Advance Passenger Information/Passenger Name Record

Update Concerning Secondary Method of API/PNR Data Transmission

As of January 1, 2007, commercial carriers may no longer use e-mail or fax as a secondary or backup method of transmitting API/PNR data to the Canada Border Services Agency. The primary method of transferring data, a secure electronic system, will remain the same.

The CBSA will require commercial carriers to have in place a secondary method properly configured to send electronic API/PNR data. In the rare instance of an outage of the primary method of API/PNR data transmission, carriers will be equipped to send data in a way that complies with Canadian legislative requirements.

Commercial carriers must contact their CBSA account manager to provide their chosen secondary method of transmission bearing in mind the options outlined in the CBSA's Reference Guide for Commercial Carriers.

CBSA account managers can be reached by e-mail or by telephone at
1-866-427-4767 (toll-free within North America).

The CBSA's top priorities for API/PNR are:

• respecting the fundamental right to privacy;
• ensuring that the proper privacy safeguards are in place; and
• committing to the safety and security of Canadians.