Welcome to our beginner’s guide to getting know about Canada Drone Laws. In this guide, you will learn everything you need to know and stay updated about Canada’s drone laws. We also will be covering the following information such as where to get the drone permit for this country, as well as the best drones to fly, travel guides, and contact information to the civil aviation authority of the stated country. Without further ado, let’s dive into the details:

Introduction to Canada Drone Laws

To operate your drone in Canada, you need to be aware of the following applicable drone regulations in that country. While Canada is a vast country with bustling wildlife and national forests, you still have to be mindful of drone rules as they are a bit stricter compared to the United States. Drone operators, both foreign and residential, that reside in Canada must make sure they follow these rules:

• Don’t fly higher than 400 feet above the ground level.
• Don’t fly overcrowded areas or in prohibited zones.
• Maintain at least 3 miles away from the airports.
• Maintain at least 1 mile away from the heliports.
• Always yield the right of way to gliders, helicopters, and aircraft.
• Fly during daylight hours.
• Fly when the weather visibility condition is good.
• Maintain a clear visual line of sight on your drone at all the time.
• Maintain at least 30 meters away from people, buildings and moving vehicles that are not included in your drone’s flight operations.

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Getting Drone Permit for Canada

Guess what, getting a drone permit to operate in Canada is super easy. You will need to visit the Canada Transport Safety site and pass basic operations / advanced operations. The basic operations are for remote pilots who need a drone permit. Generally, basic operations are limited to recreational purposes and are completely free of charge.

While the advanced operations are for those remote pilots who are experienced and can demonstrate a strong assessment of safety to perform largely for commercial/public uses. If you pass the exam, you will need to pay a small fee of $25 to operate your drone for commercial purposes. All you need is your knowledge and understanding of aviation safety to pass both basic and advanced flight operations.

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Drone Traveling Tips to Canada

There are several methods to travel to another country with your drone. Read our important traveling tips to get the latest scoop on the best drone traveling practices and become informed. In this section, we will be covering what to do if you are traveling by air or by sea.

Traveling by Air

If you decided to travel by air and would like to bring your drone with you. You need to be aware that the airlines can only reimburse up to $1,000 for loss and damage to your property, including drone and its gear. That’s because of the Montreal Convention which limits how much airlines are allowed to pay you up to a maximum value of $1,000 — no matter how expensive your drone is.

Therefore, we highly encourage bringing your drone and its accessories as carry-on all the times. Furthermore, the drone batteries can’t be in the check luggages. Because they are prone to extreme temperature that poses fire hazards when undergoing temperature change. In rare circumstances, some airlines have strict policy and you will be only given the option to check luggage. To avoid this from happening, we recommend buying these fireproof drone battery bags:

• Colcase Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 198 x 150 x 135mm)
• Apex RC Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 240 x  65 x  180mm)
• Realacc Upgraded Fireproof Li-Po Battery Bag (up to 220 x 155 x 115mm)

Traveling by Sea

Generally, you are allowed to bring your drone with you. But that depends on the cruise’s policy regarding to use of the drones. The only time you can operate your drone is when you are on land, never while the ship is in process of ferrying to other country. Flying the drones at the ports is also not allowed. Because each cruise companies are unique, we encourage you to check and familiarize with their policy on drones. Reach out to get more information if possible.

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Best Drones for Canada

These are the best drones for traveling around the world such as Canada due to their flying specifications and camera capabilities. Be sure to read each drone review guide by visiting each link so that you can decide which quadcopter you want to buy before going on a vacation.

Alternatively, you can visit our shop to see a wide selection of prosumer drones that are currently for sale on the best price deals. We only recommend the best drones for traveling that are portable, compact and equipped with powerful camera capabilities, while striving to provide affordable options for those who are looking to get started.

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Contact Information

If you need additional information about drone regulations and flying in Canada. Keep it in mind that we try our best to provide the latest information about drone laws. Because the drone laws are not universal, they can wildly vary from a country with lax regulations to another country that has strict regulations. For any drone regulations that you are not sure, feel free to contact Canada Transport Safety directly:

Canada Civil Aviation Authority Office

Toll-free: 1-866-995-9737
Telephone: 613-990-2309
TTY: 1-888-675-6863
Fax: 613-954-4731
Email: questions@tc.gc.ca