Canadians driving into the United States will be required 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 through the use of 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 digital referrals, the report said.
A comparable electronic filing system will be rolled out to marine passengers in 2027 and to air passengers in 2028, the report said.
The Traveller Modernization plan is not associated with the agency’s now-optional $59.5 million ArriveCan program, a mobile app launched by the government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic which 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.
ArriveCan was also criticized over its high costs to develop and 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 the app showed a “glaring disregard for basic management and contracting practices” and that Canadians “paid too much” for ArriveCan.
The Traveller Modernization report did not say how much the new plan would cost.
The report also didn’t indicate if the program will be mandatory or optional for travellers, but the CBSA has described it as a way to deal with security threats and economic and migratory trends as well as the ever-increasing numbers of travellers.
The border service facelift is touted as a way to cut processing times for travellers and make 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.”
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.
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.
At land borders, the CBSA receives information from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency (CBP) shortly after a traveller enters the United States. The U.S. entry record serves as a record of exit from Canada.
The CBSA has also proposed other programs to it says will speed up the travel process, including advance declaration forms that can be filled out ahead of time and digital kiosks and eGates for travellers to verify their identity.
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