RC 4075 - CANPASS Private Aircraft

RC4075 (E) Rev. 06

The CANPASS - Private Aircraft program is a result of the Canada United States Accord on Our Shared Border. The Accord sets out initiatives to promote trade, tourism and travel between the two countries.

If you operate an aircraft and often fly into Canada directly from the United States, the CANPASS - Private Aircraft program may be for you. It allows you to access more airports and provides expedited clearances. This program streamlines border clearance for low risk travellers.

What are the benefits of the CANPASS - Private Aircraft program?

CANPASS - Private Aircraft program authorization holders can land at an airport of entry any time that the runways are open for landings, regardless of the hours of business of the local Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office. In addition, authorized persons may choose to use one of the designated CANPASS only airports. A list of these airports is available on the CBSA Web site at www.cbsa.gc.ca.

Who qualifies for a CANPASS authorization?

You may qualify to participate in the program, if you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada or the United States who has resided in either country, or a combination of both countries, for the last three consecutive years. However, you will not qualify for a CANPASS membership, if you:

• provide false or incomplete information on your application;
• have been convicted of a criminal offence in any country for
  which a pardon has not been granted;
• have had a customs seizure within the past five years;
• have been found in violation of customs or immigration legislation;
• have not resided in Canada or the United States for the past three years; or
• are inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

How to apply for a CANPASS authorization?

Your participation in this program is strictly voluntary. Each person who wants to participate in the CANPASS - Private Aircraft program is required to fill out and sign an application form. Parents or legal guardians are required to complete the application on behalf of children under 18 years of age. If you choose to complete the application, Form E672, CANPASS Application Form, we will use the information you provide to determine your eligibility. If you are accepted into the program, your membership will be valid for five years.

Complete and sign the application form, and send it with the non-refundable processing fee of CAN $40 per applicant 18 years of age or older, to one of the following offices:

Western Canada
Customs Processing Centre
28 176th Street
Surrey BC V3S 9R9
Telephone: 604-535 9346

Ontario
Customs Processing Centre
P.O. Box 126
Niagara Falls ON L2E 6T1
Telephone: 905-371-1477 or toll free 1-800-842-7647

Quebec and Atlantic Canada
Customs Processing Centre
400 Place d’Youville
Montréal QC H2Y 2C2
Telephone: 514-350-6137

• You can pay the processing fee of CAN $40 for each applicant 18 years of age or older, using VISA, MasterCard or AMEX. You can also attach a cheque or money order in Canadian funds payable to the Receiver General for Canada.
• All processing fees are non refundable.
• Do not send cash.

If you are accepted, you will receive a CANPASS Private Aircraft program authorization.

How do CANPASS members present themselves and report goods?

The pilot is the person in charge of the aircraft. CANPASS members must present themselves and report goods through the pilot. Pilots are responsible for presenting themselves, their crew and passengers by:

• calling 1-888-CANPASS (226-7277) at least two hours, but not more than 48 hours, before arrival in Canada;
• giving the estimated time of arrival (ETA);
• giving the aircraft tail number/aircraft registration mark;
• providing the full name, date of birth and citizenship of all persons on board the aircraft;
• giving the destination, purpose of trip and length of stay in Canada of each passenger who is a non-resident of Canada;
• giving the length of absence of each passenger who is a returning resident of Canada.
• giving the passport and visa information of passengers, including members of the crew, if applicable;
• making sure all passengers have photo identification and proof of citizenship/residency documents;
• declaring all goods being imported, including firearms and weapons;
• reporting all currency and monetary instruments of a value equal to or greater than CAN$10,000;
• for returning residents of Canada, declaring repairs or modifications made to goods, the aircraft, while outside Canada; and
• giving true and complete information.

As proof of presentation, the border services officer will give the pilot a report number for his/her records. The aircraft must land at the airport of entry reported to the CBSA. If a border services officer is not waiting to meet the aircraft when it arrives at the reported ETA or actual time of arrival (whichever is later), the pilot may then proceed to the final destination. No second call is required at this time.

Calling 1-888-CANPASS arranges border clearance only. It does not replace the requirements to file a flight plan with NAVCAN.

An aircraft transporting persons, who are not CANPASS members into Canada must arrive during regular CBSA office hours at a designated airport of entry. See the publication Coming to Canada by Small Aircraft or Recreational Boat

If the flight originates outside the United States and the 1-888 service is not available, the pilot must call one of the following TRCs. Long distance charges will apply.

• Lansdowne: 613-659-4576, if the airport of arrival is in Northern or Eastern Ontario
• Hamilton: 905-679-2073, if the airport of arrival is in Central Ontario, Quebec or the Atlantic provinces
• Windsor: 519-967-4320, if the airport of arrival is in Southern Ontario
• Victoria: 250-363-0222, if the airport of arrival is in Central or Western Canada

What are your responsibilities?

As a CANPASS - Private Aircraft program member, whether you are the person in charge of the aircraft, a member of the crew or a passenger, you must:

• show your CANPASS authorization, personal identification (original documents) and any required immigration documents to a border services officer on request;
• not transfer your CANPASS privileges, identification or documents; and
• follow all the rules and requirements listed in this brochure and in the CANPASS - Private Aircraft Participant’s Guide and all terms and conditions set out on your CANPASS authorization.

What are the import restrictions?

All travellers can import goods for their own personal use. United States residents must return all goods to the United States, unless they are consumed while in Canada. However, even if you are a CANPASS member, the following import restrictions apply:

• You cannot import any promotional materials, including samples, commercial goods or equipment, using your CANPASS - Private Aircraft program privileges. To import these goods, you must follow non-CANPASS general aviation flight procedures and arrive during regular CBSA office hours at an airport designated as an airport of entry. For more information see the publication Coming to Canada by Small Aircraft or Recreational Boat.
• You cannot import controlled, restricted or prohibited animals, plants or goods as described in the publications I Declare, for Canadian residents, or Information for Visitors to Canada and Seasonal Residents, for United States residents. These publications are available on our Web site at www.cbsa.gc.ca.
• You cannot import prohibited goods into Canada. These include prohibited firearms and prohibited weapons such as Mace, pepper spray and stun guns. For information about prohibited goods, see the publications I Declare and Information for Visitors to Canada and Seasonal Residents. If you plan to import firearms or weapons for hunting or a competition, for example, read and follow the procedure in the CBSA publication Importing a Firearm or Weapon Into Canada.
• There are restrictions on importing alcohol and tobacco products into Canada. For more information, see the publications I Declare or Information for Visitors to Canada and Seasonal Residents.
• Controlled, restricted or prohibited goods will be seized by the CBSA and you may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Are there penalties?

Even if we determine that you are a low- risk traveller and we grant you CANPASS - Private Aircraft authorization, you continue to be subject to random examinations to ensure that you comply with the terms and conditions of the CANPASS program, as well as any other legislation administered or enforced by the CBSA.

We can revoke or suspend your membership, if you fail to comply with requirements and procedures of the CANPASS - Private Aircraft program. This includes non-compliance with customs and immigration legislation or any other laws the CBSA administers.

Depending on the severity of the violation, the CBSA can impose penalties and seize any goods and aircraft used to carry the goods. As well, you may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Need more information?

Visit our Web site at www.cbsa.gc.ca or call the Border Information Service (BIS) at 1-800-461-9999.