Fact Sheet

September 2006

CANPASS - Corporate Aircraft

CANPASS - Corporate Aircraft is the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) program designed to facilitate efficient and secure entry into Canada for pre-approved, low-risk travellers on company owned or operated aircrafts arriving from the United States. The program has been operating across Canada since 1998.

The program is open to citizens and permanent residents of Canada and citizens and resident aliens of the United States who have resided in either country, or a combination of both countries, for the last three consecutive years. A non-refundable processing fee of CAN$40 is charged for each applicant 18 years or older. Approved membership is valid for a five-year period.

To be eligible for the program, an individual must:

• be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or a citizen or resident alien of the United States;
• be admissible to Canada under applicable immigration laws;
• not have been convicted of criminal offence (or, if convicted, have been granted a pardon for the conviction);
• not have had an immigration violation;
• not have had a customs seizure within the past five years;
• be employed by the company; and
• provide true and complete information.

A company can transport a maximum of four non-paying passengers who are not registered members of the program and still enjoy all the CANPASS program benefits. The company is charged CAN$25 per non-registered person per entry to Canada. This program benefit can only be used when:

• at least one person on board is a member of the CANPASS - Corporate Aircraft program;
• the non-registered person can demonstrate a work-based relationship with the company; and
• the non-registered person meets citizenship and residency requirements and other eligibility criteria specified above.

CANPASS - Corporate Aircraft program members enjoy the following benefits. They may:

1. land at any airport of entry (AOE) in Canada;
2. land at an AOE any time the runways are open for landings, regardless of the hours of service of the local CBSA office;
3. land at any CANPASS-only airport. These are unique AOEs, that can only be used by persons enrolled in the CANPASS aircraft programs; and
4. proceed to their destination if no officer is waiting to meet the aircraft at the reported time of arrival without making a second phone call after landing.

The pilot is responsible for contacting the CBSA and presenting people and goods on board the aircraft by calling 1-888-CANPASS (1-888-226-7277) at least two hours, but not more than 48 hours, prior to arrival in Canada, giving an estimated time of arrival, aircraft registration number, and all pertinent information about passengers on board the plane and goods being imported. If there are any changes to that information, the pilot must contact the CBSA with the revised information before the aircraft arrives in Canada.

Program members remain responsible for complying with customs and immigration legislation. They must obey import restrictions and cannot import:

• any promotional materials, including samples, commercial goods, or equipment;
• controlled, restricted or prohibited animals or plants; or
• prohibited goods, such as prohibited firearms, and weapons.

All CANPASS program members are subject to random inspections to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the program as well as any other legislation administered or enforced by the CBSA.

If you need more information about the program, reporting procedures or airports of entry, please visit the CBSA Web site or call the Border Information Service at 1-800-461-9999.

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