Licensing for foreign pilots

If you are a foreign pilot who wants to fly for pay or reward in Canada, you must hold a valid Canadian commercial or airline transport pilot licence. This requires you to meet medical fitness, knowledge, experience and skill requirements set out in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) Part IV, Subpart 1 – Flight Crew Permits, Licences and Ratings.

Foreign pilots wishing to fly in Canada for recreation must hold a foreign licence validation certificate.

On this page

• Credit for foreign training and skills
• Commercial pilot licence – aeroplane category
• Multi-engine rating
• Instrument rating
• Airline transport pilot licence – aeroplane category
• Foreign licence validation certificate (for recreational pilots)

Credit for foreign training and skills

We will grant credits to foreign pilot licence holders if the foreign licence:

• is medically valid, and
• comes from a country that is a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

You will meet the ground school instruction requirement if you:

• hold a commercial or higher type of pilot licence in the aeroplane category, which was issued by an ICAO contracting state, and
• meet applicable experience requirements

Commercial pilot licence – aeroplane category

To obtain a Canadian commercial pilot licence – aeroplane category (CPL-A), foreign pilots must meet all requirements set out in the CARs Standard 421, section 421.30. The following information is a summary of the requirements only.

To successfully earn a Canadian CPL-A, you must:

1. Complete medical examination requirements and hold a Category 1 medical certificate. Aviation medical examiners designated by contracting states of the ICAO may do your medical exam. We will supply you with the correct medical form upon request.
2. Provide proof that you meet the experience requirement. Be prepared to show us a log book of your flight experience for our review. Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.30, para. (4) to learn more.
3. To meet the knowledge requirement, successfully complete the Commercial Pilot Licence – Aeroplane (CPAER) examination. Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.30, para. (3) to learn more.
4. Meet the skill requirement by successfully completing a practical flight test. Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.30, para. (5) to learn more.
5. Complete your licence application.
   • 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
   • Provide your foreign licence and log book for evaluation
   • Submit your licence application form(s)
     • See Flight crew licences, permits and ratings to find the correct form(s)
   • Pay the appropriate licence fee. We will not process your application until we receive this fee. Use our new Online Payment System – this is the fastest way to pay. You may also submit payment (cheque, Visa, Mastercard or American Express) to a Civil Aviation regional office, usually with your application form.

Multi-engine rating

To obtain a multi-engine rating endorsed on the CPL-A, 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 upon your current rating if you fulfill one of the following:

• you have 50 hours of experience as pilot-in-command on multi-engine aeroplanes during the 12 months preceding the date of application for the rating, or
• you met the prescribed standards, of the State concerned, for issue of a multi-engine class rating during the 12 months preceding the date of application for the rating.

If you cannot meet these requirements, you must successfully complete a practical flight test.

Instrument rating

To obtain an instrument rating endorsed on the CPL-A, you must meet the knowledge and skill requirements set out in CARs Standard 421, section 421.46 by successfully completing:

• the Instrument Rating (INRAT) written examination, and
• a flight test

Airline transport pilot licence – aeroplane category

To obtain a Canadian airline transport pilot licence – aeroplane (ATPL-A), foreign pilots must meet all requirements set out in CARs Standard 421, section 421.34. The following information is a summary of the requirements only.

To successfully earn a Canadian ATPL-A, you must:

1. Complete medical examination requirements and hold a Category 1 medical certificate.
2. Provide proof that you meet the experience requirement. Be prepared to show us a log book of your flight experience for our review. Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.34, para. (4) to learn more.
3. To meet the knowledge requirements, successfully complete the following written examinations:
   • Meteorology, Radio Aids to Navigation and Flight Planning (SAMRA)
   • Aviation Regulations and Air Traffic Procedures, Aeroplane Operations and General Navigation (SARON)
   • Instrument Rating (INRAT)

Read CARs Standard 421, section 421.34, para. (3) to learn more.

• 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
  • See Flight crew licences, permits and ratings to find the correct form(s)

  Foreign licence validation certificate (for recreational pilots)

  Visitors to Canada may have a foreign pilot licence validated for private recreational purposes. The foreign pilot licence must be valid:

  • under the law of the issuing state, and
  • for privileges appropriate to the reason you’re flying

  You may apply for a foreign licence validation certificate before arriving in Canada. The certificate will be issued for a period of one year. After a year you may renew it or apply for a permanent Canadian pilot licence.

  To learn more about the certificate, including how to apply, read Advisory Circular 400-003: Foreign Licence Validation Certificate.

  Related links

  • Flight crew licensing office contacts
  • Flight crew licences and permits (application forms and payment)
  • Flying to Canada – What You Should Know – TP 15048
  • Foreign air operator certificate