To fly a drone of 250 g or more in Canada you must register it ($10) in the Drone Management Portal, mark it, and hold a pilot certificate: Basic (uncontrolled airspace, 30 m from bystanders), Advanced (controlled airspace or near people, flight review required), or the new Level 1 Complex for lower-risk BVLOS. Since November 4, 2025, BVLOS, EVLOS, and sheltered operations are routine under the new framework, and medium drones up to 150 kg fly under Advanced certificates. The ceiling is 122 m (400 ft). Foreign operators cannot register — they need an SFOC-RPAS before any flight. Fines reach $5,000 for individuals and $25,000 for corporations.
The Regulatory Framework: CARs Part IX and the 2025 Reform
Canadian drone law lives in Part IX of the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) — the Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) rules — administered by Transport Canada under the Aeronautics Act. The framework introduced in 2019 made Canada one of the first countries with a fully codified two-tier certificate system.
In 2025, Transport Canada delivered the largest amendment since that framework began, in two phases:
The result: operations that previously demanded a case-by-case Special Flight Operations Certificate — flying beyond visual line-of-sight, operating a 100 kg sprayer — are now routine privileges attached to certificates.
Source: 2025 Summary of Changes — Transport Canada →Drone Categories and Operation Types
Canadian rules key off two variables: the weight of the drone and the type of operation.
| Category | Weight | Registration | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microdrone | Under 250 g | Not required | None — microdrone rules apply |
| Small RPAS | 250 g – 25 kg | Required ($10) | Basic / Advanced / Level 1 Complex |
| Medium RPAS | Over 25 kg – 150 kg | Required ($10) | Advanced (VLOS) / Level 1 Complex (BVLOS) |
| Large RPAS | Over 150 kg | SFOC route | SFOC required |
| Operation Type | Minimum Age | Key Privileges | Key Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Operations | 14 | Uncontrolled airspace, >30 m from bystanders | Small Basic Exam (online) |
| Advanced Operations | 16 | Controlled airspace, near or over people, medium drones VLOS | Small Advanced Exam + flight review + safety-declared drone |
| Level 1 Complex | 18 | Lower-risk BVLOS, EVLOS, sheltered operations | $50 exam + 20 h ground school + flight review + RPOC ($125) |
Microdrones Under 250 g
Drones under 250 grams — the DJI Mini class — sit outside the certificate and registration system. No registration, no exam, no minimum age. But they are not unregulated:
- You must not operate in a reckless or negligent manner endangering aviation safety or any person
- You must stay clear of aircraft, emergency operations, and forest-fire restriction zones
- Since April 1, 2025, flying a microdrone at an advertised event — a concert, festival, or sporting event — requires an SFOC
- Attach a payload that pushes total weight to 250 g or more and the full rules apply
Registration and Marking
Every drone of 250 g or more must be registered before its first flight through Transport Canada’s Drone Management Portal.
- Mark the registration number clearly on the drone — permanent marker, permanent label, or engraving
- Medium drones (25–150 kg) are registered through the same portal since the 2025 reform
- Registration is per-drone; fleets register each aircraft individually
- Foreign operators cannot register — they must obtain an SFOC-RPAS instead (Section 9)
Pilot Certificates: Basic and Advanced
Basic Operations Certificate
For flying in uncontrolled airspace, more than 30 metres horizontally from bystanders, and never over them. Minimum age 14. Pass the online Small Basic Exam in the Drone Management Portal and your certificate issues immediately. All three Basic conditions must hold for the entire flight — break any one and you need Advanced privileges.
Advanced Operations Certificate
For controlled airspace, flying within 30 metres of bystanders, or directly over people. Minimum age 16. Requirements:
- Pass the online Small Advanced Exam
- Complete an in-person flight review with a Transport Canada flight reviewer
- Fly a drone whose manufacturer has declared the required RPAS safety assurance level for the operation (near people / over people)
- Obtain a NAV Drone authorisation before entering controlled airspace
Recency: Every 24 Months
Certificates do not expire, but pilots must complete a recurrent training activity within the preceding 24 months — a self-paced study program, safety seminar, or fresh flight review — and carry proof, along with the certificate, on every operation.
Source: Find Your Category of Drone Operation — Transport Canada →Level 1 Complex: Routine BVLOS Since November 2025
The headline of the 2025 reform. Canada now permits lower-risk beyond visual line-of-sight operations as a standard certificate privilege — ahead of the United States, whose equivalent Part 108 framework remains pending.
Qualify
Minimum age 18. Pass the Level 1 Complex online exam ($50), complete at least 20 hours of ground school, and pass a flight review. Operations run under an RPAS Operator Certificate (RPOC, $125) held by the operating organisation or individual.
Stay Within the BVLOS Box
Uncontrolled airspace only; at or below 122 metres (400 feet); at least 1 km from populated areas for small and medium drones; away from airports and aerodromes.
EVLOS and Sheltered Options
EVLOS: a trained visual observer keeps the aircraft in sight within 2 nautical miles of the pilot or observer. Sheltered operations: fly a small drone within 30 metres of a structure and up to 30 metres above it, keeping 30 metres from uninvolved people.
Medium Drones: 25 kg to 150 kg
Before November 2025, anything over 25 kg needed an SFOC for every flight. Now, drones over 25 kg and up to 150 kg operate within the standard framework:
- VLOS operations — permitted for Advanced Operations certificate holders
- Lower-risk BVLOS — permitted under a Level 1 Complex certificate within the standard BVLOS limits
- The manufacturer must declare the drone safe for the intended operation
- Registration through the Drone Management Portal is mandatory
This change matters most for agricultural spraying, surveying with heavy sensors, and cargo research — sectors where 25 kg was a hard ceiling for routine work.
Airspace and Operating Rules
| Rule | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum altitude | 122 m (400 ft) AGL | Up to 30 m above a structure when within 61 m horizontally |
| Distance from bystanders (Basic) | More than 30 m horizontal | Never overfly bystanders |
| Controlled airspace | Advanced certificate + authorisation | Request via NAV CANADA’s NAV Drone tool |
| Night operations | Permitted | Position lights required, visible to the pilot |
| Emergency scenes & forest fires | Prohibited | Automatic restrictions apply |
| National parks | Prohibited without permit | Parks Canada ban on recreational drone use |
| Advertised events | SFOC required | Applies to all drones including microdrones |
| Visual line-of-sight | Required unless BVLOS-certificated | EVLOS with visual observer within 2 NM |
SFOC and Foreign Operators
The Special Flight Operations Certificate is the safety valve for everything outside the standard rules — and the mandatory entry ticket for non-Canadian operators.
When an SFOC Is Required
- All drone operations by foreign operators (they cannot register in the portal)
- Drones over 150 kg
- Flights above 122 m, BVLOS outside Level 1 Complex parameters, or in restricted circumstances
- Operations at advertised events — including microdrones (since April 1, 2025)
SFOC Fees (Since November 4, 2025)
| Complexity | Fee | Typical Example |
|---|---|---|
| Very low | $20 | Simple deviation, e.g. visiting hobbyist |
| Low | $75 | Standard foreign commercial shoot |
| Medium | $900 | Complex BVLOS beyond standard parameters |
| High | $2,000 | Novel high-risk operations |
Penalties and Enforcement
Transport Canada enforces Part IX through administrative monetary penalties under the Aeronautics Act, with fines assessed per violation.
| Violation | Individual (up to) | Corporation (up to) |
|---|---|---|
| Flying without the required certificate | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Flying in prohibited or restricted areas | $3,000 | $15,000 |
| Endangering aircraft or people | $3,000 | $15,000 |
| Flying an unregistered or unmarked drone | $5,000 | $25,000 |
Fines stack: an uncertificated pilot flying an unregistered drone over an emergency scene faces multiple simultaneous penalties. Serious endangerment can proceed to prosecution with higher court-imposed fines.
Source: Drone Penalties — Transport Canada →Canada vs US vs UK vs EU vs Australia
The first five-way comparison in our drone law series. Canada’s distinguishing feature: routine BVLOS arrived in 2025, ahead of every other jurisdiction in this table.
| Aspect | Canada | US | UK | EU | Australia |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regulator | Transport Canada | FAA | CAA | EASA + national | CASA |
| Core rules | CARs Part IX | Part 107 | UK Regulation (EU) 2019/947 | Regulation (EU) 2019/947 | CASR Part 101 |
| Registration | $10 (≥250 g) | $5 (≥250 g) | £11.79/yr operator ID | Operator registration per state | AU$40/yr levy (>500 g) |
| Commercial credential | Basic / Advanced / L1 Complex | Part 107 certificate | A2 CofC / GVC | A1/A3, A2, Specific | RePL + ReOC |
| Max altitude | 122 m | 122 m | 120 m | 120 m | 120 m |
| Routine BVLOS | ✓ Since Nov 2025 (L1 Complex) | ✗ Waiver only (Part 108 pending) | ✗ Specific category | Specific category / SORA | ReOC approval |
| Remote ID mandate | ✗ Not required | ✓ Required | Planned | ✓ Class-marked drones | ✗ Not required |
| Insurance mandate | ✗ Not federal | ✗ Not federal | ✓ Commercial (EC 785/2004) | Varies by member state | ✗ Not required |
| Max administrative fine | $25,000 (corp.) | $27,500+ per violation | £2,500–unlimited | Member-state schedules | AU$16,500–55,000 |
| Foreign visitors | SFOC-RPAS required | Recognition or FAA cert | Operator/flyer ID | EASA registration once | CASA accreditation |
Read the companion guides: US Drone Laws 2026, UK Drone Laws 2026, EU Drone Laws 2026, and Australia Drone Laws 2026.
Pre-Flight Compliance Checklist
| # | Item | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drone registered in the Drone Management Portal and marked with registration number | □ |
| 2 | Valid pilot certificate for the operation type (Basic / Advanced / Level 1 Complex) carried | □ |
| 3 | Recency requirement met within the past 24 months | □ |
| 4 | Airspace checked in NAV Drone; controlled-airspace authorisation obtained if needed | □ |
| 5 | Flight stays at or below 122 m (400 ft) AGL | □ |
| 6 | Separation from bystanders verified (30 m horizontal for Basic operations) | □ |
| 7 | Drone safety declaration matches the operation (near/over people, medium category) | □ |
| 8 | No emergency scenes, forest-fire zones, national parks, or advertised events on the route | □ |
| 9 | Night operations: position lights fitted and functioning | □ |
| 10 | BVLOS: uncontrolled airspace, 1 km from populated areas, aerodromes avoided, RPOC current | □ |
| 11 | SFOC obtained where required (foreign operator, event, >150 kg, outside standard limits) | □ |
| 12 | Weather, NOTAMs, and site survey completed; insurance cover confirmed if contracted | □ |
Regulatory Timeline
Frequently Asked Questions
Official Sources
All regulatory content in this guide is traceable to official Government of Canada publications. Verify current rules before every operation.
- Transport Canada — Drone Safety — central RPAS hub
- 2025 Summary of Changes to Canada’s Drone Regulations — the two-phase reform
- Registering Your Drone — Drone Management Portal
- Find Your Category of Drone Operation — Basic / Advanced / Level 1 Complex
- Flying Your Drone Safely and Legally — operating rules and penalties
- NAV CANADA — NAV Drone — airspace authorisation tool
Start Flying Legally in Canada
Track CARs Part IX changes, BVLOS parameters, and SFOC requirements with confidence.