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Yes, but only through a carrier, under strict rules, and never with a shipping label like LetterAgent's: our labels are Canada-only Xpresspost capped at 5 kg, and firearms do not belong in that lane. In the US, non-licensees cannot mail handguns at all, and must declare the firearm to the carrier. In Canada, firearms go through licensed carriers following federal rules.
This is general information, not legal advice.
| Situation | The rule |
|---|---|
| US: handgun, non-licensee sender | Cannot go through USPS; must use a private carrier, usually by air, with adult signature |
| US: long gun, non-licensee sender | USPS allows it with restrictions; declare to the carrier either way |
| US: any firearm interstate | Federal law requires notifying the carrier that the package contains a firearm |
| US: licensed dealer to licensed dealer | FFLs can use USPS for handguns; this is the one real exception to the handgun ban |
| Canada: any firearm | Ship through an authorized carrier under federal rules; packaging and paperwork requirements apply |
US federal law treats handguns and long guns differently in the mail. A private individual may not mail a handgun through the US Postal Service, period. A licensed manufacturer or dealer can. Long guns can go through USPS with conditions, but many senders use private carriers anyway. UPS and FedEx require handguns to go by air service (not ground) and require an adult signature on delivery, which is how they keep a handgun out of the much larger ground network. Whatever you ship, federal law (18 USC 922(e)) requires you to notify the carrier, in writing or verbally, that the shipment contains a firearm when it is being transported interstate.
The other half of the US rulebook is about who receives it. In most cases a firearm shipped interstate has to go to a licensed dealer in the recipient's state, who runs the transfer paperwork. Mailing a gun directly to a private buyer across state lines is where people get into real trouble. State laws stack on top of federal ones and can be stricter.
Canadian rules come from federal firearms law. Firearms must ship through carriers authorized to transport them, with the firearm unloaded and secured, and the package must not advertise what is inside. Non-restricted firearms have one set of procedures; restricted firearms have tighter ones, including authorization requirements for transport that can apply. Because the classification of your specific firearm decides which rules apply, confirm the classification with the RCMP's firearms program before you book anything.
Packing has two jobs: protect the firearm and hide it. Use a hard-sided locked case or a sturdy box with the firearm secured so it cannot shift. Then put that inside a plain outer box with no branding, no gun logos, and no wording that hints at the contents. Marking the outside with anything gun-related is both a theft magnet and, in some cases, a legal problem. Inside, unload it, separate the ammunition (ammunition ships under its own dangerous-goods rules, covered in our guide on shipping ammunition), and include a copy of any required paperwork.
Declare it at the counter. Trying to sneak a firearm through as "machine parts" is a federal offence in the US and treated very seriously in Canada. The declaration is the law working as intended: it routes the package to the right service level and the right handling procedures.
Because normal parcel lanes are not built for firearms. LetterAgent's shipping labels, for example, are Canada-only Xpresspost up to 5 kg: no firearms handling, no declarations, no licensed-dealer chain. Firearms need a carrier counter where you can declare the contents, a service level the carrier approves for firearms, and, in Canada, a carrier authorized for the job. The label is the least of it; the legal chain around the shipment is the point.
Ready to ship it? Get a shipping label with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and get your label.
LetterAgent is a working name. Prices include print, postage, and our service fee. US prices in USD, Canadian prices in CAD (Canadian prices exclude applicable sales tax, added at checkout). Currently in private testing.
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