Government of Nunavut Legislation

GOVERNMENT OF NUNAVUT PERMITS AND AUTHORIZATIONS COMMONLY REQUIRED FOR PROPOSED PROJECTS
IN THE NUNAVIK MARINE REGION AND THE EEYOU MARINE REGION
Issuing Agency Permit Required Description of Activity Useful Links for Proponents
Government of Nunavut
Department of Culture and Heritage Archaeology and Paleontology Permit

(Nunavut Act-Nunavut Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites Regulations)

A Class 1 Permit is required for non-invasive activities (survey and documentation) at heritage sites in a manner that does not alter or otherwise disturb the site. For example, a Class 1 Permit is required for tourism activities (e.g. cruise ships landing tourists at heritage sites for visitation).

A Class 2 Permit entitles the permittee to survey and document the characteristics of an archaeological or palaeontological site, excavate an archaeological or palaeontological site, remove archaeological artifacts from an archaeological site or remove fossils from a palaeontological site, or otherwise alter or disturb an archaeological or palaeontological site. For example, a Class 2 Permit is required for scientific research and projects involving ground disturbance.

An Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) is needed for any project involving ground disturbance. As a result, projects requiring AIAs also require a Class 2 Permit. On Islands in the Nunavik Marine Region, archaeological assessments are usually carried out by the Avataq Cultural Institute.

Source: Nunavut Act-Nunavut Archaeological and Palaeontological Sites Regulations, info from Adam Pollock (Aug 16, 2025), email from Susan Lofthouse (Avataq, Archaeologist) (May 31, 2024)

Learn more about Archaeology and Paleontology Research Permits: Guide_English.pdf

Complete an Archaeology and Palaeontology Research Permit Application Form

Contact: Culture and Heritage, Heritage Division, Archaeology Program

(CHpermits@gov.nu.ca) or Manager, Heritage Resources, Adam Pollock

(APollock2@gov.nu.ca, 867-975-5512)

Avataq Cultural Institute, Archaeologist, Susan Lofthouse (514-989-9031 ext 237, susanlofthouse@avataq.qc.ca)

Department of Environment Wildlife Export/Import Permit It is an offense to remove wildlife or wildlife parks, other than a manufactured product, to a place outside Nunavut unless you obtain a Wildlife Export Permit. This is required of the following are exported:

–          Legally killed game

–          A gift of meat from a hunter

–          Legally purchased meat

–          Untanned furs and raw hides

–          Ducks or geese

–          Antlers, bones, teeth, or any other part of an animal

To export parts of marine mammals, a federal Marine Mammal Transportation License is required for all parts of seals, walrus and whales leaving Nunavut, including manufactured products and artwork (Polar Bears are not considered marine mammals under the Fisheries Act).

No permit is required to transport fish out of Nunavut as long as the fish was lawfully harvested.

Note 5.3.21.2 of NILCA: Nunavik Inuit may be required by the appropriate government agency to obtain a permit to transport wildlife outside the NMR. If such permit is required, the federal or territorial government agency shall issue the permit upon demand, unless it has good cause for refusing the permit, and the permit may contain terms and conditions as established by laws of general application. Any fees for such permit shall be waved.

Wildlife Export Permits can be obtained from the local Wildlife Officer at no fee.

Export_brochure_4_eng.pdf

Contact: Department of Environment, Operations and Regulations Department Coordinator, Jon Neely (jneely@gov.nu.ca) or Iqaluit Wildlife Office (867-975-7780 or wildlifeiqaluit@gov.nu.ca )

Park Use Permit A Park Use Permit may be required for research taking place within territorial parks and special places. Currently there are no territorial parks or special places in the NMR or EMR. Parks resources and permits

Contact: parks@gov.nu.ca

Sport Fishing License A Sport Fishing License is required for saltwater and freshwater recreational fishing in the NMR above the 60th parallel.

The portion of the NMR below the 60th parallel is outside of Nunavut’s jurisdiction and is under federal jurisdiction. The federal government does not require Sport Fishing Permits.

Source: Sport_fishing_guide_2021-2022_eng.pdf, phone conversation with Government of Nunavut, Wildlife Office (June 25, 2024)

Learn more about sport fishing in Nunavut: Nunavut%20Sport%20Fishing%20Guide%20Final%202024-2025.pdf

Contact: Iqaluit Wildlife Office (867-975-7780) or wildlifeiqaluit@gov.nu.ca

Wildlife Research Permit

(Wildlife Act)

A Wildlife Research Permit is required for conducting research or collecting specimens for research. The Wildlife Act applies to all terrestrial, aquatic, avian, and amphibian flora and fauna that are wild by nature or wild by disposition but does not apply to fish as defined in section 2 of the federal Fisheries Act, marine plants as defined in section 47 of the federal Fisheries Act, or a bacterium or virus.

The Wildlife Research Permit covers incidental wildlife viewing. It doesn’t “include” the Wildlife Observation License (see below) per se, but only one of the two would be needed for any given project.

• A person may be exempted from the requirement for a Wildlife Research Permit by the Superintendent where:

• the person obtains a permit or other authorization to engage in the activity issued under another enactment of Nunavut or Canada and

• the Superintendent is satisfied that the permit or other authorization provides protection to the wildlife equivalent to a license issued under the Wildlife Act.

Source: Wildlife Act, email from Jon Neely (Department of Environment, Operations and Regulations Department Coordinator) (June 3, 2024)

Learn more about completing a Wildlife Research Permit application: Wildlife_research_permit_application_guidelines_rev2019_0.pdf or email wildlife_research@gov.nu.ca

Complete a Wildlife Research Permit application: Wildlife_research_permit_application_form_2021.pdf

Contact: Department of Environment, Operations and Regulations Department Coordinator, Jon Neely (jneely@gov.nu.ca) or Department of Environment, Senior Wildlife Advisor, Jonathan Pynn (jpynn@gov.nu.ca)

Wildlife Observation License

(Wildlife Act)

A Wildlife Observation License is required to establish, offer, or provide any organized activity in which wildlife is the object of interaction, manipulation, or close observation, including the making of a film or the provision of an expedition, safari, or cruise.

A Wildlife Observation License is geared towards commercial activities where operators are taking out clients with the intent of directly seeking out and undertaking wildlife observation. A permit is not required for “incidental” wildlife observation (e.g. undertaking activities such as canoeing or fishing where wildlife sightings would be secondary).

A person may be exempted from the requirement for a Wildlife Observation License by the Superintendent where:

the person obtains a permit or other authorization to engage in the activity issued under another enactment of Nunavut or Canada and

o    the Superintendent is satisfied that the permit or other authorization provides protection to the wildlife equivalent to a license issued under the Wildlife Act.

Source: Wildlife Act, email from Jon Neely (Department of Environment, Operations and Regulations Department Coordinator) (June 3, 2024)

Complete a Wildlife Observation Permit application: Nunavut_wildlife_observation_licence_application_eng.pdf

Contact: Department of Environment, Operations and Regulations Department Coordinator, Jon Neely (jneely@gov.nu.ca)

Department of Environment Species at Risk License A species at risk licence is required under section 20 of the Act for a person to engage in an activity for

education or research that is otherwise prohibited under the Act in respect of an extinct species or a Iisted species.

A species at risk licence authorizes the holder to engage in the specific activities in respect of the species

authorized by the licence. There are no Species at Risk currently listed under the NU Wildlife Act (CONFIRM. Confirmed JP August 5, 2025.)

Contact: Department of Environment, Operations and Regulations Department Coordinator, Jon Neely (jneely@gov.nu.ca) or Department of Environment, Senior Wildlife Advisor, Jonathan Pynn (jpynn@gov.nu.ca)
Department of Community Services Outfitters License

(Tourism Act)

A license is required to operate a wilderness tourist accommodation, wilderness tourism activity, or other prescribed accommodation or activity (see below). Outfitters Licenses are issued annually, with licenses expiring and requiring renewal before December 31 each year.

“wilderness tourism activity” means any type of commercially guided tourism activity occurring or partially occurring in the wilderness including, (a) polar training, (b) camping on the floe edge, (c) ice camping, (d) diving, (e) wildlife observation, (f) bird watching, (g) eco-tourism, (h) expeditions, (i) expedition training, (j) canoeing, (k) cross country skiing, (l) dog sledding, (m) heli-hiking, (n) heli-skiing, (o) hiking and backpacking, (p) kayaking, (q) motorized boat tours, (r) mountain biking, (s) mountaineering, (t) photographic safaris, (u) river rafting, (v) rock climbing, (w) snowmobiling, (x) ice climbing, (y) bouldering, (z) kite-skiing, (aa) ski-jorring, (ab) sport fishing, or (ac) cultural interpretative tours.

If required, a Big Game Hunting License replaces the need to apply for an Outfitters License.

Cruise ships require Outfitters Licenses. For a ship to be considered a cruise ship they must have more than 12 paying customers.

Outfitters operating out of a Nunavut Community require a Tourism Outfitter License. Outfitters operating from outside of Nunavut require a license if they stop in a Nunavut community. *A legal opinion is being sought regarding requirements for outfitters operating out of Nunavik.*

Land-based activities are not referred to the Nunavut Impact Review Board (NIRB) or Nunavut Planning Commission (NPC), while applications for new cruise ship routes are referred to the NIRB.

Source: Tourism Act; phone conversation with David Boyle (Department of Community Services, Tourism and Cultural Industries, Director) (September 16, 2024) and email from David Boyle (November 12, 2024); email from Chris Gerlach (Department of Community Services, Tourism and Cultural Industries, Tourism Development, Manager)

Complete an Outfitters License application: Touirst_outfitters_licence_appl_eng.pdf

Note: Applications can be returned to any Community Operations Office.

Contact: Department of Community Services, Tourism and Cultural Industries Director, David Boyle

(dboyle@gov.nu.ca, 867-975-7856 or tourism@gov.nu.ca)

Department of Community Services Tourist Establishment License

(Tourism Act)

A Tourist Establishment License is required to develop such establishments as lodges, outpost camps, cabins, camping establishments, hotels, motels, and tourist homes. Accommodations within municipal boundaries are exempt because they are under municipal planning and zoning bylaws and business licensing processes. Tourist Establishment Licenses are issued annually, with licenses expiring and requiring renewal before December 31 each year.

Source: Phone conversation with David Boyle (Department of Community Services, Tourism and Cultural Industries, Director) (September 16, 2024) and emails from David Boyle (October 27 and November 12, 2024)

Complete a Tourist Establishment License application: Tourist_establishment_licence_appl_eng.pdf

Contact: Department of Community Services, Tourism and Cultural Industries Director, David Boyle

(dboyle@gov.nu.ca, 867-975-7856 or  tourism@gov.nu.ca)

Office of the Chief Building Official Building Permits

(Building Code Act- Building Code Regulations)

Building permits are issued by the Office of the Chief Building Official, except for construction of accessory buildings not greater than 20 m2 in area and non-structural alterations or repairs where the value of construction is $40,000 or less.

Additional permits may be required such as electrical (issued by the Office of the Chief Electrical Inspector); boiler and gas (issued by the Office of the Chief Boiler and Gas Inspector); and other building related activities.

Source: Building Code Regulations, phone conversation with Lloyd MacDonald (Office of the Chief Building Official, Acting Chief Building Official (July 16, 2024); additional info provided by the Offices of the Chief Electrical and Chief Boiler and Gas Inspectors, Aug 18, 2025).

Online applications are unavailable. Reach out to the Office of the Chief Building Official (contact below) for additional information and an application form.

Contact: Office of the Chief Building Official (building@gov.nu.ca, 1-844-975-5493)

Additional permits (electrical, gas, boiler etc) may be accessed via

Safety services

Nunavut Research Institute (NRI) Scientific Research License

(Scientists Act)

A Scientific Research License is required to conduct research in Nunavut in the physical/natural sciences, social sciences, or health research disciplines.  Research licensing under the Scientists Act is administered by the Nunavut Research Institute, which is a division of Nunavut Arctic College

A Scientific research license is not required the following types of research:

• Research on wildlife (including plants, fish, birds, and marine/terrestrial wildlife as defined under the Wildlife Act)*

• Archeological research

• Research in National Parks

*The NRI understands that, as fish and marine plants fall within the scope of federal jurisdiction, the NRI does not have permitting/licensing authority over such species. As NRI understands that bacteria and viruses remain outstanding (i.e. are not within the scope of federal jurisdiction), NRI maintains that the Scientist Act does apply to permitting/licensing for the collection of bacterium or virus specimens. As such specimens would be represented within water samples, NTI maintains that the collection and analysis of water itself is a licensable activity.

Source: Nunavut Research Institute website, accessed April 3, 2025 (Research licencing nunavut); email from Adam Lewis quoting guidance from Jamal Shirley (May 29, 2025); input from Jamal Shirley, August 14, 2025.

Learn how to apply for a Scientific Research License and complete an online application: There are two ways to be saved and completed later.

Contact: Manager of Research Licensing, Mosha Cote (mosha.cote@arcticcollege.ca)