Pitt Meadows Regional Airport

The CANPASS program is one of the results of the Canada - United States of America Accord on Our Shared Border. The Accord sets out initiatives to promote trade, tourism, and travel between the two countries.

Revenue Canada and Citizenship and Immigration Canada are co-operating in the program to streamline customs and immigration clearance for low risk travellers.

Travellers on a Canadian or U.S. registered private, company-owned, or small charter aircraft carry no more than 15 passengers have to use a telephone reporting system to get permission from a customs or immigration officer to enter Canada. However, there are different benefits for CANPASS permit holders and trravellers without CANPASS permits.

As a CANPASS permit holder, you will:

1. Call 1-888-CANPASS to report by telephone at least one hour, but no more than 72 hours before flying into Canada

Note: CANPASS permit holders have access to this central reporting system twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and may land at an approved airport at any time it is open.

Note: Most municipally owned airports and some privately owned airports open to the public may qualify for the program, if they are located within 100km of a customs office.

2. Inform a customs officer of your intended arrival time and destination in Canada. For all persons on board, provide his or her CANPASS - Private Aircraft permit number, full name, birthdate, citizenship, and purpose and length of stay in Canada for travellers who are not returning residents.

Note: Should your estimated time of arrival change, you must contact Revenue Canada at 1-888-CANPASS.

3. Make sure that all travellers on board declare all personal goods they are importing, including firearms and weapons. If duties and taxes are payable, the customs officer will require their VISA or MasterCard numbers and expiry dates.

4. As proof of reporting, the customs officer will give you a report number for your records. You may proceed to your destination when you arrive in Canada unless a customs or immigration officer is there to conduct an examination.

Note: Canada Customs will carry out checks to ensure compliance with the law.

If you don't have a CANPASS permit, you must:

1. Call 1-888-CANPASS to report by telephone at least one hour, but no more than 72 hours before flying into Canada, giving your intended arrival time;

2. You must arrive during usual customs office hours at an airport which is a designated port of entry.

3. Provide the following information; full name, birthdate, and citizenship for each person on board; purpose and length of stay in Canada, if travellers are not returning resident; and passport and visa details, if applicable.

4. Declare all personal goods being imported, including firearms and weapons. If duties and taxes are payable, provide customs with your VISA or MasterCard number and expiry date.

5. When you arrive, call 1-888-CANPASS a second time to inform an officer of your arrival. The customs officer will advise you whether you are free to leave the customs area and continue into Canada, or must wait for customs or immigration officers to complete documents for an inspection.

6. At the conclusion of the customes process, you will receive a report number for your records, as proof of your reporting.

Note: Canada Customs will carry out checks to ensure compliance with the law

How To Apply For Canpass

Complete an application form (available at the Pitt Meadows Airport Manager's office or at the addresses below), and send it and the annual fee of CAN$25 to one of the following offices:

Western Canada

CANPASS Processing Centre
28 - 176th Street
Surrey, BC V4P 1M7
Tel: (604) 535-9346

Ontario

CANPASS Processing Centre
P.O. Box 126
Niagara Falls, ON L2E 6T1
Tel: (905) 371-1477

Quebec and Atlantic Canada

CANPASS Processing Centre
400 d'Youville Square
Montréal, QC H2Y 2C2
Tel: (514) 283-9900

- You can pay the CAN$25 processing fee using VISA or MasterCard, as indicated on the application, or you can attach a cheque from a Canadian funds payable to the Receiver General for Canada.

- All fees are non-refundable.

- Canadian and U.S. citizens have to provide proof of citizenship (i.e., a photocopy of a birth certificate, citizenship certificate, or passport).

- Canadian permanent residents or U.S. resident aliens have to provide proof of legal residence in either country (i.e., a photocopy of a landing card, a valid pemanent resident card, or a valid resident alien card).

Note: Send photocopies only. CANPASS does not require original documents, and will not return the copies you send.

Additional Costs

If you or any or the people listed on your application need additional documentation, such as a student or employment authorization, send CAN$125 for each document along with the application.

- The fee is non-refundable

- Your CANPASS - Private Aircraft application will not be processed until all necessary documentation is received.

Revenue Canada and Citizenship and Immigration Canada will interview selected applicants to verify information on the application form. If an applicant's identity cannot be confirmed, further security processing, such as fingerprinting, may be necessary.

If accepted, you will receive a letter of authority and your CANPASS - Private Aircraft permit.

Note: If you want to participate in any similar programs for entering the U.S., you have to apply separately to U.S. Customs and Immigration.