Updated October 2, 2026
Partly. On June 27, 2025, the federal government ordered Hikvision Canada Inc. to shut down, and barred federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations from buying or using Hikvision products. The order does not make it illegal for private businesses or homeowners to buy, own or use Hikvision equipment. Hikvision's court challenge ended in 2026, so the shutdown stands.
Here is what happened, what it changes for you, and what to do about warranty, support and new purchases.
What happened, in order
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 27, 2025 | After a national security review under the Investment Canada Act, an Order in Council told Hikvision Canada Inc. to stop operations immediately, including sales and after-sales support, and to wind up its Canadian business within 120 days. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced the federal purchase-and-use ban the same day. |
| July 2025 | Hikvision Canada asked the Federal Court to review the order and to pause it. Under an agreement with the Attorney General, it kept operating while the court considered the pause. |
| September 2025 | The Federal Court refused to pause the order, so Hikvision Canada had to comply (public reasons dated September 22, 2025). |
| April 2026 | Hikvision dropped its court challenge. The order stands. |
What exactly did Canada ban?
The order targets a company, not a product category. It applies to two groups:
- Hikvision Canada Inc., the Canadian subsidiary that supplied distributors and ran after-sales support. It had to cancel orders, stop marketing and support, close its offices and wind up.
- Federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations, which may no longer buy or use Hikvision products. The government is also reviewing federal buildings to remove legacy Hikvision equipment.
It does not apply to private businesses, property managers or homeowners. Nothing in the order stops you from buying, owning or using Hikvision equipment. The minister's statement said the review did not extend to Hikvision's operations outside Canada, and encouraged Canadians to take note of the decision and decide for themselves. In court, Hikvision itself pointed out that its products can still be bought in Canada through third parties.
Provinces, cities and school boards are not bound by the federal order and set their own rules. Industry press reported that Quebec's government had already banned Hikvision for its own use in late 2023, so check the policy of any public body you sell to.
Who provides Hikvision support in Canada now?
There is no longer a Canadian Hikvision office to call. Hikvision Canada handled technical support, warranty replacements and security-patch coordination for the distributor network, and the order required it to end those services. In court, Hikvision itself argued that cutting this support would leave Canadian systems less secure. The court still refused to pause the order, so the gap is real.
What that means in practice:
- Returns and exchanges go through your distributor. The distributor you bought from is the only Canadian party left in the chain. If you bought from Noctoptics, contact us first: we handle returns and exchanges on Hikvision products sold by us, from our Laval office.
- Firmware no longer has a Canadian source. Ask your distributor for the current version for your model, and check it before you buy a replacement unit so it matches what is already on site.
- Security hygiene matters more now. Keep cameras and recorders on their own network segment, close any port forwarding to the internet, change every default password, and keep firmware current. None of this depends on the manufacturer having a local office.
If you need a hand with any of this, book a free consultation and we will look at the system with you.
Can you still buy Hikvision cameras in Canada?
Yes, if you are a private business, an installer working for private clients, or a homeowner. Nothing in the order stops distributors from selling to private customers, and demand hasn't gone away: many Canadian buildings run Hikvision systems that need replacements, expansions and spare parts.
Buy from a distributor that will still be there when a camera fails. Three things to check:
- A Canadian address and a returns process. Grey-market imports arrive with no one to call. Noctoptics ships Hikvision cameras, NVRs, intercoms and access control across Canada from Laval, Quebec, and handles returns locally.
- Current firmware and Canadian-market models. Ask for the firmware version and confirm the model is the one sold in Canada, not a regional variant that will not update cleanly.
- Dealer pricing if you install for a living. Approved installer accounts get dealer prices; open a dealer account to see them.
What if you sell to government?
Federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations cannot buy or use Hikvision, full stop. Provincial and municipal buyers, hospitals and school boards set their own rules, and some avoid Hikvision too, so ask before you quote it. For those projects, specify a different brand from the start: send us the site and we will spec a system that fits the buyer's procurement rules.
Do I have to remove my Hikvision cameras?
Not unless you are a federal body, or a contract requires it. For a private building, the cameras stay legal and they keep recording. What changes is the support picture, so a bit of planning now avoids a scramble later:
- Know what you have. List every camera, recorder and intercom with its model and firmware version. Replacements are easier to source when you can quote the exact model.
- Lock down the network. Put video equipment on its own segment, remove any port forwarding to the internet, and change default passwords. Exposed devices with factory passwords are a common way into camera systems, whatever the brand.
- Keep a spare or two. With no Canadian manufacturer presence, specific models may get harder to find over time. For a system you depend on, one spare camera and a spare recorder drive is cheap insurance.
- Plan the long term. If you want to move off Hikvision, start with the internet-exposed and highest-risk cameras, and replace in stages during normal maintenance rather than all at once.
- Check your obligations. Insurers, landlords and federal contracts can impose their own conditions. If you work for the federal government, assume Hikvision equipment is a problem for that work.
If you are not sure where your system stands, book a free consultation. We will tell you what to keep, what to replace, and in what order.
Frequently asked questions
Is it illegal to use Hikvision cameras in Canada?
No. The order bars federal departments, agencies and Crown corporations from buying or using Hikvision products. Private businesses and homeowners can legally buy, own and use them.
Is Hikvision Canada still operating?
No. The June 2025 order required Hikvision Canada Inc. to cease operations and wind up its business. The company fought the order in Federal Court, lost its request to pause it in September 2025, and dropped the case in April 2026.
Why was Hikvision banned in Canada?
The federal government made the order after a national security review under the Investment Canada Act. Hikvision disputes the decision and says its products comply with Canadian law.
Does the ban apply in Quebec and other provinces?
The federal order binds federal bodies only. Provinces and municipalities set their own rules; Quebec's government, for example, was reported to have stopped using Hikvision in 2023. Ask any public body you supply for its policy.
Are EZVIZ and HiLook affected?
They are Hikvision brands, so treat them as Hikvision for any public-sector decision.
Will my Hikvision cameras stop working?
No. Nothing in the order disables installed equipment. The change is that there is no Canadian Hikvision office behind warranty or support, which is why your distributor matters.
Can I still get Hikvision warranty service in Canada?
Through your distributor. If you bought from Noctoptics, contact us and we will handle the return or exchange.
Sources
- Hikvision Canada Inc. v. Canada (Attorney General), 2025 FC 1527, Federal Court, public reasons September 22, 2025
- Government of Canada, Investment Canada Act national security decisions
- Hikvision Canada public statement, July 2025
- Blinkless, Banned Camera Checker, statuses verified August 7, 2026
- Infosecurity Magazine, June 2025
This article is general information, not legal advice. Check with your lawyer, or with the public body you work for, before making a compliance decision.