Visa

Depending on your country of citizenship, you may need a visa to enter Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada.html.

Depending on your citizenship, you may be allowed to stay in Canada for a maximum of six months. Thereafter, further extensions are possible by application. More information can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/after-apply-next-steps.html.

As visa processing time can be extensive, applications should be made at the earliest opportunity.

You can find general information and links to relevant COVID-19 related information on the website of the Canadian Government .

Further information on Canadian travel restrictions and quarantine can be found here: https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid.

Instrumentation

For the import/export of machinery or instrumentation, you will need to verify and comply with transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) regulations at the international and national level: https://tc.canada.ca/en/dangerous-goods/transportation-dangerous-goods-canada.

Further information about restricted and prohibited goods is available on the Canada Border Service Agency website.

General information about customs can be found here: https://travel.gc.ca/returning/customs.

Samples

Canada is party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the Canadian Wildlife Service is the agency with responsibility for implementing CITES and the issuing of permits.

More information is available on the website of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Chemicals

In general, it is recommended to use a shipping/transport agency, in order to assure compliance with complex regulations. Research stations and institutions may provide access to some types of chemicals that can be used by visiting scientists.

Find more information about import and export of dangerous goods here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/business/permits/federallyregulatedbusinessactivities/importpermitsrestrictions/dangerous-goods-imports-exports.html.

General information on protected areas in Canada (e.g. National Parks, Migratory Bird Sanctuaries, National Wildlife Areas and areas of marine protection) can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/environment/conservation/protected-areas.html.

For information on the permits required for conducting research in National Parks see Parks Canada´s Research and Collection Permit System.

For all research conducted in federal National Parks, this researcher´s guide allows you to prepare your request.

If the study site is located in an area protected by Environment and Climate Change Canada, contact the Northern region office of the Canadian Wildlife Service to give them an overview of the project and a list of supplementary authorization that are mandatory to their research permit.

More information can be found here: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/national-wildlife-areas/permits-activities/protected-areas.html.

You may need one or more research permits, licenses or authorizations for conducting scientific research in Canada. Whether you need to obtain such document(s) depends on the area you want to go to and the type of research you conduct. Commonly required permits are described below.

There is no central coordination of research applications in Canada. Scientists need to identify all relevant permits themselves, and then obtain them from relevant authorities.

General information on permits, licenses and authorizations required to undertake research in the Canadian Arctic can be found at Polar Knowledge Canada.

Despite the decentralized process, it is compulsory to ask for authorizations when planning fieldwork in northern communities.

Note that it might take up to six months to process an application.

Fisheries and Ocean Canada (DFO) manages research on fish species and a permit request system is in place. Find more information about scientific licences for these purposes here: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/licence-permis/scientific-scientifique-eng.html.

Note that permit requests by the DFO are managed by regional offices. The contact details for regional offices can be found here: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/contact/regions/index-eng.html.

The Canadian Wildlife Service manages permits for research on birds. Permit application form.

All wildlife related projects need animal care permits from an animal care committee. These are usually issued by the researcher´s own organization.

Drone use

When flying drones, researchers will need to comply with certain rules. Information is available online: https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/drone-safety/flying-your-drone-safely-legally.

Note that specific permits may be required for flying in federal national parks. See also ‘Protected areas’.

Weapons
Firearms permits are managed at the national level by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Information for non-residents using, borrowing or bringing a firearm to Canada can be found here: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/firearms/non-residents.

Radio Permits

Canadian PLBs should be registered with the Canadian Beacon Registry. Find more information and register at https://www.cbr-rcb.ca/cbr/.

If you work out of a research station, it is highly recommended to ask for guidance from the station manager. Information about station specific permits and policies can often be found on their respective websites. Most stations are listed at: http://cnnro.ca/. Contact information for all INTERACT stations.

Find an overview on region-specific information here: https://www.canada.ca/en/polar-knowledge/online-portal-for-researchers.html#region-specific-information

Nunavut
A guide was prepared by the Nunavut Research Institute for researchers planning to work in the Nunavut region. It presents the most common permits, licenses and authorizations required by the different authorities involved on the territory.

When planning to collect terrestrial fauna samples in national parks located in Nunavut, you will need a permit from Parks Canada.

For biological sample export, you need a wildlife export permit: https://gov.nu.ca/sites/default/files/export_brochure_4_eng.pdf. Each community has its own wildlife agent. You can request the wildlife export permit by contacting the community directly, or by contacting the Nunavut Department of Environment.

North West Territories
A licensing system is available for researchers planning to work in the North West Territories (NWT). The system is operated by the Aurora Research Institute and manages research that is not covered by Wildlife or Archaeologist legislation.

A Guide for researchers doing research in the Northwest territories has been published by the Aurora Research Institute. The guide provides additional permitting information for Nunavut and the Yukon Territory.

General and specific information on licenses and permits for undertaking research in the NWT are available from the Aurora Research Institute: https://nwtresearch.com/licensing

Yukon
Permit requests for undertaking research in the Yukon Territory is managed by the Yukon Government.

Nunavik
Information for researchers hoping to access any of the Nunavik parks is available at the Nunavik´s Park homepage.

When planning to fly in a Nunavik Park, you will need to inform the park manager. This is usually done park by park (by contacting the park manager) but it is also possible to contact the general management of Nunavik Parks in Kuujjuaq.

If you plan to deploy instrumentation in the Nunavik region, you will need to obtain permission from the Landholding Corporation.

Nunatsiavut
When planning research in the Nunatsiavut region, you need to contact the Nunatsiavut Government who is managing the Nunatsiavut Government Research Advisory Committee.

National Research Council Canada