Just a question to ask if anyone has travelled from the US through Canada on the ALCAN after declaring a pistol.
I have researched the rules, this is a summary of what I've found:

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Current Rules for US Citizens Transiting Canada to Alaska:

You must declare all firearms at the Canadian border (CBSA - Canada Border Services Agency). Failure to declare can result in seizure of the firearm, your vehicle, fines, arrest, or criminal charges.

Non-Resident Firearm Declaration (Form RCMP 5589): Download and fill it out in advance (but do not sign until the officer witnesses it).
There's a $25 CAD fee (per declaration, valid for up to 60 days). This acts as your temporary license while in transit.

Transportation requirements in Canada:
Firearms must be unloaded. Stored out of sight in a locked part of the vehicle (e.g., trunk or locked case).
Ammunition should be stored separately and securely. Basically "inert".

Handguns vs. Long Guns:
Rifles and shotguns (non-restricted): Generally allowed for transit to Alaska if properly declared. Up to certain limits (e.g., often 3 firearms max on the form).
Handguns: These are classified as restricted (or prohibited in some cases). Typically cannot bring a standard handgun through Canada for simple transit.
An Authorization to Transport (ATT) permit is usually required in advance from a Canadian Chief Firearms Officer, and approval is not guaranteed for tourists/transiters — it's discretionary and often denied for handguns unless there's a compelling reason.
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I am a retired Texas state police officer, and yeah I know that a few bucks might get me a cookie in Canada, but I have heard folks have made the trip with handguns before. I'm sure the most recent nuttiness from the current Orwellian govt in Canada has made it worse, but I figured I'd ask anyway.

If anyone has made such a trip, or if there are any RCMP guys or gals on here, I'd like to hear your take.

Thanks!

2000-Z71 is who you want to ask. He did it himself a few years ago.

Remember, there is a minimum barrel length requirement. A P226 would work, but a P229 will not.

2000-Z71 will be able to tell you all he did - as I remember, the Canadian officers complimented him on following all of the rules and beyond.

In '09, I drove from Texas to Alaska to move to Anchorage. I lived in Alaska '09-'14 and then moved to Alberta '14-'16. In Alberta, I jumped through the hoops to have their restricted Possession and Acquisition License which took 14 months.

A few definitions:

Restricted Handgun - Handguns that are not prohibited firearms

Prohibited Handgun - Handguns with barrels equal to or less than 105 mm in length (4.13")

Prohibited Handgun - Handguns designed or adapted to discharge a 25 or 32 calibre cartridge

Magazine Restrictions

Handguns: 10-round maximum.

Semi-auto Centerfire Rifles: 5-round maximum.

Here is the part that bit me in the ass in '09. You're allowed 5,000 rounds of ammo, but have to pay taxes on anything more than 200 rounds per adult. For the 3 days driving across Canada, I had to pay taxes on 4600 rounds of ammo that I already owned and had already paid US taxes. I also got to spend an hour in the quarantine bay having a Canadian Border agent going through my truck looking for more ammo and guns.

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Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

It's possible but it is a PITA. I did it over 7 years ago when I moved from Arizona to Alaska and some things have changed. Canada has 3 separate categories of firearms; Non-Restricted, Restricted and Prohibited.

Prohibited is a no-go, you won't be able to transport across the country legally. Anything construed as an, "Assault Rifle", anything capable of accepting a magazine over 10 rounds. That last one has been up for interpretation with some bringing Glock 20's into Canada but only with 10 round magazines. Personally I wouldn't try it. There's also restrictions on shotguns as well.

Restricted generally applies to handguns. Nothing more than 10 round capacity and minimum barrel length of 4.1". There's also a restriction of less than .33 caliber with an exception for .22LR. You must apply for an Authorization to Transport in advance and have it approved and returned before crossing the border. At the time that I did it there was a central government office that handled that permit. It was painful, very long hold times if you called with a question and often times you would not even have the opportunity to hold, just a recording, "We're busy call back later." They were polite and easy to deal with, just hard to get in contact with. I have heard since this has been moved to individual Provincial offices and you have to apply to the Province that you will be entering. There are also dates on the form for when you will be entering and leaving the country and the permit is only good between those dates.

Rifles and shotguns can be declared at the border as long as they don't fall into the, "Prohibited" category. The form only had space for 3 firearms but there is a secondary form to list additional.

All firearms must be transported unloaded in a locked case and must have a trigger lock in place.

There is also a fee for transporting firearms that is payable at the border crossing. I had both Canadian and US currency on me for this but it was not an issue as they accepted my debit card.

As far as crossing the border, I crossed into Alberta and did not have any issues. I did get pulled into secondary inspection. After seeing that everything was inside of locked cases the 2 customs officials that came out to inspect my truck each looked at one firearm, checked it against my paperwork, stated that they had seen enough to know that I was incompliance and wished me a safe trip. Actually I think they spent more time making sure I had winter rated tires than they did looking at my firearms. Be polite, be respectful and always, "Yes sir, No sir."

That said, I have heard horror stories from former coworkers moving back to the lesser 48 and crossing into the Yukon Territory at Beaver Creek. Lots of stories of being denied entry, not being able to bring firearms, confiscation and fines. I have no experience with firearms there but can attest that the customs officials there can be absolute pricks and seem to take joy in hassling Americans. I went on a photography trip to Haines, Alaska and had to drive through parts of Canada to get there. The border crossing at Beaver Creek took well over an hour of being yelled at and interrogated all while sitting in my truck at the crossing station with a line building up behind me. I think Beaver Creek is just the end of the word for Canada and that's where all the problem children in customs get stationed.

Do your research and get your paperwork in order long before you go.

Almost forgot, it you're driving the ALCAN, order this book.

https://themilepost.com/

It proved absolutely invaluable when planning my trip. Maps and write ups of all the towns and sights along the way. I made the drive in October which is off-season. Many of the dots on the map that look like a town are really nothing more than a seasonal gas station. Plan in advance and make reservations before you go. Many times an oil/gas or construction crew will have all of the rooms in a particular town booked. And by no means ever stay at the sketchy motel in Beaver Creek, stay someplace beforeof after...

It's not just the ALCAN as they include Alaska as wells as the Cassiar Highway.

I went thru the border last summer right when Trump was talking about making Canada the 51st state. Canadian border patrol did not have a sense of humor about anything. I left my firearm in a storage locker in a gunshop 4 miles south of the border in Lynden, WA. CBP saw my pickup with Texas plates and first question was where's your gun then had me pull over to search the whole vehicle.

Here is the answer to all your questions straight from the source.

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/import/iefw-iefa-eng.html


when I had a question before my first crossing I was able to call them and they were very helpful but that was many years ago… I will also say that if you decide to bring a gun across the border have the form filled out before hand. It will make your life easier.

we moved from MS to AK in 2019 and from AK to NC in 2022.

both times i brought a 9mm 1911 and a 18.5 12g pump. i had to fill out paperwork for the pistol 3+ weeks in advance and get it approved.

at the boarder they never looked inside our vehicle but we did have to go inside with all our paperwork. with the pistol we were only allowed 7 days to travel through canada.

i did it because we were driving through the US and staying at truck stops and on the side of the road in canada, i would do it again.

With things the way they are today between the two countries I suggest you not try.

They give me a hell of a time crossing with no weapons or anything remotely suspicious and it seems like they hold a great deal of animosity towards travelers. I don’t even do duty free any longer.

Unrelated to the question, but an example of just how anti-gun the Canadian Border folks are.

I was heading across the Lynden WA border crossing on my motorcycle. Headed to meet a group for a weekend ride and running late. It is a smaller crossing, but would shave some time from crossing at Sumas (if the truckers don’t have it backed up).

Pulled up, happy to see the only vehicle in front of me just pulling away. Female border person comes out and walks around my loaded bike starts the questions…

2nd or 3rd question - “Do you have any weapons?” No ma’am.

5th, 7th, 9th, and 11th question some variation of “any weapons to declare”, “”do you have any firearms with you”, “are you bringing prohibited items into Canada”, etc.

Has me open my tank bag.

Has me open my panniers.

Finally says “enjoy your visit” and lets me in.


I’m think “WTAF???” Never had such an experience and frequently cross the border.


Realized later in my rush to get on the road, I forgot to swap my “Happiness is a Glock in the Tankbag” license plate frame with the “Growing Older but not Up” frame I would use when going north of the border…

I would absolutely travel with a firearm through Canada. In Alaska, not all things that are dangerous stand on four legs. Once I had a problem while car camping at a state park in AK. Another camper came over, had his revolver in a holster, and he got very strange. I quickly went to my truck, grabbed my pistol, and when I turned around he was already walking away.

I should have had the gun in a holster like everyone else, but I was not that gun savvy at the time.

Of course there are the truck stops in USA that can be dangerous, and bears in AK or Canada can be unpredictable. I was once backpacking and a small black bear walked on top of me while sleeping. The whole family was at our campsite, looking for food. Expect the unexpected, and generally "be prepared".

For Alaska I would bring a Glock 20 plus a pump or semiauto shotgun.

never been, likely never will, (not a slam, just that I doubt I ever get there)

however, I had a pharmacist I knew that went often,

when he felt he needed a firearm up there, he had me ship him one,
he had an FFL lined up, and I am a FFL, and he felt more comfortable just mailing a pistol or shotgun to the ffl, go and pick it up when he got here, and mail it back,

sometimes he flew, sometimes he drove, and when he did drive, he did not want the hassle of customs,

I was driving to Alaska and stopped at Beaver Creek the border crossing.
I’d just got to sleep when someone banged on the door. He demanded to know if I was an American.
Then Border Patrol Officer wanted me.
Turns out an American entering Canada had a gun. He tried to get by but was sent back to a gun shop the would ship it. To prove he was a dummy, he drove back, parked and a couple of hours later tried to drive through.
Not smart and the Border Patrol officer knew what he tried.
That’s how I end up. We agreed the gun would be held at the office and I’d bring it to the gun shop some 60 mles into AK. (it was a cowboy style 6 shot in .357.mNot impressive)
The officer explained people would toss guns into the woods. Teenagers would search and find the guns. That was a problem.

Follow the rules.

something to remember in Canada its not just the border where they're weapons phobic. The RCMP (national police force) is also very unfriendly towards weapons and they're everywhere.

If you need a gun in Alaska, ship it there.

Canadian law has changed in the last year or so. I would not under any circumstances attempt to bring a pistol into Canada!

How times change - in the late 70’s early 80’s my American club used a Canadian military range for matches. Pull up to border -“ where you headed?”
Canadian armed force range for a match
“ what you have with you?”
5 rifles and 600 rounds of ammo
“Ok have a nice day”

Not anymore. At one time I had a Canadian handgun permit for match shooting. A club member of a Canadian club facilitated getting all the Americans permits. Can’t even do that anymore.

Even back then, it was gun in a lock box, ammo in separate lack box stored in a different part of vehicle.

I’ve only brought a long gun to Canada in the ‘old days’. Once all the way to AK, the other time remote fishing in NW Ontario. It was no biggie, no paperwork ahead of time.

Now days I’d just buy some can of bear spray if I felt the need, works on more than bears.

I realize AK is the goal, could you imagine using a gun for self defense in Canada?? Yes I know, judged by 12 over carried by 6 & so forth.

A wild card is the Customs Officer you get at the border. I went across a handful of years ago, 8 or so in a private airplane. I know the rules, didn’t have anything prohibited, but the agent was still asking about all the items. I did get through both ways unscathed, they were an actually kinda nice, Northern MN area.