The Foreign Inspection Division is an operational Division within the Commercial and Business Aviation Branch. It is responsible for the certification and safety oversight of all foreign air operators conducting commercial air services into and out of Canada; for certification and continuing safety oversight of Specialty Air Service (SAS) operations conducted pursuant to the Free Trade Agreement; and for approving overflights within Canadian airspace and technical stops at Canadian airports.

In accordance with the Canadian Aviation Regulations, all foreign air operators operating a commercial air transport service into or out of Canada shall operate that service under the terms and conditions of a Canadian Foreign Air Operator Certificate (FAOC) issued by the Minister of Transport. Similarly, foreign air operators wishing to conduct SAS operations in Canada pursuant to the Free Trade Agreement must hold a Canadian Foreign Air Operator Certificate - Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

To fulfil these responsibilities the Foreign Inspection Division employs Flight Operations, Airworthiness, and Cabin Safety Civil Aviation Safety Inspectors, as well as Overflight and Certification Officers.