CANPASS
Telephone Reporting for CANPASS Private and Corporate Aircraft Programs

Telephone reporting is a system used by general aviation, i.e. private and corporate aircraft, to report to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) when entering Canada, as well as by participants in the CANPASS – Private Aircraft and CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft programs.

Introduction

The CANPASS initiatives are joint programs between the CBSA and Citizenship and Immigration Canada that streamline customs and immigration clearance for low-risk travellers. Faster processing of these travellers enables customs and immigration personnel to focus on travellers who may present a higher risk.

Definitions

Airport of Entry (AOE)
Authorized Canada customs airport of entry and exit for clearance of all classes of air traffic.
Authorized CANPASS only airport (CPO)
A landing facility approved by the appropriate CBSA regional director as an airport of entry solely for those individuals and aircraft enrolled as participants in the CANPASS – Private Aircraft or CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft programs.
General aviation
Registered private or company owned or leased aircraft, carrying no more than 15 passengers.
Telephone reporting
A reporting process that is considered to meet all the requirements for "presentation of persons on arrival in Canada" as required by section 11 of the Customs Act.

Telephone reporting for CANPASS Private and Corporate Aircraft

The pilot must report the estimated time of arrival (ETA) by calling 1-888-CANPASS (1-888-226-7277) at least two hours, but no more than 48 hours before flying into Canada. Should the 1-888 service not be available, pilots must call the Telephone Reporting Centre (TRC) at 905-679-2073 (Hamilton, Ontario). The caller may incur long distance charges.

The pilot must advise the TRC of the following:

All travellers aboard must declare any personal goods they are importing, including firearms and weapons, and report currency and monetary instruments of a value equal to or greater than CDN$10,000. If duties and/or taxes are payable, the TRC officer will also obtain a VISA or MasterCard number and expiration date from the individual concerned, along with the mailing address of the card holder.

Authorization holders can land at an AOE any time the site is open regardless of the hours of business of the local CBSA office. In addition, authorization holders may choose to use one of the designated "CANPASS only" airports.

If the aircraft has to land at a place not designated for customs reporting due to weather conditions or other circumstances, the pilot should call either 1-888-CANPASS or the nearest CBSA office or Royal Canadian Mounted Police office. Depending on the circumstances, the flight may be cleared over the phone, the pilot may be requested to await the arrival of a border services officer at that site, or the pilot may be requested to fly to the nearest AOE at the first opportunity.

CANPASS – Private Aircraft

The CANPASS – Private Aircraft program provides expanded customs services to participating aircraft owners, and their passengers.

The special landing privileges outlined in paragraph 6 only apply where all persons aboard the aircraft are participants in the CANPASS - Private Aircraft program. Should a non- authorization holder be aboard, the procedures outlined in Telephone Reporting for General Aviation must be used.

CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft

The CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft provides expanded customs services to corporations that, own or lease aircraft to carry passengers as part of their business.

Corporate flights are processed in the same manner as outlined in paragraphs 3 and 4 and have the same landing privileges outlined in paragraph 6. CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft authorization holders can transport up to four persons who do not have an authorization but are travelling on a corporate aircraft for a business related need of the company. In order to qualify, there must be at least one authorization holder among the passengers and those who are not authorized must be Canadian/U.S. citizens or permanent residents or resident aliens of the U.S. who meet the normal requirements for entry into Canada, and would otherwise qualify for CANPASS membership. If individuals receive a temporary authorization to travel on a declared CANPASS corporate flight, they will pay a $25 fee, per person, each time they land in Canada. This fee is in effect regardless of airport of entry or whether a border services officer is present. If there are more than four non- authorization holders aboard, CANPASS program cannot be used and the procedures outlined in Telephone Reporting for General Aviation will apply.

Verification of passages

CANPASS – Private Aircraft or CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft flights may at any time be subject to verification by CBSA. Requests for verification may be generated by the TRC or initiated by border services officers.

Additional information

General enquiries and requests for further information concerning telephone reporting for general aviation passages or for information on the CANPASS   Private Aircraft and CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft programs should be directed to Border Information Service (BIS):

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