Canada is preparing to end a long-running border programme that has allowed eligible travellers to enter the country through certain remote areas without reporting at a staffed border checkpoint.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has confirmed that the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) Programme will close on December 1, 2026, and will be replaced by a telephone reporting system.
The programme has traditionally allowed eligible Canadian and US citizens and permanent residents to cross into Canada through designated remote areas using an RABC permit.
However, the CBSA is no longer accepting applications for new RABC permits. Existing permits will remain valid until 11:59 p.m. on November 30, 2026, after which travellers will have to comply with the new reporting arrangements.
What will change for travellers?
From December 1, travellers entering Canada through the areas previously covered by the RABC programme will be required to report to the CBSA either in person at a port of entry or through a designated telephone reporting site.
The affected areas include the Northwest Angle Area, Pigeon River through to and including Lake of the Woods, the Canadian shore of Lake Superior, the upper lock system at Sault Ste. Marie, and Cockburn Island.
The CBSA said the new system is intended to provide a consistent reporting process for people entering Canada through remote locations and bring the country’s procedures more closely in line with arrangements used by US Customs and Border Protection.
The agency is expected to establish telephone reporting locations in consultation with Indigenous communities, local businesses and law enforcement agencies.
Thousands of travellers affected
The Canadian government estimates that the RABC programme has historically had approximately 11,000 members each year, with around 90 per cent being American.
The change will therefore primarily affect travellers who use remote sections of the Canada-US border, particularly those visiting wilderness areas, travelling by boat or accessing properties in isolated border communities.
Travellers who fail to report as required could face enforcement action under Canada’s Customs Act, including monetary penalties, seizure of goods or vehicles and possible criminal charges.
The CBSA said the transition is intended to give travellers and affected communities time to adjust before the RABC system officially ends.
Those planning to use remote crossings should therefore check the latest CBSA guidance before travelling, particularly as the locations of designated telephone reporting sites are being finalised.
