Drone registration and pilot certificates in Canada
Which drones must be registered, who can own one, marking rules, Basic and Advanced pilot certificates, the flight review, recency and the documents you must carry.
Checked against the rules in force on 2026-10-01Two pieces of paperwork apply to almost every drone flight in Canada: the aircraft's registration and the pilot's certificate. Both kick in at 250 g.
Which drones the rules cover
Part IX applies to remotely piloted aircraft whatever the purpose, recreational or commercial. Weight classes use the operating weight, including payload:
- Under 250 g (micro): no registration or certificate, but no reckless flight, no flight inside an emergency security perimeter, and an SFOC for advertised events.
- 250 g to 25 kg: small RPA.
- Over 25 kg to 150 kg: medium RPA, advanced operations only.
Accessories count. A 240 g drone with propeller guards and a filter can cross 250 g.
Registration
- Register every RPA of 250 g or more through the Drone Management Portal.
- Owners must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, Canadian corporations or governments; an individual owner must be at least 14.
- The registration number must be clearly visible on the aircraft, ideally on the main body, not on a battery or easily broken part.
- Keep the certificate of registration easily accessible while flying.
- Tell Transport Canada within 7 days if the drone is destroyed, permanently withdrawn, missing for 60 days or more, or sold. The registration is then cancelled. Report a change of name or address within 7 days too.
Pilot certificates
- Basic: at least 14 years old and pass the online Basic exam.
- Advanced: at least 16 years old, pass the online Advanced exam, then pass a flight review with a flight reviewer within 12 months before applying.
- Younger pilots may fly under the direct supervision of a certified pilot.
If you fail an exam or a flight review, you must wait 24 hours before trying again. Writing the exam, you must not copy questions or get help from anyone.
Recency
To fly, within the previous 24 months you must have earned the certificate, passed an exam or flight review, or completed recognized recurrent training such as a safety seminar or Transport Canada's self-paced study program. While flying, keep your pilot certificate and proof of recency easily accessible, along with the registration.
Sources: CARs 900.13–900.20 · CARs 901.54–901.68 · TC AIM RPA 3.1
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Your 245 g drone becomes 262 g after you add propeller guards. What changes?
What is the minimum age to obtain a pilot certificate for basic operations?
Under the Canadian Aviation Regulations, a small remotely piloted aircraft has an operating weight of
To meet the recency requirement, what must a certificated drone pilot have done within the 24 months before a flight?
Where must the registration number of your RPA be?
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