ISED certification in Canada: an overview for manufacturers outside Canada
Radio equipment sold in Canada must be certified under RSP-100 to the applicable Radio Standards Specifications, by a certification body recognized by ISED, and listed in the Radio Equipment List with an IC certification number. A manufacturer outside Canada must also identify a Canadian Representative on its application. The process typically runs in parallel with FCC or CE work and takes weeks, not months, once test data exists.
The framework
Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) regulates radio apparatus under the Radiocommunication Act and its regulations. The technical requirements are in the Radio Standards Specifications (RSS): RSS-Gen for general requirements and labelling, RSS-247 for digital transmission systems and frequency-hopping devices in the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread), RSS-210 for other licence-exempt devices, RSS-102 for RF exposure, RSS-130 and related standards for cellular bands, RSS-170 for mobile-satellite earth stations, and many others by service. The procedure for obtaining certification is RSP-100. Terminal equipment connected to the public network follows a separate registration route under DC-01.
The parties
The applicant (usually the manufacturer or brand owner), a test laboratory recognized by ISED, a certification body recognized by ISED (a Canadian CB or a foreign CB under a mutual recognition arrangement), and, for applicants outside Canada, a Canadian Representative. Their roles are compared in representative vs certification body vs test lab.
The steps
1. Identify the applicable standards. Your lab determines which RSS standards apply to each radio in the product and whether RSS-102 RF exposure evaluation is needed.
2. Obtain an ISED Company Number. The applicant registers with ISED to obtain a company number, which forms the first part of every IC certification number the company is granted.
3. Test. An ISED-recognized lab tests to the applicable RSS standards and produces a report. For products already tested to FCC rules much of the data is reusable; see from FCC to ISED.
4. Apply to a certification body. The application (RSP-100's Application and Agreement for Certification Services) includes the test report, technical documentation, photographs, label artwork, user manual, and, for foreign applicants, the Canadian Representative's details and letter (RSP-100 section 4.1). See attestation letter required fields.
5. Certification and listing. The CB reviews, issues the certificate with the IC certification number, and the product is listed in ISED's Radio Equipment List (REL), which is public and searchable.
6. Label and notify. The product carries the IC certification number per RSS-Gen (physical label or e-label where allowed), and the user manual carries the RSS-Gen notices in English and French.
7. Maintain. The certificate holder keeps the certification current: permissive changes under RSP-100 section 10 for modifications, a valid Canadian Representative for as long as the product is sold in Canada, and responsiveness to post-certification audits under section 12.
Where foreign applicants get stuck
In our experience the testing is rarely the problem. The delays come from the administrative items at step 4: an ISED Company Number not yet obtained, the applicant's legal name not matching across documents, bilingual notices missing from the manual, and the Canadian Representative letter requested late. All four can be handled in parallel with testing. See common Canadian Representative mistakes.
After certification
ISED and CBs audit certified products by requesting samples from the market or from the certificate holder (RSP-100 section 12.2). The Canadian Representative receives the request and the applicant supplies and pays for the sample. See ISED audit samples: who provides, who pays. Changes to the product go through Class I or Class II permissive changes or a new certification. A change of certificate holder is a transfer handled by the CB, and a new holder outside Canada needs its own representative; see changing your Canadian Representative.
Timelines and cost
With test data in hand, CB review and certificate issue typically take one to three weeks depending on the CB's queue and the completeness of the file. Testing adds whatever the lab needs, usually concurrent with FCC or CE work. The Canadian Representative letter takes one business day and costs US$499 per certification. Lab and CB fees vary; ask them.
Sources. RSP-100, Issue 12; ISED Certification and Engineering Bureau (Radio Equipment List, recognized CBs and labs, RSS standards index). This overview is general; confirm current standard issues and procedures with your lab and CB.