financial loss and potential legal trouble.

The News: What Happened

The Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program declaration window, which opened on January 19, 2026, is set to close on March 31, 2026, with the government issuing final reminders to eligible firearm owners this week. According to CBC News, the program is the culmination of the federal government's multi-year effort to remove more than 2,500 makes and models of assault-style firearms from civilian circulation, beginning with the May 2020 Order in Council that first prohibited these weapons.

According to the Government of Canada, the program was expanded in January 2026 to include firearms prohibited in December 2024 and March 2025, in addition to those banned in May 2020. The program initially launched as a pilot in Nova Scotia before being expanded nationally, as reported by Global News.

Public Safety Canada states that individual firearm owners who submit declarations will have their claims reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, with compensation subject to available program funds. According to the government's compensation model, amounts range from approximately $400 to over $6,000 per firearm depending on the make and model, with most individual firearms falling in the $400–$700 range.

The amnesty period — which protects owners of prohibited firearms from criminal prosecution while the program operates — expires on October 30, 2026. After that date, according to CTV News, possession of a prohibited assault-style firearm without lawful authority carries criminal penalties. Public Safety Minister has emphasized that while participation in the compensation program is voluntary, compliance with the law regarding disposal is mandatory.

According to government statistics published on canada.ca, tens of thousands of declarations have been submitted since the portal opened in January, though the government has not released a final target for total expected declarations.

Analysis: Why This Matters

Based on our analysis, the March 31 declaration deadline represents the most consequential moment in Canada's firearms policy since the original May 2020 prohibition. While the prohibition itself was a political and legal event, the compensation program deadline is the practical moment when gun owners must make a financial decision — and inaction has real consequences.

Historical Context

Canada's firearms policy has been contentious for decades. The current prohibition is the most significant since the Canadian Firearms Act of 1995, which established the national firearms registry (later partially dismantled in 2012 for non-restricted firearms). The May 2020 Order in Council was issued in the wake of the Nova Scotia mass shooting and prohibited approximately 1,500 models initially, with subsequent orders in 2024 and 2025 expanding the list to over 2,500 models.

The compensation program has faced criticism from multiple directions. Gun rights organizations like the Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights have argued that compensation values are below fair market value for many firearms. Meanwhile, gun control advocates like PolySeSouvient have pushed for faster implementation, noting that the amnesty has allowed prohibited firearms to remain in homes for nearly six years since the original ban.

What Happens Next

After the March 31 declaration deadline, the government will begin processing declarations and arranging for firearm collection and compensation payments. Based on the pilot program in Nova Scotia, the logistics of physical firearm collection — which involves RCMP coordination, secure transport, and destruction or deactivation — are expected to take several months.

The October 30, 2026, amnesty expiry is the harder deadline. After that date, law enforcement will have the authority to charge individuals found in possession of prohibited firearms. We expect the government to issue additional public awareness campaigns in the summer months leading up to the amnesty expiry, but the financial opportunity of the compensation program will have already passed.

For firearms owners who miss the March 31 declaration deadline, the legal obligation to dispose of or deactivate prohibited firearms by October 30 remains unchanged. The only difference is that they will not receive government compensation for doing so — meaning they bear the full cost of compliance.

Your Action Plan

Immediate (Before March 31):

  • Check if any firearms you own appear on the prohibited list at canada.ca/firearms-buyback
  • If affected, gather your PAL number, firearm make/model/serial numbers
  • Submit your declaration online at the ASFCP portal — the process takes 15–30 minutes per firearm
  • If mailing a paper declaration, ensure it is postmarked no later than March 31, 2026
  • Decide for each firearm: surrender for compensation or permanent deactivation

Short-term (April–June 2026):

  • After declaration is processed, await instructions for firearm collection or deactivation scheduling
  • If choosing deactivation, contact a certified gunsmith to arrange the work — expect 4–8 week wait times as demand increases
  • Keep all documentation: declaration confirmation, PAL records, and correspondence with the ASFCP

Long-term (Before October 30, 2026):

  • Ensure all prohibited firearms are surrendered or deactivated before the amnesty expires
  • If you missed the March 31 compensation deadline, dispose of prohibited firearms through your local police department's firearm surrender program — no compensation, but legal compliance
  • Store all deactivation certificates permanently as proof of compliance

Other Perspectives

Government View:

Public Safety Canada has emphasized that the program is designed to make Canadians safer by removing assault-style weapons from civilian circulation while fairly compensating lawful gun owners, according to the government's program page. The government has stated that the compensation model is based on a combination of blue book valuations and manufacturer pricing.

Gun Rights Organizations:

The Canadian Coalition for Firearm Rights (CCFR) has argued that compensation values are significantly below what owners paid for their firearms, according to CCFR statements. Many firearms community groups have also raised concerns about the first-come, first-served funding model, arguing it creates uncertainty about whether all declarants will receive payment. Some owners have filed legal challenges to the prohibition orders, though courts have so far upheld the government's authority.

Gun Control Advocates:

PolySeSouvient and the Coalition for Gun Control have supported the program but criticized the six-year delay between prohibition and the compensation program's full launch, according to CBC News. These organizations argue that the extended amnesty period has left prohibited firearms in homes for too long and that the program should have been implemented years earlier.

Rural and Indigenous Communities:

Rural firearms owners and Indigenous communities have raised specific concerns about the program's impact on hunting and sporting use, according to the Assembly of First Nations. While hunting rifles are generally not affected by the prohibition, some models used for predator control and rural property protection are on the prohibited list. The government has stated that the prohibition does not affect the vast majority of hunting firearms.

Note: Including multiple perspectives doesn't imply all views are equally valid, but ensures readers can make informed judgments.

Corrections Policy

We strive for accuracy. If you find an error in this analysis, please email us at [email protected]. We will promptly investigate and correct any factual inaccuracies.

Updates:

  • No corrections to date (as of March 27, 2026)

Sources

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