Licensing for foreign pilots

If you’re a foreign pilot who wants to fly in Canada, there are a few different ways you can get licensed:

you could get a Canadian licence which may be aided by the pilot credentials that you hold in an ICAO contracting state, or
you could have your foreign licence validated if you’re planning to only fly for a short time in Canada

The requirements for these credentials vary. On this page, you can find information on what requirements apply, depending on the situation. In every case, you will still need to meet the guidance in the Canadian Aviation Regulations Part IV, Subpart 1.

Credit for foreign training and skills

If you’re a foreign pilot with a licence from another country, we may credit your training if your licence comes from a country that’s a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

If you hold an FAA Pilot Certificate

If you hold an FAA certificate you may be able to convert it to a Canadian licence under the Implementation Procedures for Licensing Agreement. This is usually the simplest way to get a Canadian licence.

How to convert a U.S. licence to a Canadian pilot licence.

Requirements

For a private pilots licence to fly an airplane

To get a Canadian private pilots licence to fly an aeroplane (PPL-A), you must meet all the requirements in CARs Standard 421.26. The following information is only a summary.

To be issued a Canadian PPL-A, you must:

Complete the medical examination requirements and get a Category 1 or 3 medical certificate.

A Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME) designated by Transport Canada must do your medical exam.
Provide proof that you meet the requirements of 421.26. Make sure to carefully read (8) and (9) of this standard as they relate to foreign applicants. Be ready to present your flight logbook for our review. You can use digital logbooks or digital copies of paper logbooks, just email them with the rest of your application.

For a private pilots licence to fly a helicopter

To get a Canadian private pilots licence to fly a helicopter (PPL-H), you must meet all the requirements set out in the CARs Standard 421.27. The following information is only a summary.

To be issued a Canadian PPL-H, you must:

Complete the medical examination requirements and get a Category 1 or 3 medical certificate.

A Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME) designated by Transport Canada must do your medical exam.
Provide proof that you meet the requirements of 421.27. Make sure to carefully read (8) and (9) of this standard as they relate to foreign applicants. Be ready to present your flight logbook for our review. You can use digital logbooks or digital copies of paper logbooks, just email them with the rest of your application.

For a commercial pilots licence to fly an aeroplane

To get a Canadian commercial pilot licence to fly an aeroplane (CPL-A), you must meet all the requirements set out in the CARs Standard 421, section 421.30. The following information is only a summary.

To be issued a Canadian CPL-A, you must:

Complete the medical examination requirements and get a Category 1 medical certificate.

A Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME) designated by Transport Canada must do your medical exam.
Provide proof that you meet the experience requirement. Be ready to present your flight logbook for our review. You can use digital logbooks or digital copies of paper logbooks, just email them with the rest of your application.

Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.30, para. (4) to learn more.
To meet the knowledge requirement, you must successfully complete the Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane (CPAER). You can book your exam through our online booking system.

Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.30, para. (3) to learn more.
Lastly, you must meet the skill requirement by successfully completing a practical flight test.

Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.30, para. (5) to learn more.

For a commercial pilots licence to fly a helicopter

To get a Canadian commercial pilot licence to fly a helicopter (CPL-H), you must meet all the requirements set out in the CARs Standard 421, section 421.31. The following information is only a summary.

To be issued a Canadian CPL-H, you must:

Complete the medical examination requirements and get a Category 1 medical certificate.

A Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME) designated by Transport Canada must do your medical exam.
Provide proof that you meet the experience requirement. Be ready to present your flight logbook for our review. You can use digital logbooks or digital copies of paper logbooks, just email them with the rest of your application.

Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.31, para. (4) to learn more.
To meet the knowledge requirement, you must successfully complete the Commercial Pilot Licence – Helicopter (CPHEL). You can book your exam through our online booking system.

Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.31, para. (3) to learn more.
Lastly, you must meet the skill requirement by successfully completing a practical flight test.

Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.31, para. (5) to learn more.

For a multi-engine rating (aeroplane)

To get a multi-engine rating, you must meet the requirements set out in CARs Standard 421, section 421.38, para. (3).

We may issue you a multi-engine rating based on your current rating if you:

have 50 hours of experience as pilot-in-command on multi-engine aeroplanes in the last 12 months, or
meet the prescribed standards, of the State concerned, for issuing a multi-engine class rating in the last 12 months. This means you should have completed a multi engine flight test in this state within the last 12 months

Note: PPC’s don’t qualify as a skill test for this rating, it must be a flight test for a multi engine rating.

If you don’t meet these requirements, you must successfully complete a multi engine flight test.

For any instrument rating

Instrument ratings in Canada fall into 4 groups :

Group 1: Multi-engine aeroplane
Group 2: Multi-engine centreline thrust
Group 3: Single engine aeroplanes
Group 4: Helicopter

To get an instrument rating endorsed on your Canadian licence, you must meet the knowledge and skill requirements set out in CARs Standard 421, section 421.46 which includes completing:

the Instrument Rating (INRAT) written exam, and
a flight test in an aircraft for the instrument rating group you’re seeking

Foreign pilots should refer to 421.46 (4) as it allows for experience with foreign instructors if they have equivalent qualifications as those referred in 425.21 (9).

For a type rating

You can find the standards to get a type rating in 421.40. Pay special attention to (5) Credits for Foreign Applicants and (6) Credits for Foreign Flight Test as they are helpful to foreign applicants.

Keep in mind that we can only add type ratings to Canadian licences. We can’t add ratings to foreign licences or add them to Foreign Licence Validation Certificates (FLVC). Additionally, we can only add a type rating to a licence if the aircraft is listed in our type designator table.

Get more specific information on how to take advantage of these credits.

For any instructor rating

To get an instructor rating, you must meet the requirements set out in the CARs Standard 421. There are many different ratings, and you should check the standards from 421.69 to 421.94 to find the rating that you want.

Some ratings have a “Credits for Foreign Applicants” section that can help you meet the standard for getting an instructor rating.

For an airline transport pilots licence – aeroplane

To get a Canadian airline transport pilot licence to fly an aeroplane (ATPL-A), you must meet all requirements set out in CARs Standard 421, section 421.34. The following information is only a summary.

To earn a Canadian ATPL-A, you must:

Complete medical examination requirements and get a Category 1 medical certificate.

A Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME) designated by Transport Canada must do your medical exam.
Provide proof that you meet the experience requirement. Be ready to present your flight logbook for our review. You can use digital logbooks or digital copies of paper logbooks, just email them with the rest of your application.

Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.34, para. (4) to learn more.
To meet the knowledge requirements, you must successfully complete these written exams:
Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.34, para. (3) to learn more.
Meet the skill requirement by successfully completing a flight test in a multi-engine aeroplane (excluding centre-line thrust) suitably equipped for instrument flight rules (IFR) flight in controlled airspace. You can also complete this skill test in a Level C or D flight simulation training device.

Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.34, para. (5) to learn more.

For an airline transport pilots licence – helicopter

To get a Canadian airline transport pilot licence to fly a helicopter (ATPL-H), you must meet all requirements set out in CARs Standard 421, section 421.35. The following information is only a summary.

To earn a Canadian ATPL-H, you must:

Complete the medical examination requirements and hold a Category 1 medical certificate.

A Civil Aviation Medical Examiner (CAME) designated by Transport Canada must do your medical exam.
Provide proof that you meet the experience requirement. Be ready to present your flight logbook for our review. Be ready to present your flight logbook for our review. You can use digital logbooks or digital copies of paper logbooks, just email them with the rest of your application.

Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.35, para. (4) to learn more.
To meet the knowledge requirements, you must successfully complete these written exams:
Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.35, para. (3) to learn more.
Meet the skill requirement by successfully completing a flight test in a multi-engine aeroplane (excluding centre-line thrust) suitably equipped for instrument flight rules (IFR) flight in controlled airspace. You can also complete this skill test in a Level C or D flight simulation training device.

Note: Transport Canada does not accept foreign PPC’s to satisfy this skill test.

Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.35, para. (5) to learn more.

For foreign military pilots

Transport Canada will apply foreign military flight time towards experience requirements but not towards training times. We can’t accept skill or written tests completed while serving in foreign militaries.

In many cases, it’s best to get a civilian licence from your home country and use that for credit towards your Canadian licence or rating.

Apply for a Canadian licence, permit or rating

As a foreign applicant you will need to submit proof of foreign citizenship and age
- See CARs Standard 421, section 421.06, para. (1) and (2) for a list of acceptable documents to prove your citizenship and age
Prepare digital copies of any foreign aviation licences, medicals, certificates or credentials that you hold to support your application
Apply for a pilots permit or licence

Apply to have your foreign licence validated

Foreign Licence Validation Certificates are documents that Transport Canada issues that let you operate a Canadian registered aircraft without holding a Canadian pilot licence. We issue these certificates to pilots visiting or living in Canada, or pilots in other countries that need to operate a Canadian registered aircraft.

We can issue the certificates for either recreational or commercial purposes. To be eligible for one, your foreign pilot licence and medical must be valid under the law of the contracting state where they were issued.

You can apply for a certificate up to 1 year before you arrive in Canada. If you plan on flying in Canada for more than a year, Transport Canada recommends that you get a Canadian pilots licence. If you’re returning to Canada on a regular or seasonal basis, you can re-apply for a certificate every year.

If you want a certificate for commercial purposes, your employer will need to submit the application. You are not allowed to apply for a certificate that you will use for commercial purposes.

Learn more about Foreign Licence Validation Certificates and how to apply for one.

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