Automated Border Clearance

An alternative way to enter Canada

The new Automated Border Clearance kiosks are a secure and innovative service designed to accelerate passenger screening and border processing. Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada who have a valid Canadian passport or permanent resident card now have the option of using an Automated Border Clearance kiosk upon returning to Canada.

It is important to note that in all cases, eligible travellers who choose to use these kiosks must continue to have their travel documents verified by a border services officer.

About Automated Border Clearance

Automated Border Clearance self-serve kiosks are available at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) and Toronto International Airport (YYZ).

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada and have a valid Canadian passport or permanent resident card, you now have the option of using an Automated Border Clearance kiosk to clear the border upon returning to Canada.

One person can make a declaration for up to four people using one kiosk, provided they all live at the same address. Travellers follow the easy steps on the screen and then proceed to a designated border services officer who will quickly verify their documents and direct them on their way.

Travellers should have all of the necessary documents on hand when they approach the kiosk, which include the completed Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Declaration Card, their Canadian passport or permanent resident card and all receipts for purchases made abroad.

Benefits

Automated Border Clearance kiosks provide a safe, secure and faster option for eligible travellers returning to Canada at Vancouver International Airport, Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport or Toronto Pearson International Airport by moving travellers away from the regular line-ups to the kiosk lines.

The self-serve kiosks are quick and easy to use, and they involve no registration process or fee.

One person can make a declaration for up to four people using one kiosk, provided they all live at the same address.

How it Works

In order to use the Automated Border Clearance kiosk, just follow these steps:

1. Fill out the Declaration Card distributed on the aircraft (See example here).
2. Use one of the Automated Border Clearance kiosks located in the Canadian inspection services area and follow the instructions on the screen.
3. Proceed to the designated border services officer for a verification of your travel documents.

Required documents

Before using an Automated Border Clearance kiosk, have the following items readily available:

• your completed Declaration Card;
• your valid Canadian passport or permanent resident card; and
• your receipts for purchases made abroad.

Useful Information

Difference between Automated Border Clearance and NEXUS

Automated Border Clearance kiosks are a new, secure and innovative service designed to accelerate passenger screening and border processing for Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada. Travellers must have a valid Canadian passport or permanent resident card to clear the border upon returning to Canada at Vancouver International Airport, Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport or Toronto Pearson International Airport.

The self-serve kiosks are quick and easy to use, and they involve no registration process or fee.

NEXUS is a partnership program between the CBSA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. NEXUS is designed to expedite the border clearance process for low-risk, pre-approved travellers into Canada and the United States in the air, land and marine modes of transportation.

There is a non-refundable processing fee of CAN$50 or US$50 per applicant for a five-year membership card.

For more information about NEXUS, please visit http://www.nexus.gc.ca.

Privacy Act

The CBSA takes the protection of personal privacy very seriously. As required by the Privacy Act, any personal information obtained during the Automated Border Clearance process is stored in a government database for CBSA purposes only; third parties do not have access to any personal information

Automated Border Clearance kiosks have robust security features that read the information from the machine-readable zone of Canadian passports and permanent resident cards and pass this information to the CBSA. The CBSA can then assess the risk level of travellers and identify any lost, stolen or fraudulent documents.