Fact Sheet

September 2006

CANPASS - Private Aircraft

CANPASS - Private 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 privately owned aircrafts arriving from the United States. The program has been operating across Canada since 1996.

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 infraction;
• not have had a customs seizure within the past five years; and
• provide true and complete information.

CANPASS - Private Aircraft offers expedited border clearance for members, who can:

1. land at any airport of entry (AOE) in Canada;
2. arrive 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 designated CANPASS-only airport. These are unique AOEs, that can only be used by persons enrolled in the CANPASS aircraft programs; and
4. proceed to the 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 must obey the 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 will be 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.

For media information