Canada extends validity period for remote border crossing permits
Canada has extended the validity period for holders of active permits issued under the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) Program until November 30, 2026.
The RABC Program, which lets eligible individuals bypass a port of entry when crossing into Canada through select remote border areas, will now close on December 1.
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RABC permits were initially scheduled to remain valid until September 13, 2026, with the program to be terminated the following day.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) will be introducing designated telephone reporting sites in the following areas formerly covered by the RABC Program:
- Northwest Angle Area.
- Canadian shore of Lake Superior.
- Sault Ste. Marie (upper lock system).
- Cockburn Island.
- Pigeon River through to and including Lake of the Woods.
Effective December 1, persons entering Canada through these remote border areas will be required to report their entry to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), either through a telephone reporting site or at a CBSA port of entry.
The CBSA communicated this update via a news release on August 10, 2026.
Travellers using the telephone reporting option must provide identifying information, outline their travel details, and answer questions from the CBSA—with in-person screening required in some cases.
The placement of the new telephone reporting sites will be decided in the coming months with input from Indigenous communities, local businesses and law enforcement partners, the CBSA says.
Individuals who fail to report to the CBSA may face enforcement measures ranging from monetary penalties and the seizure of goods or vehicles to potential criminal charges under the Customs Act.
The changes will predominantly affect American travellers, who make up about 90% of the approximately 11,000 annual RABC members, according to the CBSA.
The latest extension is the third granted by the CBSA; those with expired permits are not eligible for an extension.
About the RABC Program
The RABC Program, introduced in 1990, is a permit system operated by the CBSA that allows pre-approved travellers to enter Canada in the above-mentioned remote areas without physically presenting themselves at a port of entry.
Only citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. and Canada, as well as registered Indians, are eligible to participate in the RABC Program.
U.S. citizens or permanent residents are required to meet visitor requirements as outlined in the Immigration and Refugees Protection Act.
Permit holders are expected to keep to designated remote areas, present their permit to CBSA officers for in the case of a verification stop, and declare the goods they are bringing into Canada.
With the imminent closure of the program, the CBSA is no longer accepting new permit applications.
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