Apply for or manage a nuclear substance and radiation device licence

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) nuclear substance and radiation device licensing process includes a thorough assessment of the application submission. For licence renewals, the process includes a verification of the licensee’s compliance with requirements.

All licence applications are assessed based on the risk-ranking of the proposed licensed use type.

A separate licensing process exists for nuclear reactors. Learn more about the reactor licensing process in Canada.

Before you apply

A nuclear substance and radiation device licence application goes through the following steps within the CNSC:

1. entry into our electronic records system
2. assessment for relevant cost-recovery fees, if applicable
3. entry into our licensing database
4. technical assessment by a licensing specialist
5. quality assurance
6. sign-off by a designated officer (if the application and the applicant meet all regulatory requirements)
7. licence issued and emailed to licensee

Apply for a new licence

To obtain a nuclear substances and radiation devices licence, an application must be submitted to the CNSC. The CNSC will only issue a licence when the applicant:

• is deemed qualified to carry on the activity that the licence will authorize
• has demonstrated that they will protect the health and safety of persons and the environment
• has demonstrated that they will maintain national security
• has confirmed that they will adhere to international obligations to which Canada has agreed

To apply for a licence, please consult REGDOC-1.6.1, Licence Application Guide: Nuclear Substances and Radiation Devices, and fill out the corresponding licence application form for nuclear substances and radiation devices (PDF).

If you are a new applicant, exempted activities, use types, and applicable regulatory documents are available for reference.

Costs

To view the costs associated with the licensing process, please refer to the CNSC’s Cost recovery program.

Processing time

Processing time can be up to 80 business days for complete applications with associated fees paid. Applicants will be contacted during the licence application review process and once a licence is issued.

Submit your application

Before submitting a nuclear substance licence application to the CNSC, you must ensure that:

• the application form is complete and signed in all required locations as well as the relevant applicant authority form.
• all supporting documents are attached, clearly identified and cross-referenced.
• a copy of the radiation safety manual is included.
• proof of legal status is included if the applicant is a corporation.
• the designated payment is enclosed if application is subject to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission Cost Recovery Fees Regulations.

Three ways to submit application forms

Renew a licence

Renewals for existing nuclear substance and radiation device licences follow the same process as for new applications. A licence renewal application must be submitted 3 months prior to expiry date.

The CNSC’s decision to renew a licence is based on the application information submitted as well as compliance performance. A licence renewal application will only be actioned if the financial account of the licence is in good standing (including financial guarantees). The CNSC conducts a review of compliance information, such as a licensee’s previous assessments, reported incidents and events, annual compliance report (ACR) submissions, and results of Type I and Type II inspections. Read more about the CNSC’s licensing and compliance tools.

If the application received by the CNSC is complete, processing time could take up to 4 weeks for a licence renewal. Applicants will be contacted by the CNSC during the licence renewal review process and once a licence is issued.

Note: A CNSC licence issued for nuclear substances and radiation devices cannot have its term extended. The licence will expire on the date stated in the licence unless renewed, revoked or replaced.

Fill out a nuclear substance and radiation device licence application form (PDF)

Amend a licence

During the nuclear substance and radiation device licence period, certain circumstances may require changes to the licence, and a request for amendment must be submitted. You are required to request an amendment if there is any change in your current regulatory program information, equipment or licensed activities.

When requesting an amendment to an existing nuclear substances and radiation devices licence, the following details must be submitted along with the licence number:

• changes to nuclear substances and/or radiation devices
• changes to the location of use and/or storage
• changes to personnel (licence contact information – e.g., radiation safety officer (RSO), applicant authority, alternative RSO)
• changes to policies, programs and procedures

An amendment will only be actioned if the financial account of the licence is in good standing (including financial guarantees).

For information related to specific amendments, select the tab that applies to your change:

All requests for licence amendments must be made in writing by the licensee’s designated signing authority. This can be done by fax at 613-995-5086 or by contacting a CNSC licensing specialist at 1-888-229-2672.

Processing an amendment to a licence could take up to 3 weeks from the date a completed submission is received.

Transfer a licence

Under certain circumstances – as per sections 24(2) and 24(4) of the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA) – the CNSC may authorize the transfer of a nuclear substance licence from one licensee to another, or to a new licence applicant, provided there has been no significant change in the licensed activity. This process is intended to simplify the regulatory process for licensees, while ensuring that all regulatory requirements are met.

A request for licence transfer can be triggered by the following changes:

• change to a corporation’s name and number
• corporate merger
• corporate restructuring

To request a licence transfer, the existing licensee must complete and submit an application form to their CNSC licensing officer, including the following:

• a copy of the new proof of legal status
• the appropriate applicant authority form
• the request form to appoint a new radiation safety officer (RSO), with associated information, which must be submitted again if there has been a change in RSO or applicant authority

A transfer will only be actioned if the financial account of the licence is in good standing (including financial guarantees).

Fill out a nuclear substance and radiation device licence transfer form (PDF).

Revoke a licence

For a nuclear substance and radiation device licence to be revoked, proof of decommissioning of the site or building must be submitted to the CNSC before the site or building can be released from regulatory control. The licensee must ensure that all nuclear substances and radiation devices have been removed, and that the contamination levels of the site or building do not exceed the limits specified on the licence. Licensees must submit documentation showing that any nuclear substances and radiation devices formerly in their possession have been received by another licensee who is authorized to possess these materials.

For an existing CNSC licence to be revoked, a licensee must submit a request for revocation (PDF). Once the CNSC determines the information is complete, the licence will be revoked and a letter confirming the revocation will be sent to the licensee.

See the CNSC’s decommissioning checklist (PDF) to ensure that you are following the right steps.

Financial guarantees

All nuclear substance and radiation device licensees are responsible for safely carrying out the nuclear activities authorized under their licences, from the issuance of the licence up to and including safe termination of the licensed activities. A financial guarantee ensures there are funds available for the safe termination of licensed activities when the licensee is unable to carry this out. Licensees are required to provide a financial guarantee to the CNSC.

After you receive a licence

CNSC regulatory oversight of activities will vary by level of risk (those with higher levels of risk are subject to greater regulatory oversight).

The following tools allow the CNSC to monitor and verify compliance with the Nuclear Safety and Control Act (NSCA), its regulations, and licence conditions:

1. Application assessment (desktop reviews)

   The CNSC reviews all information provided in the application to ensure compliance with the NSCA and the regulations under the NSCA. This stage includes the review of a new licence application, an amendment request or a renewal application.

2. Annual compliance report (ACR)

   Licensees are required to submit annual compliance reports with details the activities they performed; for example:

   • transfers, purchase, disposal of nuclear substances and radiation devices
   • dosimetry information
   • Inventory
   • changes in the radiation protection program

   Annual compliance reports allow licensees to self-report, and allow the CNSC to monitor routine compliance indicators. ACR forms for your use type can be downloaded for submission.

3. Inspections

   The CNSC performs independent inspections, during which it gathers information, analyzes data and records results, for the purpose of evaluating if an activity is in compliance with regulatory requirements. Inspections typically occur at the licensee’s operational site(s);the licensee is presented with the preliminary findings at the end of the inspection, and a complete report sent to the licensee within 60 days. The licensee is given a list of instances of non-compliance and must provide timelines for addressing these findings. Should something be found during the inspection that is an imminent threat to health, safety or the environment, the NSCA provides inspectors with the power to immediately order cessation of these activities.

Contact us

For nuclear substance and radiation device licensees:

If you have any questions about licensing issues, such as licence amendments, annual compliance reporting or disposal of nuclear substances and radiation devices, contact your licensing specialist by telephone at 1-888-229-2672 or by email at licence-permis@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca.

For non-licensees:

If you are not a current CNSC licensee, contact the CNSC general information line at 1-800-668-5284 or email info@cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca.

Related information

An overview of the licensing process and project timelines for nuclear reactors is also available.

A major project licensing timeline dashboard is available for select licensing projects.