Canada to End Remote Border Permits Sept. 14, 2026

Travelers using several remote Canada-U.S. crossings will face a new reporting requirement beginning September 14, 2026, when Canada closes its Remote Area Border Crossing, or RABC, permit program.

The Canada Border Services Agency announced the change on December 19, 2025. Existing RABC permits remain valid only until 11:59 p.m. on September 13, 2026, and new applications are no longer being accepted.

What is changing

RABC permits allowed eligible travelers to cross in certain isolated areas without reporting each time at a regular port of entry or designated telephone site. After the transition, all travelers entering Canada through the affected remote areas must report either in person at a port of entry or by telephone from a designated reporting site.

CBSA says the replacement system is intended to create consistent reporting requirements and more closely align with procedures used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection for remote-area crossings.

Where the change applies

The affected areas are:

the Northwest Angle area;
the Pigeon River corridor through and including Lake of the Woods;
the Canadian shore of Lake Superior;
the upper lock system at Sault Ste. Marie; and
Cockburn Island.

The change applies to the remote areas formerly covered by the RABC program in northern Ontario and from the Northwest Angle into southern Manitoba. It does not mean that every isolated crossing along the Canada-U.S. border will use the same process.

How telephone reporting will work

At a designated telephone reporting site, travelers must follow the instructions posted at the location and contact the CBSA Telephone Reporting Centre. The private-boater reporting number listed by CBSA is 1-888-226-7277.

For boaters, the operator must report the vessel, passengers and goods before anyone enters Canada. Only the operator may leave the boat to make the call. Passengers must remain aboard until CBSA authorizes entry. A telephone report does not guarantee clearance: CBSA may require additional information, verification or an examination.

Travelers should confirm the current reporting site and route-specific instructions before departure. CBSA said the new site locations would be developed in consultation with Indigenous communities, local businesses and law-enforcement partners, so travelers should check the agency’s current directory rather than assume that a familiar location will remain available.

Documents, declarations and penalties

Travelers should carry proof of identity and citizenship for every person in the group. CBSA recommends that U.S. citizens travel with a valid passport, although other documents may be accepted depending on the traveler and the mode of entry. U.S. permanent residents should carry the documents required for their status when entering Canada by land or water.

Passengers must declare goods being brought into Canada, including restricted or prohibited items. CBSA says failure to report can lead to enforcement action, including monetary penalties, seizure or forfeiture of goods or a vehicle, and possible criminal or immigration consequences. Its private-boater guidance lists a minimum fine of CAN$1,000 for failing to report upon entry; other consequences may also apply.

What travelers should do now

Use an existing RABC permit only through 11:59 p.m. on September 13, 2026.
Do not submit a new RABC application; applications are closed.
Verify whether the route is within the affected northern Ontario or Northwest Angle areas.
Confirm the designated telephone reporting site and its posted instructions before departure.
Carry a passport or other acceptable identity and citizenship documents.
Prepare passenger information and declare all goods.
Save 1-888-226-7277, but follow the instructions at the reporting site.
Do not disembark or proceed farther into Canada until CBSA grants clearance.

CBSA estimates that about 11,000 people historically used the RABC program each year, roughly 90% of them Americans. For anglers, hunters, paddlers, cottagers and other travelers using remote Great Lakes routes, the practical change is that a permit will no longer replace a report each time they enter Canada after the September 13 cutoff.

Sources

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