Teams must have a minimum of 41 players, including two players who shall be identified as quarterbacks and 39 other players, of whom not more than 19 may be imports.

Each team must establish a reserve roster of 4 players. These 4 players may be imports or non-imports.

Each team may dress a 42-man active roster consisting of:

• 3 QBs (no designation)
• 19 imports
• 20 non-imports

The 19 imports break down as follows:

• 16 imports
• 3 Designated Imports

The three designated imports are players who can play on special teams OR replace an import starter (they cannot start).

Of the 24 starters on a team, a minimum of seven starters must be non-imports. When applied to a starting roster of a team it breaks down as follows (when using the minimum number of non-import players):

• 1 QB
• 16 starting imports
• 7 starting non-imports

Definition of non-import:  A player who was physically resident in Canada for an aggregate of 7 years prior to turning 15 or if he’s a Canadian Citizen, was physically resident in Canada for an aggregate period of 5 years prior to turning 18.

In order to be eligible for the Canadian Football League draft, a player first has to be considered a non-import by the above criteria. Normally, he would also become eligible four years from the start of his university career or the calendar year in which he reaches his 25th birthday. 

Most common exceptions:

• A non-import NCAA underclassman who enter the NFL draft also enters the CFL draft as he is considerd to have waived his NCAA eligibility.
• Players who graduate early do not need to meet the "four-year" or "25-years of age" criteria.