Canadians driving into the United States will be asked to pre-submit photos and licence plate numbers to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) starting in 2026, according to a federal report.
The upcoming requirements will fall under the agency’s Traveller Modernization initiative, a program aimed at expediting border processing by using digital tools.
As part of the program, Canadians will need to “provide their biographic, biometric declaration, and other border-related information prior to arriving at the port of entry,” says the government report, which was first covered by Blacklock’s Reporter.
“Travellers will use a redesigned advance declaration mobile application to submit their digital photo, advance declaration, and licence plate information in advance of arrival.”
Border officers will be provided with smartphones to access and process the digital referrals, the report said.
A comparable electronic filing system will be rolled out for marine passengers in 2027 and to air passengers in 2028, said the report.
The Traveller Modernization plan is separate from the agency’s now-optional $59.5 million ArriveCan program. ArriveCan, a mobile app launched by the government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, required travellers entering Canada to electronically submit travel documents, health assessments, and customs declarations.
The app was later used for travellers to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination, sparking concerns from some over privacy rights.
The ArriveCan program was also criticized for the high costs of developing the app and for its failure to follow standard procurement procedures.
A report from Auditor General Karen Hogan found that federal agencies involved in the contracting, development, and implementation of ArriveCan showed a “glaring disregard for basic management and contracting practices” and that Canadians “paid too much” for the application.
The CBSA has described the new program as a way to deal with security threats, economic and migratory trends, and increasing numbers of travellers. The Traveller Modernization report did not say how much the new plan would cost.
The border service facelift is touted as a way of cutting processing times and making the process less cumbersome overall.
The CBSA said it has taken “careful steps to research and plan our actions” to alleviate travellers’ privacy and security concerns.
“When you provide your information as you enter Canada, we make sure to protect and secure it,” the agency said. “We do not keep it for any longer than we need to.”
Already in Place
Collection of travellers’ information isn’t new. The government in 2019 approved a legislative framework to allow the CBSA to systematically collect exit information on all travellers leaving Canada, including Canadian citizens.The Exit Information Regulations enabled the CBSA to compile complete travel history records on all travellers leaving Canada by air and land.
“By collecting the information from reliable partners, rather than requiring travellers to report to the CBSA when leaving Canada, the process will be seamless for travellers,” the government said in a Regulatory Impact Analysis Statement at the time.
At land borders, the CBSA receives information from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency shortly after a traveller enters the United States, the analysis said. The record of entry from the United States serves as a record of exit from Canada.
For those leaving Canada by air, including passengers and crew, the CBSA receives exit information from the commercial air carriers.
The CBSA already has various digital tools at the border that it says speeds up the travel process, including the use of facial recognition to help confirm travellers’ identity. Travellers flying into one of some 10 international airports across Canada can fill out customs and immigration declaration forms in the ArriveCan app ahead of time to access express lanes. They can also use a digital kiosk or an eGate available at those airports to verify their identity.
