August 21, 2019

New Canada-U.S. Preclearance Agreement comes into force

Canada and the U.S. announced that they have brought into force the "Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America."

The Agreement will facilitate opportunities for enhanced travel and trade. It enables Canada and the U.S. to expand preclearance for travellers at land, rail and marine facilities in both countries, as well as at additional airports. It also opens the door for the preclearance of commercial cargo.

The United States (U.S.) has been conducting air preclearance (i.e. at airports) in Canada since 1952.

The Agreement provides for preclearance operations to be conducted in all modes of transport (i.e. land, rail and marine as well as air) as well as for cargo operations. It permits either country to establish preclearance operations in the territory of the other country (i.e. Canada in the U.S. or the U.S. in Canada).

Preclearance in Canada and the United States