bafanguy, that condition—the bar against converting a licence issued on the basis of another licence—is frequently misunderstood. Both Transport Canada and FAA interpret it simply as meaning that the licence or rating resulted from a successful Canadian or US skill/practical test. For example, Transport Canada will issue, without a flight test, a multiengine land class rating to an applicant who has been issued with an equivalent rating by an ICAO Contracting State within the recent 12 months. Such a rating is ineligible for conversion under the US–Canada agreement. To make it eligible, a Canadian flight test would need to be passed.
cnovosel, section 202.42 of the Canadian aviation regulations prohibits a foreign-registered aircraft being operated in Canada for 90 days or more within the preceding 12 months, except in specific circumstances.
kriekos, as MH mentions it's a straightforward process that any suitable flight training unit can handle. You can find all Canadian flight training units in this Transport Canada database,
https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur...eCulture=en-CA
If you are serious about pursuing a Canadian licence then you should undergo the medical assessment for a category one (class 1) medical certificate without delay. It can take the Civil Aviation Medicine Branch anywhere from 6 to 9 months to issue the initial certificate. Transport's database of Civil Aviation Medical Examiners is here,
https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/CAME-MEAC/l.aspx
Notwithstanding lingering covid-related exemptions, which should be expiring at the end of this month, you'll need evidence of medical
fitness to write exams and a valid/appropriate medical
certificate to attempt flight tests. See sections 421.13 and 421.14 respectively in Part IV of the
standards. Details on foreign credits and knowledge/experience/skill requirements for the CPL(A), aeroplane class ratings, and instrument ratings are in sections 421.30, 421.38, and 421.46 respectively. The long solo cross-country required for the CPL is more demanding than the ICAO Annex 1 standard. The night experience requirement is also more prescriptive. Should you wish to complete this flying in Canada, you may exercise PIC privileges using a Foreign Licence Validation Certificate (see
AC 400-003), unless you are a resident of Canada. Note the interpretation given to
solo flight time, subsection 400.01(1) in the regulations:
solo flight time means, with respect to the flight time
necessary to acquire a permit, licence or rating,
(a) in the case of a pilot, the flight time during which
the pilot is the sole flight crew member, and
(b) in the case of a student pilot permit holder, the
flight time during which the holder is the sole occupant
of an aircraft while under the direction and supervision
of the holder of an instructor rating for the
appropriate category of aircraft; (temps de vol en solo)
Information on the conduct of flight tests is in the schedules to section 428. Review the relevant
flight test guides and
study and reference guides published by Transport.
A letter of recommendation is required for the instrument rating flight test but not for the CPL test. The instrument rating will be valid either on single-engine aeroplanes (group 3) or both single- and multi-engines (group 1), depending on the group used for the skill test. The initial skill test must be done in an aeroplane (or an approved Level C or higher full-flight simulator) but subsequent proficiency checks may be done on approved flight training devices. See
AC 401-004 and
AC 401-005 for information on how Canadian instrument ratings are kept valid. The instrument rating and multi-engine skill tests cannot be combined. The CPL flight test can be attempted without first holding either an FLVC or Canadian PPL. The licence will be issued in the form of a passport-style Aviation Document Booklet. The application guide and form is
here. Once the booklet has been received, you can proceed with the skill tests for the multiengine and instrument ratings. Rating privileges will be given immediately after a successful test.
A separate application must be made to Innovation, Science And Economic Development Canada (ISED) for the radiotelephone operator certificate (ROC-A) after passing a short multi-choice exam paper. See study guide
RIC-21 published by Industry Canada. The exam can be administered by your flight training unit which should also assist you in making the application for the ROC-A. Make that a priority because ISED takes its sweet time issuing the certificate.
NavCanada publishes some useful local area weather manuals and radio phraseology guides here,
https://www.navcanada.ca/en/aeronaut...al-guides.aspx
Electronic copies of the Canada Air Pilot (CAP) and the Canada Flight Supplement (CFS) are freely available under licence to registered users (no fee to register) at
https://fltplan.com (Tools -> Documents). Many of the instrument rating exam questions and oral questions on the skill test are based on the CAP GEN document. Another useful document is the
Aeronautical Information Manual. Some useful posters on VFR and IFR procedures at uncontrolled aerodromes and the airspace classification and structure are
here. You might find the guidance intended for US pilots flying in Canada useful, see
TP 15048.
Re work permits. There are too many factors to give an adequate summary of the options. Start with IRCC's
Come to Canada Wizard. You might be eligible for a working holiday work permit. Otherwise, consider a study programme that culminates in a post-graduate work permit. If you wish to pursue a flight training course that is eligible for a PGWP, you will need to pick an FTU that is approved as a Designated Learning Institution. These are listed
here.