Register a Drone in Canada 2026: Drone Management Portal Guide

Step-by-Step: Register Your First Drone

Step 1: Get a Transport Canada Account

Requirements:

• Canadian citizenship or permanent residency
• Email address
• Phone number
• Government-issued ID (driver's license, passport)

Process:

1. Visit https://www.dmp.tc.gc.ca
2. Click "Create Account"
3. Provide email, password, name, date of birth
4. Verify email (confirmation link sent within 5 minutes)
5. Add phone number
6. Upload government ID copy (JPG/PDF)
7. Transport Canada verifies within 24 hours

After verification: You can log in and register drones

Step 2: Gather Drone Information

Before registering, collect:

• Make & model (e.g., DJI Mavic 3)
• Serial number (found on physical aircraft and in DJI app)
• Registration mark (you assign this; examples: "C-ADRO1", "MmowW-001")
• Maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) (found in manual or manufacturer specs)
• Primary operating area (province, major city—e.g., "Toronto, Ontario")
• Sensors/payloads (camera, thermal, lidar, sprayer)
• Purchase date
• Insurance policy number (optional but recommended)

Registration mark convention:

• Starts with "C-" (Canada) or company abbreviation
• Followed by 4 alphanumeric characters
• Example: "C-ADRO1", "MmowW-U1", "AGRI-002"
• Must be physically marked on drone (paint, sticker, or engraving)

:::

Step 3: Complete DMP Registration

1. Log into DMP account
2. Click "Register New Aircraft"
3. Fill form:

• Operator (your name or company)
• Aircraft type (select from dropdown or enter custom)
• Serial number
• Registration mark (your choice, must be marked on drone)
• MTOW
• Primary operating location
• Payloads/sensors
• Insurance details (if insured)

1. Review summary
2. Submit registration

Processing: Usually instant confirmation; certificate generates within 24 hours You receive:

• Registration certificate (PDF)
• Registration number (reference ID)
• Airworthiness category assignment
• Compliance checklist

Step 4: Mark Your Drone Physically

Requirement: Registration mark must be visible on the aircraft Placement options:

• On fuselage: Side of body (easiest to see)
• On arms: Underside of main arms (common on DJI drones)
• Under battery compartment: Hidden but accessible to inspectors
• Sticker method: Professional vinyl decal (most professional)
• Paint method: Durable, permanent

Specifications:

• Minimum 5 cm character height
• Legible from 1 meter distance
• High-contrast colors (black on white, white on black)
• Weather-resistant (vinyl or painted)

NOT acceptable:

• Tiny lettering (< 2 cm)
• Temporary tape
• Fading or unclear marks
• Mark only in paperwork (must be physical)

Inspection: If Transport Canada audits you, they will verify the physical mark matches your registration. Mismatch = compliance violation.