Access to Information and Privacy
How to make a request under the Access to Information Act

: Expect electronic processing delays

Work is underway to restore CBSA's ability to process access to information and privacy requests after servers were made inaccessible during infrastructure maintenance by Shared Services Canada. Read the news release for more.

You can continue to submit ATIP requests through the online portal.

In this section

The following requests should be made to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) under the Access to Information Act:

Submit an Online Request

Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) Online Request

Requests for personal information that is not the requester's must include signed, recent (less than one year old), written consent from the individual to whom the personal information belongs. To facilitate processing requests for personal information, we also recommend that the consent of all individuals who may have personal information included in the records sought be obtained and provided with the request. For example, in the case of immigration records, consent should be obtained from the spouse, sponsor, adult children or any other person appearing in the record. For Customs information consent should be obtained from the individuals accompanying the client or owner of the registered vehicle, with a copy of the registration for the vehicle. You may use the CBSA's Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Representative form BSF745E to provide consent. 

Submit a Written Request

Formal written requests under the Access to Information Act must:

Formal requests under the Access to Information Act must:

Requests must include sufficient detail to enable an experienced employee of the CBSA, with a reasonable effort, to identify the records that are being requested. Examples include, but are not limited to, time periods, file numbers, client identifiers, file names, report titles, locations (office, port of entry or region/branch), names of individuals, dates of birth (if requesting traveller history or immigration files).

Requests for personal information that is not the requester's must include signed, recent (less than one year old), written consent from the individual to whom the personal information belongs. To facilitate processing requests for personal information, we also recommend that the consent of all individuals who may have personal information included in the records sought be obtained and provided with the request. For example, in the case of immigration records - consent should be obtained from the spouse, sponsor, adult children or any other person appearing in the record. For Customs information consent should be obtained from the individuals accompanying the client or owner of the registered vehicle, with a copy of the registration for the vehicle. If the personal information is related to an immigration file, please fill out the Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual form (IMM 5475) found on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada website.

Requests made pursuant to the Access to Information Act must be addressed as follows and sent by mail or fax (343-291-7012):

Canada Border Services Agency
Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
333 North River Road
14th Floor, Tower A
Vanier, Ontario
K1A 0L8

In addition, inquiries concerning the request process for Access to Information at the CBSA may be e-mailed to atip-aiprp@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca. Please note that any inquiries related to the processing of a specific request should be directed to the officer handling your request, and should reference the request number assigned to it by our office in your correspondence.

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