How to Register a Drone in Canada: Step-by-Step Guide

In Canada, every drone that weighs 250 g up to 25 kg must be registered with Transport Canada before it flies. Registration is quick and done entirely online, but there are a few details that trip up new pilots: what counts toward the weight, how to mark the number and what happens when you sell or crash the aircraft. This guide walks through each step.

Do you need to register?

The weight that counts is the take-off weight as you fly it: battery, propellers, guards, filters and any payload. A sub-250 g drone with a larger battery or accessories can cross the threshold. The purpose of the flight doesn’t matter: hobby and business flights follow the same registration rules.

What you need before you start

• An account on Transport Canada’s Drone Management Portal.
• The drone’s manufacturer, model, serial number and weight.
• A payment card for the registration fee (charged per drone).
• To be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or Canadian organization. Foreign pilots follow a separate process — see our guide for foreign pilots visiting Canada.

Step by step

1. Sign in to the Drone Management Portal and choose the option to register a drone.
2. Enter the drone details: manufacturer, model, serial number, weight category and whether it was purchased or custom-built.
3. Pay the fee for each drone.
4. Download your certificate of registration. It contains the registration number assigned to that aircraft.
5. Mark the drone with the registration number (see below).
6. Carry proof of registration every time you fly, in print or on your phone.

How to mark your drone

• The number must be clearly visible on the drone and readable without tools.
• Use a durable label, engraving or permanent marker that won’t wear off in rain or cold.
• Placing it under a removable battery cover is not ideal — if the number can’t be seen easily, inspectors may consider the drone unmarked.

Registration and your pilot certificate are different things

Registration covers the aircraft. Your pilot certificate covers you. You need both to fly a drone of 250 g or more. If you don’t have a certificate yet, start with our guide to passing the Small Basic exam.

When you sell, give away, lose or destroy a drone

• Selling or giving it away: update the record in the portal so the drone is no longer tied to you; the new owner must register it in their own name.
• Lost, stolen or destroyed: report it in the portal so the registration can be cancelled.
• Changing your address or name: keep your account information up to date.

Custom-built drones

Home-built drones must be registered like any other if their take-off weight is 250 g or more. You’ll declare it as custom-built and provide your own description and identifier. If you want to use a custom drone for advanced operations, additional safety requirements apply — see safety assurance declarations.

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