New Drone Pilots in Canada
The Ultimate Canadian Guide — Updated July 2026
Meet Your New Drone!
If you recently got a drone as a gift or bought one, this is for you. We’ll help you understand different types of drones, what the current rules allow, and how to become a certified pilot.
Note: Canada’s drone laws changed significantly on November 4, 2025. New additions or amendments are highlighted in bold italics. – Ian Wills
Types of Drones – Which One Is Yours?
First, let’s figure out what type of drone you have. In Canada and most other places, they categorize drones based on their weight. If your drone weighs 249 grams or less, including batteries and anything needed for flying, it’s a “micro drone.”
If your new drone weighs 250 grams or more (up to 25 kilograms or 55 pounds), it’s considered a “small drone.” Some people call it the “Small Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS)” category, but we’ll keep it simple and call it “small drones” or just “drones.”
As of November 4, 2025, there’s now a “Medium” drone category for aircraft weighing 25KG up to 150KG, which can be piloted with an Advanced Pilot Certificate, no longer needing an SFOC in many circumstances!
Just a quick note, if you ever want to fly a drone that’s 150 kilograms or more, you’ll need to get a Special Flight Operation Certificate (SFOC) and an Advanced Pilot Certificate, but that’s more advanced stuff for another time.
Micro (0-249g)
Small (250g-25Kg)
MEDIUM (25kg-150KG)
Micro-Drone Operations
The “This feels so wrong it must be illegal” category.
Micro-drone operations fall under the radar of normal Canadian small drone laws, with some exemptions that preclude them from going any deeper than the preliminary rules published in CARS 900.
Rule 1 – Don’t be an idiot.
Okay, so that’s paraphrased, but wouldn’t life be simple if that were the case?
The actual CARs referenced is 900.06 – Reckless or Negligent Operation – which is quoted as to say:
“No person shall operate a remotely piloted aircraft system in such a reckless or negligent manner as to endanger or be likely to endanger aviation safety or the safety of any person.”
Further, micro-drones are considered navigable aircraft, so flight into Class F Restricted (CYR on the Map) airspace is also forbidden without permission from the airspace operator. Typically, this airspace exists surrounding forest fires, natural disasters, airshows, prisons, and military facilities. You can find a directory of all airspace in Canada in the TP1820E – Designated Airspace Handbook (DAH).
Here’s an example of Class F – Restricted Airspace:
Mission (CYR140) is class F – Restricted airspace, surrounded by Class G airspace, which means in order to fly within the boundaries of that location, with either a Micro, Basic, or Advanced certificate, you would need to contact the Warden of the prison, not Nav Canada, to obtain permission to fly.
The Designated Airspace Handbook has further details regarding the mission airspace, and all other airspaces in Canada, and is published by Nav Canada either when a new permanent change is required, or on a regular schedule. Always ensure you have the latest version, otherwise, you might be flying in unknown airspace!
The Aeronautical Information Manual
Transport Canada produces a book called Aeronautical Information Manual (TC-AIM) twice yearly.
The TC-AIM explains the rules in a more detailed way than the regular Canadian Aviation Regulations. For drone pilots, there’s a whole chapter (RPA) in this book that’s helpful. It tells you more about how the rules apply to micro-drones. It’s good for both new and experienced pilots. It’s like a guidebook to help you follow the rules better.
Micro-Drone Suggested Rules of Thumb
As a rule of thumb to respect section 900.06 — Reckless or
Negligent Operation:
(a) maintain the micro-RPA in direct line of sight,
(b) avoid flying your micro-RPA above 400 ft above ground
level (AGL),
(c) keep a safe lateral distance between your micro-RPA and
other people,
(d) stay far away from aerodromes, water aerodromes
and heliports,
(e) avoid flying near critical infrastructure,
(f) stay clear of aircraft at all times,
(g) conduct a pre-flight inspection of your micro-RPA,
(h) keep the micro-RPA close enough to maintain the connection
with the control station,
(i) follow the manufacturer’s operational guidelines,
(j) stay away from special aviation or advertised events,
(k) stay away from emergency security perimeters
Where Can I Fly My Micro Drone?
In the picture, the orange areas show places where you can fly a micro drone, but you need to be careful.
These areas have some dangers like:
- Airplanes and helicopters flying in the sky from 500 feet up, or even from the ground in some places. There’s no specific lowest height for them in certain situations, like when they’re practicing or in remote areas. Drones must always give way to these manned aircraft.
- Drones can’t fly in Class F CYR and CYD airspace. You’ll find these areas near places like prisons, wildfires, military training zones, or other places that you might not know about until it’s mentioned in a special notice (NOTAM). In Class F CYA airspace, you should also be cautious because there might be low-flying aircraft around.
- Drones can’t fly in RPAS Restricted Airspace, which can be found on the NAV Drone App, or on the Designated Airspace Handbook. This airspace is very similar to Class F Restricted airspace, but is specific to RPAS or drones of all sizes.
- Drones can't enter the perimeter of an emergency security area, such as police tape or a fire scene, without permission from the Incident Commander. (CARS 900.08)
You can fly a micro drone near people, even above them, but you have to follow CARS 900.06 and be careful not to hurt anyone. You don’t need a parachute for drones under 250 grams, but make sure your drone won’t hurt anyone if it lands.
As of April 1, 2025, you can’t fly a micro drone over an advertised event without a Special Flight Operations Certificate (CARS 903.01(b))
You can fly a small drone within 3 miles of airports and 1 mile of certified heliports, but you should also check CARS 901.73 and follow those rules along with CARS 900.06.
It’s not a good idea to fly your drone high above 400 feet in controlled airspace. You might get in the way of airplanes and helicopters coming to and from airports. Pilots can’t see drones easily, and even a tiny drone under 250 grams could damage an aircraft’s windshield and make the pilot unable to fly safely.
Free drone tools you should use
Before you fly a drone, even a micro-sized one, it’s essential to check the area where you plan to fly. This is called a “site survey.” You need to know what’s above you and how you can fly safely.
Nav Drone
For a basic site survey, look at the airspace above you and find the closest airports and places where manned aircraft fly. You can use tools like the NavDrone App and set it to “Micro-Drone” mode to learn about any limitations and nearby restrictions.
NRC Site Selection Tool
The National Research Council of Canada built a site that has a map overlay of all airspace and areas that affect drone pilots in Canada. The map can be adjusted to show areas only applicable to Micro, Basic, or Advanced drone pilots.
FltPlan.com
If you want to look at proper Visual Navigation Charts published for pilots, you can see them free at FltPlan.com We have an article about reading charts that’s worth checking out!
UAV Forecast
Another useful free tool for drone pilots is UAV Forecast. It helps you find out about weather conditions that might be risky for flying your drone and also checks the KP Index, which can affect your drone’s GPS signal. It’s a smart way to plan your flights safely.
Learn to fly your micro-drone with confidence
A drone weighing under 250g does not require the operator to have a pilot certification. However, there is one rule that still applies!
CAR 900.06 Applies to all remotely piloted aircraft, and basically says: “do not fly your aircraft in a manner which could cause a hazard to people in the air or on the ground.”
This course includes everything you need to know when flying your new Mavic Mini or any other sub-250g drone.
DJI Air Series
DJI Mavic Series
DJI Inspire Series
DJI Matrice Series
Small Drone Operations
Most drone operations in Canada over 250 grams will fall under this category.
CARS 901 (Part IX Subpart 1) is dedicated to routine drone operations. Historically that meant small drones — 250 grams up to 25 kg — but since November 4, 2025, it also covers medium drones (25 kg to 150 kg) flown within visual line of sight.
These operations are broken down into two categories: Basic Operations, and Advanced Operations. Basic Operations are intended for low-risk drone flights that are well separated from urban activity and airport operations, and outside of controlled airspace. In order to fly any 250g+ drone in Canada, the pilot must have at least a Basic Pilot Certificate, in addition to registering the drone with Transport Canada.
Operations are categorized under a risk-based approach: the closer you get to risk, the higher the certification and oversight required. As you get closer to people, airports, heliports, and controlled airspace, you will need an Advanced Pilot Certificate. Flying a medium drone (25 kg to 150 kg) within visual line of sight also requires the Advanced Pilot Certificate, with increased minimum distances from bystanders and additional flight planning requirements.
Where Can I Fly My Drone?
BASIC RPAS Operations
A drone pilot in Canada may perform the following flights with a Basic Pilot Certificate:
- More than 3NM (5.6KM) away from Airports.
- More than 1NM (2KM) away from Heliports.
- Outside of Controlled Airspace.
- More than 100 ft (30 Meters) horizontal distance away from persons not considered essential to the drone operation (bystanders).
- Drone must not be flown more than 400′ above ground at any time, except within 200′ of a structure, and only 100′ above that structure.
How to obtain your Basic Pilot Certificate
Create a profile on the Drone Management Portal, and register your drone. You will need to be a minimum 14 years of age to qualify for the Basic Pilot Certificate.
Study for the Basic Online Exam with our online, on-demand training course and sample test questions. Take the online test, and pass with a score of 65% or better.
Develop your own checklists and standard operating procedures for site surveys, pre-flight, flight, and emergencies as required by CARS, with help from our included standard operating procedures guide. Every 24 months, ensure you maintain your pilot certificate by completing an approved recency exercise.
Advanced RPAS Operations
To qualify for Advanced Drone operations in Canada, there are several requirements on both the pilot and the drone (RPAS) to be used for the advanced flight.
Advanced Pilot Requirements:
To conduct advanced operations, the pilot in command must complete the Advanced Online Exam with a passing score of 80% or better and subsequently complete a TP15395 Flight Review, which is an in-person knowledge and proficiency exercise.
The flight review is required before an Advanced Pilot Certificate can be issued. The flight review typically takes about 90 minutes and involves a document and procedure review, a verbal knowledge confirmation, and finally a flight skill demonstration.
Advanced Pilot Requirements:
Transport Canada considers 3 drone operations (within the scope of 250g-25kg flights) to be routine Advanced Operations:
- Flights Near People (Less than 30M horizontal distance to bystanders, but not closer than 5M)
- Flights Over People (Less than 5M horizontal distance to bystanders, at any approved altitude)
- Flight in Controlled Airspace (Class A, B, C, D, E)
To qualify for flights in any of the three above scenarios, the drone must be accompanied by a Manufacturer’s Safety Assurance Declaration specific to the category of flight in which the drone has been proven to be safely operated. There are specific criteria that the drone must demonstrate capabilities in, to be accurately declared considered safe to fly.
For example, to fly in Over-People operations, most multi-rotor quadcopters would require some sort of ballistic recovery device, such as a parachute, to arrest the rate of descent in the event of a systems failure and prevent injury to persons below the drone. This declaration often includes a minimum operating altitude to allow for the parachute to deploy safely.
You can’t just fly anywhere:
Holders of an Advanced Pilot Certificate and approved drone aren’t automatically approved to conduct Advanced operations wherever they see fit. To fly in controlled airspace, approval from the Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP), Nav Canada for the most part, is required before take-off. This usually involved NavDrone, which is an app submitting for time-limited, region-specific flight authorization requests.
How to obtain your Advanced Pilot Certificate
If you haven’t already been flying under Basic operations, create a profile on the Drone Management Portal, and register your drone. You will need to be a minimum of 16 years of age to qualify for the Advanced Pilot Certificate. Study for the Advanced Online Exam with our online, on-demand training course and sample test questions, and write the exam with a passing grade of 80% or better.
Develop your own checklists and standard operating procedures for site surveys, pre-flight, flight, and emergencies as required by CARS with help from our included SOP Guide.
Demonstrate your operational procedures, knowledge, and skills with a Transport Canada-approved flight reviewer in person. Every 24 months, ensure you maintain your pilot certificate by completing an approved recency exercise.
Level 1 Complex Operations & The SFOC
CARS 903 (Part IX Subpart 3) is reserved for complex drone operations — flights beyond the limits of routine CARS 901 operations. Historically, every one of these flights required a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC), applied for mission by mission.
That changed on November 4, 2025. Lower-risk beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flying is now a routine, repeatable operation under the new Pilot Certificate — Level 1 Complex Operations — no SFOC required.
Lower-risk BVLOS operations must remain in uncontrolled airspace, at or below 400 feet AGL, and more than 9.3 km (5 NM) from the centre of aerodromes listed in the Canada Flight Supplement. You can fly a small or medium drone with a BVLOS safety assurance declaration over unpopulated areas (more than 1 km from populated areas), or a small drone with a pre-validated declaration over sparsely populated areas. A populated area has more than 5 people per square kilometre; sparsely populated means more than 5 but no more than 25.
To earn the Level 1 Complex certificate you must be 18 or older, pass the Advanced Operations exam, complete at least 20 hours of ground school through a flight school, pass the Level 1 Complex online exam, and pass a dedicated flight review. The certificate fee is $125 and it does not expire. Every complex operation must also be conducted under an RPAS Operator Certificate (RPOC) — an organizational credential requiring an accountable executive, a maintenance lead, a training program, standard operating procedures, and a safety risk management process.
The SFOC has not disappeared — it remains the path for operations outside the lower-risk envelope. SFOCs are issued by Transport Canada for circumstances that justify flights beyond routine and Level 1 Complex operations, and typically require a complete application package including an operational risk assessment under Advisory Circular 903-001.
An SFOC is still required for flights:
- beyond visual line of sight outside the lower-risk conditions (e.g. in controlled airspace or over populated areas beyond what a pre-validated declaration permits),
- near military aerodromes,
- over 400′ in uncontrolled airspace,
- with aircraft weighing 150 kg or more,
- carrying hazardous payloads,
- or over and near advertised events or special aviation events.
Foreign pilot SFOCs are also regularly requested in order to operate a drone that is not domestically owned. Note that foreign individuals and operators cannot hold an RPOC, but may fly Level 1 Complex operations under a Canadian organization’s RPOC. More information can be found in our Foreign Pilot SFOC guidance package.
Frequently Asked Questions
Canadian drone rules, answered — current as of July 2026.
If your drone weighs 250 grams or more, yes — you need at least a Pilot Certificate – Basic Operations and the drone must be registered with Transport Canada. Drones under 250 grams (micro drones) don’t require registration or a pilot certificate, but CARS 900.06 still applies: you must never operate recklessly or endanger people or aircraft.
Yes. Since November 4, 2025, lower-risk BVLOS is legal without a Special Flight Operations Certificate. You need a Pilot Certificate – Level 1 Complex Operations, an RPAS Operator Certificate (RPOC), and a drone with the right safety assurance declaration. Flights must stay in uncontrolled airspace, at or below 400 feet AGL, and more than 9.3 km from listed aerodromes. BVLOS outside those conditions still requires an SFOC.
Medium drones weigh more than 25 kg up to 150 kg. Since November 4, 2025, they can be flown within visual line of sight on an Advanced Pilot Certificate — no SFOC needed in most circumstances. Aircraft of 150 kg or more still require an SFOC plus an Advanced Pilot Certificate.
You must be at least 18 years old, pass the Advanced Operations online exam, complete a minimum of 20 hours of ground school through a drone flight school, pass the Level 1 Complex online exam, and pass a Level 1 Complex flight review. You then apply through the Drone Management Portal and pay the $125 fee. The certificate doesn’t expire, and complex operations must be flown under an RPOC.
The manufacturer must have filed a safety assurance declaration with Transport Canada covering the specific operation — near people, over people, controlled airspace, or BVLOS. Transport Canada publishes a list of drones with declarations and the operations each is eligible for. Check that list before buying: no declaration means no operation, regardless of your certificate.
Transport Canada enforces fines of up to $1,000 for individuals ($5,000 for corporations) for flying without a drone pilot certificate, and up to $3,000 for individuals ($15,000 for corporations) for flying where you’re not allowed or putting aircraft and people at risk. Flying an unregistered drone can bring fines up to $5,000 for individuals.