If your company owns or operates a corporate aircraft that frequently flies directly to Canada from the United States, the CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft program may be for you. This program allows you to access more airports and provides expedited clearances for low-risk, pre-screened travellers. Corporate aircraft carrying no more than 15 pre-approved, low-risk passengers (including the crew) can report to the CBSA by telephone before arriving in Canada.
If your company is a CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft member, your corporate aircraft can have the following privileges:
To be eligible for CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft, you and the employees of your corporation must meet these criteria:
Note: Although CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft membership cannot be applied to chartered flights, the program does apply to members of corporations who use a rented or leased aircraft instead of owning one.
Family businesses can also apply to the CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft program as long as the business is incorporated.
Non-members may apply for temporary authorization if they can demonstrate a work-based relationship with your corporation and are able to meet the same citizenship and residency criteria as program members.
Corporate aircraft that meet the requirements of the CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft program can land at any airport of entry any time the site is open, regardless of the hours of operation of the local CBSA office. The aircraft can also land at a designated CANPASS-only airport.
The pilot is in charge of the aircraft and he or she must report all passengers and their goods on behalf of the aircraft. Pilots are responsible for reporting themselves, their crew and passengers to a telephone reporting centre (TRC) by calling 1-888-CANPASS (1-888-226-7277) at least 2 hours before but no more than 48 hours prior to the aircraft's estimated time of arrival in Canada.
The TRC allows individuals who enter Canada by private aircraft, corporate aircraft or private boat to report their arrival and make their declarations to the CBSA by telephone.
The 1-888-CANPASS (1-888-226-7277) toll-free line is only available in Canada and the United States. If a flight originates outside Canada or the United States, the 1-888 number is not available and the pilot must call the TRC directly (long-distance charges may apply).
TRC for All of Canada
Hamilton, ON
Telephone: 905-679-2073
Fax: 905-679-6877
To have CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft privileges, the aircraft may not carry more than 15 people (including the crew). The pilot must ensure that all passengers have the appropriate travel documents for entering Canada. He or she must also call the TRC at least 2 hours before but no more than 48 hours prior to the aircraft's estimated time of arrival into Canada.
During that first telephone call to the TRC, the pilot must provide the following information to the CBSA:
Note: If the ETA changes by more than 30 minutes or if there are any changes to the point of arrival, the list of passengers or their declarations, the pilot must advise the TRC prior to arrival in Canada.
The pilot must ensure that all persons on board the aircraft are holding a valid CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft membership or have temporary authorization for their passage. If there are passengers aboard who are not CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft members or who are not temporarily authorized travellers, the aircraft must follow the procedure for Telephone Reporting – General Aviation Aircraft. See the publication called Coming to Canada by Small Aircraft or Recreational Boat for more information.
The pilot must remain at the point of arrival until the ETA reported to the TRC has elapsed. No second call to the TRC is required. If there is no officer waiting to meet the aircraft when it arrives at the reported ETA or actual time of arrival, whichever is later, the aircraft may proceed to the final destination and passengers may disembark.
In addition to the above, the person in charge of the conveyance is responsible for the following:
Note: Any contraventions of the legislation may result in detention, seizure or forfeiture of the conveyance and/or lead to criminal prosecution, monetary penalties and/or imprisonment.
If there are more than four non-members aboard, CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft membership privileges will not apply and the aircraft will have to follow the procedures for Telephone Reporting – General Aviation Aircraft.
All travellers aboard must declare any personal goods they are importing, including firearms and weapons, and report currency and/or monetary instruments totaling CAN$10,000 or more. For more information, see Cross Border Currency Reporting. If duties or taxes are payable, the border services officer at the TRC will ask for the traveller's mailing address and Visa or MasterCard number and expiry date.
Although the pilot is solely required to call the CBSA with the information on each person on board the aircraft, which includes the declarations of goods, each individual is ultimately responsible for complying with customs and immigration legislation.
Once an applicant has completed and signed the CANPASS application form, the CBSA is authorized to collect personal information such as name, date of birth, address, citizenship, proof of citizenship and residency information.
The information will be used for background security checks and is not shared with a third party. All information is stored in a secure central database, which in turn is protected by various methods, including firewalls. Access to client information by employees is also controlled and monitored.
All personal information provided is protected under the federal Privacy Act.
Participation in the CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft program is restricted to pre-approved travellers. Applicants undergo a detailed security clearance check before being enrolled. Every time CANPASS – Corporate Aircraft members enter Canada, their membership information is verified against customs and immigration databases to ensure their compliance with the program's regulations. Each member's eligibility is re-assessed annually.
The non-refundable processing fee is CAN$40 for each applicant 18 years old and older. The fee is waived for those under the age of 18. You can pay using Visa, MasterCard or American Express. You can also send a certified cheque or money order in Canadian funds payable to the Receiver General for Canada. Do not send cash.
The corporation will be charged $25 per individual each time a temporary authorization is issued. This fee applies regardless of the airport of entry or whether a border services officer is present when the aircraft arrives. Payment can be made as outlined above.
Your participation in this program is strictly voluntary. The information that you provide will be used to determine your eligibility. If you are accepted into the program, your membership will be valid for five years.
If you are under the age of 18, written consent from a parent or legal guardian is also required.
How to apply
Western Canada
28 176th Street
Surrey BC V3S 9R9
Telephone: 604-538-3689 or 1-866-496-3987 (toll-free)
Ontario
Canadian Processing Centre
6080 McLeod Road
PO Box 126
Niagara Falls ON L2G 7T4
Telephone: 905-371-1477 or 1-800-842-7647 (toll-free)
Quebec and Atlantic Canada
400 Place d'Youville
Montréal QC H2Y 2C2
Telephone: 514-350-6137
Applicants must provide acceptable proof of citizenship or permanent resident status in Canada or the United States. Please send photocopies of the documents with the completed application form. These photocopies will not be returned.
If you are a Canadian or U.S. citizen, please provide one of the following:
If you are a permanent resident of Canada or the United States, please provide one of the following: