Canadian and U.S. Pilots Flying and Importing Aircraft into Canada or the U.S.

Canadians Flying a Canadian Ultralight or Homebuilt in the U.S.

Use the FAA streamlined authorization to fly Canadian amateur-built aircraft and advanced and basic ultralights in the U.S. Find it at https://tinyurl.com/3s6aud6x. Read the introduction and click on "I agree." Then download the authorization for the appropriate category of aircraft.

A careful reading of the actual document allows other than private pilots to operate these aircraft in the U.S. Read it, sign it, and carry it with you in your airplane. It is good for six months.

Canadians Flying a Canadian Certified Airplane in the U.S.

Certified airplanes can be flown in the U.S. without any special authorization since they meet international certification standards. The pilot must hold at least a Canadian private pilot license with a valid Category 3 medical. This is an internationally recognized ICAO pilot document.

The holder of a Canadian Pilot Permit-Recreational Aeroplane may NOT operate a certified airplane in the U.S. because this permit is a "made in Canada" document and there is no bilateral agreement with the FAA to recognize it.

However, a Canadian rec pilot permit holder can operate a Canadian amateur-built, and a basic and advanced ultralight in the U.S. The FAA allows this in the special flight authorization for these airplanes. (See the previous section above)

Canadians Importing a U.S. Homebuilt Into Canada

The MD-RA Inspection Service (Minister's Delegate — Recreational Aviation) has been authorized by Transport Canada to inspect an amateur-built aircraft on behalf of the minister and to issue the initial Special Certificate of Airworthiness-Amateur-Built.

Canadian amateur-built aircraft require two inspections before flight authorities are issued. A pre-cover and a final inspection. An already flying U.S. homebuilt with 100 hours of logged, trouble-free flight may be exempt from the pre-cover inspection. Check with MD-RA. The U.S. builder's log may be required. Find more information on MD-RA's website at https://tinyurl.com/2suy98a8.

Canadians Importing a U.S. Light-Sport Aircraft Into Canada

Canada does not have a light-sport aircraft category. However, there are three categories into which the airplane might fit:

• An LSA can be registered as a basic ultralight (BULA) if its MTOW is 1,200 pounds or less and stall speed is 45 mph or less in the landing configuration. No passengers are allowed in two-place BULAs, but two licensed pilots can fly together in a two-place BULA.
• An LSA may be registered as an advanced ultralight if:
  • The make and model are on Transport Canada's list of accepted advanced ultralights (AULA). Find the list at https://tinyurl.com/mdvvwkfj
  • The MTOW of the airplane is 1,232 pounds or less with a stall speed of 45 mph or less in the landing configuration, and
  • The manufacturer will issue a statement of conformity for that particular aeroplane with that serial number

  (Note: An AULA can have a passenger carried in it if the pilot is appropriately licensed.)

• If an LSA cannot be registered as a basic or advanced ultralight, it can be registered in the limited category. Check Transport's recreational aircraft airworthiness requirements and standards for certified and noncertified aircraft at https://tinyurl.com/2vhc7px2.

Canadians Importing a U.S. Certified Airplane

A certified airplane imported into Canada will need to establish that the aircraft conforms to its type certificate and is airworthy. This will require an import inspection by a Transport Canada inspector or anyone Transport authorizes to do this. See Transport Canada Advisory Circular (AC) No. 507-002 (Subject: Certificate of Airworthiness). Find this document at https://tinyurl.com/mtn3xr39.

Americans Flying a U.S. LSA or Experimental Homebuilt in Canada

Transport Canada has a validation that allows U.S. light-sport aircraft and U.S. experimental homebuilts to operate in Canada. Download this Canadian validation form here: https://tinyurl.com/c8m45zhh

U.S. LSAs and homebuilts cannot be operated in Canada by the holder of a sport pilot certificate. The pilot must hold at least a private pilot certificate with an FAA third-class medical certificate. Canada does not recognize a driver's license or BasicMed as a medical certificate.

Americans Flying U.S. Certified Airplanes in Canada

Certified U.S. airplanes are allowed to be flown in Canada without any special authorization. However, the pilot must hold at least a private pilot certificate with an FAA third-class medical certificate. Canada does not recognize the sport pilot certificate with a driver's license as a valid pilot document. Canada does not recognize BasicMed as a valid medical certificate.

Americans Importing a Canadian Amateur-Built Into the U.S.

Canada and the U.S. both have an amateur builder category, but requirements are different between the two countries. U.S. homebuilts require a builder's log and a final inspection to get on the registry. After it is flying, annual inspections are done by an A&P mechanic (an AME in Canada) or, since July 2025, by the owner who holds a LSR-I or LSR-M certificate.

Homebuilts imported into the U.S. are treated like a new homebuilt with an inspection, Phase I flight limitations, a test period, Phase II flight limitations, etc. FAA guidance can be found in FAA AC 20-27G. Download it from https://tinyurl.com/5dbyheze. See part 16 starting on page 29. Check with your local FAA flight standards district office (FSDO) before you buy! They have a lot of discretion when it comes to assessing an imported Canadian amateur-built.

Americans Importing a Canadian Certified Airplane

A Canadian airplane being imported into the U.S. will need to follow FAA requirements. Find them on their website at https://tinyurl.com/mzsa2h44.

Flying to Canada From Transport Canada (TP 15048)

Find the info you need in this document. Get it at https://tinyurl.com/4vfhwurp.

Flying to and From Canada Presentation

Watch the 2025 AirVenture presentation by Ian Brown and Clark Morawetz to learn more about flying to and from Canada. Find this at https://tinyurl.com/2bfmerxy.