Canada has extended the validity of active permits under the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) Program until November 30, 2026.
The RABC Program allows eligible travellers to enter Canada through certain remote border areas without stopping at a regular port of entry.
The permits were originally set to remain valid until September 13, 2026, with the program scheduled to close the following day.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has now extended the validity period. The RABC Program will officially close on December 1, 2026.
New Reporting Options After Program Closure
Once the RABC Program closes, people entering Canada through the affected remote border areas will have to report their entry to the CBSA.
The agency will introduce telephone reporting sites in the following areas:
- 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.
Starting December 1, travellers entering Canada through these areas will need to report their arrival either through a telephone reporting site or at a CBSA port of entry.
Travellers using the telephone option will need to provide identifying information, share details about their trip, and answer questions from CBSA officers. Some travellers may also be required to complete an in-person check.
The locations of the new telephone reporting sites will be decided in the coming months. The CBSA plans to consult Indigenous communities, local businesses, and law enforcement partners before finalizing the locations.
People who fail to report their entry could face enforcement action. Possible measures include monetary penalties, seizure of goods or vehicles, and criminal charges under the Customs Act.
Most RABC Travellers Are American
The changes are expected to mainly affect American travellers.
The CBSA says U.S. citizens and permanent residents make up about 90% of the roughly 11,000 people who use the RABC Program each year.
The latest extension is the third extension granted by the CBSA. However, permits that have already expired cannot be extended.
The agency is also no longer accepting new applications for RABC permits because the program is scheduled to close.
About The RABC Program
The Remote Area Border Crossing Program was introduced in 1990.
It is a permit system that allows approved travellers to enter Canada through certain remote areas without physically reporting at a regular port of entry.
Only citizens or permanent residents of Canada and the United States, as well as registered Indians, can take part in the program.
U.S. citizens and permanent residents must still meet the visitor requirements under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Moreover, RABC permit holders are expected to remain within the designated remote areas. They must also show their permit if stopped by a CBSA officer for verification.
Travellers must declare the goods they are bringing into Canada.
With the RABC Program set to close on December 1, travellers who use these remote crossings will need to follow the new reporting rules. The planned telephone reporting sites will provide another way for eligible travellers to report their arrival after the program ends.
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