The following conversion process is for licence holders who want a Transport Canada licence and already hold a licence from another country.
If you have an FAA licence, click here.

This text was modified from the Transport Canada website. Weíve added some explanations, cost, and further information about the conversion procedures.

A foreign pilot must meet the medical fitness, knowledge, experience, and skill requirements as stated in the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs).

Transport Canada will grant credits to foreign pilot licence holders, provided that the foreign licence is medically valid, and originates from a country that is a member of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). If the foreign applicant meets the applicable experience requirements, the holder of a Commercial or higher type pilot licence in the aeroplane category, issued by a Contracting State of ICAO, shall be deemed to have met the ground school instruction requirement.

Transport Canada does not grant any credits to holders of foreign military licences, however an applicantís military flight experience will be recognized and considered on an individual basis. It would be advantageous for foreign applicants to convert their military licence to a civilian licence, of their home country before making application for a Canadian pilot licence. A foreign pilot licence holder should be able to provide Transport Canada with a log book for review and an assessment of the applicantís flight experience.

If you are planning on flying with us, weíll help guide your licence conversion through Transport Canadaís system, email to start the process. Click the following licence and ratings for more information on how to convert a foreign pilot licence to a Canadian Pilot licence.

Private Pilot Licence

There are 2 options for converting the Private pilot licence:

Recreational Flying in Canada: Foreign Licence Validation Certificate (FLVC)

A foreign pilot licence of a visitor whose residence is outside Canada may be validated for private recreational purposes. The foreign pilot licence must be valid under the law of the issuing state and valid for the privileges appropriate to the specific purpose. An applicant should apply for a Foreign Licence Validation Certificate (FLVC) before arriving in Canada.

The FLVC will be issued for a period of one year at which time the applicant may choose to renew it, or apply for a permanent Canadian Pilot Licence. Below is the process to apply for the FLVC:

1. Fill out this form http://pilottraining.ca/lms/mod/resource/view.php?id=5966
2. Include a copy of your licence , medical, and the form, and fax it to 204 984 2069 or email it to info@harvsair.com and it will be passed on to Transport Canada.
It takes 1-2 days to process and then you can fly solo in a Canadian registered airplane.

Cost is $45 Canadian and may be paid by credit card, certified cheque, money order (cheques should be made payable to ìReceived General for Canadaî)

Private Pilot Licence Issued On the Basis of Foreign Licence

Candidates who want a long term Canadian Private Pilot licence are advised to convert to a full Canadian licence.
An applicant who is the holder of a Private Pilot Licence issued by another country shall be considered to have met the ground school, written examination, and the flight test provided that they can show a licence and logbook.

To convert:

Once the above has been completed, the candidate will be issued a licence which will state it is based on a foreign licence; to remove this statement from your licence, the Private Pilot written examination must be completed.
If you choose to do the full Private pilot written exam, go to www.pilottraining.ca to prepare.

Commercial Pilot Licence

To obtain a Canadian CPL -A, the following requirements must be met:

1. Complete the medical examination requirements in accordance with the Medical Standards for Civil Aviation Personnel Licensing and be in possession of a Category 1 Medical Certificate. The medical cost is about $150, for a listing of doctors, go to: Transport Canada approved doctors

2. Proof that the experience requirement is met. An applicant should be able to provide Transport Canada with a log book of their flight experience for review.

3. Meet the knowledge requirements by successfully completing the following written examination: CPAER This exam cost $105 to write, study guides and books are about $150, ground school cost about $275, the best option is online ground school.

4. Meet the skill requirement by successfully completing a practical Flight Test. Flight test cost $300 plus the airplane rental. The amount of training or practice prior to the flight test depends on the pilotís currency and ability. Click here for aircraft rental rates.

5. Complete the standard administrative requirements such as submitting proof of foreign citizenship and age, provide the foreign licence and log book for evaluation, submit a licence application form and pay the appropriate fee (This is conducted at a Transport Canada office); licencing fee is $55.
Also fill out Aviation Document Booklet application and bring in a passport picture (original) for the Aviation Document Booklet. With a pilot who is current, proficient, and has prepared for the written prior to arrival, the above will take 1 week. For people wishing to immigrate or work in Canada, contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Multi Rating

To obtain a Canadian Multi-Engine Rating, the following requirement must be met: An applicant wishing to obtain a Multi-Engine Rating, to be endorsed on the CPL-A, must meet the requirements set out in the CARs.

If you have 50 hours Pilot-in-Command on multi-engine aeroplanes or have met the standard of the State that issued the rating, in the preceding 12 months (based upon date of application), then Transport Canada may issue your Canadian Multi-Engine Rating based upon your current Multi-Engine Rating.

However, if an applicant is unable to satisfy these requirements, they must demonstrate their skill through the successful completion of a practical flight test. Flight test cost $300 + the airplane rental. The amount of training or practice prior to the flight test depends on the pilotís currency and ability. Click here for aircraft rental rates. Licencing fee is $30. With a pilot who is current and proficient, the above will take 2-3 days.

Instrument Rating

To obtain a Canadian Instrument Rating, the following requirement must be met: An applicant wishing to obtain an Instrument Rating, to be endorsed on the CPL-A, must meet the knowledge and skill requirements set out in the CARs by successfully completing the written examination (INRAT), and successfully completing a flight test.

INRAT written exam cost $35 to write, study guides and books are about $150, ground school cost about $225, the best option is online ground school . Flight test cost $300 + the airplane rental.

The amount of training or practice prior to the flight test depends on the pilotís currency and ability. Click here for aircraft rental rates.
Licencing fee is $30. With a pilot who is current and proficient, the above will take about 1 week.

Flight Instructor Rating

To convert, about half of the flight instructor course must be completed. Transport Canada will access your experience and training and advise you of the required process to convert.

Airline Transport Pilot Licence

To obtain a Canadian (ATPL-A), the following requirements must be met:

1. Complete the medical examination requirements in accordance with the Medical Standards for Civil Aviation Personnel Licensing and be in possession of a Category 1 Medical Certificate. Cost is about $150; for a listing of doctors go to: Transport Canada approved doctors

2. Proof that the experience requirement is met; go to Canadian Aviation Regulations requirements.

An applicant should be able to provide Transport Canada with a log book of their flight experience for review.

3. Meet the knowledge requirements by successfully completing the following written examinations: SAMRA, SARON and INRAT. Exam cost $105 to write (total of $315), Online ground school course to prepare is $300 for the SAMRA, SARON and $225 for the INRAT exams.

4. Meet the skill requirement by successfully completing a Flight Test.

An applicant for an ATPL-A shall successfully complete a flight test in a multi-engine aeroplane (excluding centre-line thrust) which is suitably equipped for IFR flight in controlled airspace. Flight test cost $300 + the airplane rental. The amount of training or practice prior to the flight test depends on the pilotís currency and ability. Click herefor aircraft rental rates.

5. Complete the standard administrative requirements such as submitting proof of foreign citizenship and age, provide the foreign licence and log book for evaluation, submit a licence application form and pay the appropriate fee. Licencing fee is $105 fee.
Also fill out Aviation Document Booklet application and bring in a passport picture (original) for the Aviation Document Booklet.
With a pilot who is current and proficient the above will take 1 week.

For people wishing to immigrate or work in Canada, contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada.