Collection and other disposal options
Individual owners whose declarations have been accepted and who have submitted their completed claim for compensation, have two options to dispose of their prohibited firearms through the Assault-Style Firearms Compensation Program during the collection phase:
- Turning them in at a scheduled collection appointment. Depending on their location, these appointments will be either with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), participating local police of jurisdiction or secure mobile collection unit
- Deactivating them with a business authorized to perform deactivations. Please note that deactivation does not require a collection appointment
The collection, deactivation and compensation processes are expected to run from spring through early fall 2026. Collection for compensation will be done quickly and efficiently with timelines established for each participating region of Canada. Owners will be encouraged to make an appointment as soon as possible in order to receive compensation for their firearm.
Firearms collected by the RCMP or participating local police under this program will be sent in consolidated shipments to a processing facility where they will be validated and destroyed. Firearms collected through mobile collection units will be validated and destroyed on site. After the firearms have been validated, compensation will be issued within 45 business days. Start dates for these processes will be staggered in different parts of the country to ensure that resources and supports for each area are in place. Participants will be notified directly through their online portal account (or by mail for paper applications) and further details will be provided.
You must wait to receive your notification and accept and sign your funding agreement before proceeding to deactivate or turn in your firearm for compensation. Failure to do so may result in ineligibility for compensation under the program.
Collection appointments and options may vary by region and must comply with all applicable provincial laws. All destruction of firearms collected over the course of the program will be completed before the end of the amnesty period, on October 30, 2026.
Individuals who live in Saskatchewan or Alberta should consult their provincial government for any additional laws or regulations that may affect participation in the program.
Participants who withdraw from the Program or do not proceed as instructed, including attending an agreed appointment time without valid reason, will not be able to continue and obtain compensation. While participating in the program is voluntary, compliance with the law is not. Individual firearm owners must safely dispose of or permanently deactivate their assault-style firearms before the amnesty period ends on October 30, 2026, or risk criminal liability for the illegal possession of a prohibited firearm.
Amnesty Orders protect individual owners from criminal liability while they take steps to comply with the law, including transporting a prohibited assault-style firearm for the purpose of disposal. An Authorization to Transport (ATT) is not required to transport a prohibited assault-style firearm for disposal during the amnesty period.
Disposal outside of program scope
Export without compensation
If you hold an export permit with Global Affairs Canada, you can choose to legally export your prohibited firearms to a legitimate customer outside of Canada, instead of turning them in or deactivating them.
If you plan to export your firearms abroad, you must follow to all export permit requirements for firearms set out under the Export and Import Permits Act (EIPA) and related regulations administered by Global Affairs Canada. Visit the Global Affairs Canada (GAC) website to obtain more information.
Deliver to police without compensation
You can call the non-emergency line of your local police for instructions on how to safely deliver your firearms to police without participating in the program for compensation. Do not call 911 to book an appointment. Do not bring your firearms to the police without receiving specific instructions.
Deactivate without compensation
You can choose to deactivate your prohibited firearms with a business authorized to perform deactivations without participating in the program.