Us Customs Preclearance: Canadian Airports Offering This Service

The United States has been conducting air preclearance in Canada since 1952, allowing U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers to inspect travellers before boarding U.S.-bound flights. This process is intended to streamline border procedures, reduce congestion at American ports of entry, and facilitate travel into airports that otherwise lack immigration and customs processing facilities for commercial flights. Preclearance operations are in place at eight Canadian airports, including Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto (Pearson), Vancouver, and Winnipeg.

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Airports with US preclearance

Preclearance is an arrangement between two countries that allows customs and immigration officials from the country of destination to be located in the country of origin. This allows them to clear or deny the admission of travellers or goods to the destination country. The United States has been conducting air preclearance in Canada since 1952.

Preclearance facilities were first introduced in 1952 at Toronto Pearson International Airport and Calgary International Airport. Preclearance operations are now in place at eight Canadian airports: Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto (Pearson), Vancouver, and Winnipeg. Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is the first new preclearance location in Canada since 2006.

In airports with preclearance, passengers must pass airport security inspection before proceeding to the preclearance area. Security checks are conducted by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) and are regulated by both CATSA and U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) standards.

Precleared passengers arrive in the United States as domestic travellers, but they may still be subject to re-inspection at the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers' discretion. Preclearance allows CBP officers to inspect travellers before they board flights to the United States, preventing potential threats from entering the country.

Benefits of preclearance

Preclearance has been in operation since 1952 and has proven beneficial to all major stakeholders in the air travel industry.

Streamlining Border Procedures

Preclearance facilities streamline border procedures for flights entering the United States, reducing congestion at American ports of entry. This is achieved by allowing passengers to clear US customs and immigration before boarding their flight. This process also facilitates travel into smaller US airports that may not be equipped to handle international travelers.

Cost Savings

Preclearance provides cost savings for travelers by allowing access to less expensive US domestic gates and more flexible arrival times at US airports. This also increases market access, enabling new direct routes to over 160 US airports that may not have a CBP port of entry.

Enhanced Security

Preclearance enhances security by intercepting potential threats before they reach US borders. This is achieved through pre-inspections, which are conducted by CBP and CBSA officers at select locations, ensuring that immigration admissibility is checked before departure.

Improved Travel Experience

Preclearance improves the overall travel experience for passengers by reducing waiting times and streamlining procedures. The Mobile Passport Control program, for instance, allows travelers to submit their passport and travel information through a mobile application, expediting the process and making it more efficient.

Preclearance has been a long-standing arrangement between the United States and Canada, with the most recent agreement, the LRMA and Preclearance Act of 2016, entering into force in August 2019. This agreement continues to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and provides significant benefits to travelers and the aviation industry.

History of preclearance in Canada

Preclearance refers to an arrangement between two countries that allows customs and immigration officials from the country of destination to be located in the country of origin to clear or deny the admission of travellers or goods to the destination country. The United States has been conducting air preclearance in Canada since 1952 under various arrangements.

The practice of pre-screening US-bound passengers in foreign countries began in 1894 when American immigration inspectors were deployed to seaports across Canada. Modern preclearance facilities were first introduced in 1952 at Toronto Pearson International Airport and Calgary International Airport under an informal arrangement with the Government of Canada.

From 2002 until August 2019, the legal basis for these operations was provided by a treaty called the Air Transport Preclearance Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States (Air agreement) and the Preclearance Act of 1999. This agreement provided for air preclearance of travellers but did not include other modes of transport or cargo operations.

In March 2015, Canada and the United States signed a new treaty entitled the Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine and Air Transport Preclearance. In March 2016, both countries announced their intention to support the legislation necessary to bring that Agreement into force. The Agreement came into force on August 15, 2019, opening the door to enhanced travel and trade.

As of March 2025, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website lists fifteen locations that have pre-clearance into the United States, including eight major Canadian international airports and one seaport. Several other seaports and one rail station in British Columbia have "pre-inspection" facilities for screening immigration admissibility only.

The preclearance process

The preclearance program is an arrangement between two countries that allows customs and immigration officials from the destination country to be located in the country of origin. This enables them to clear or deny the admission of travellers or goods to the destination country. The United States has been conducting preclearance at Canadian airports since 1952, with the process proving beneficial to all major stakeholders in the air travel industry.

Preclearance allows travellers to skip Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspection lines upon arrival in the US. They can then proceed directly to their connecting flight or final destination. This also makes it easier to accept tighter connection windows at US airports and reduces the likelihood of missing a domestic connection. In addition, travellers can access less expensive US domestic gates and more flexible arrival times at US airports. Preclearance also enables new direct routes to over 160 US airports, regardless of whether they have a CBP port of entry.

In airports with preclearance, passengers must first pass airport security inspection before proceeding to the preclearance area. Security checks are conducted by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) according to both CATSA and TSA regulations. Preclearance signage is posted when entering a preclearance area to notify travellers of their obligations, their right to withdraw, and that biometric information may be collected. Travellers must truthfully answer any question asked by a US Preclearance Officer, unless they choose to withdraw their application for admission. Travellers could be asked about their religion or other personal topics, such as whether they have ever smoked marijuana. Under the Act, failure to answer may result in charges and imprisonment of up to two years.

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is installing its Mobile Passport Control program across Canada's Preclearance airports. This program allows travellers to submit their passport and travel information through a mobile application. This information can be stored on a traveller's device for easy access during future travel, expediting the travel process and resulting in a faster and more efficient experience.

Preclearance at Toronto Pearson Airport

The process allows travellers to clear U.S. customs and immigration before boarding their flight, bypassing Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) inspections upon arrival in the U.S. This is particularly beneficial for travellers with tight connection windows at U.S. airports, reducing the likelihood of missing a domestic connection.

To take advantage of preclearance, passengers must first pass airport security inspection by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA), which adheres to both CATSA and TSA regulations. Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 passengers at Toronto Pearson Airport can undergo CATSA security screening from 3:00 am before proceeding to the USCBP hall for processing, which takes place from 3:30 am until 9:00 pm.

To expedite the travel process, travellers can utilise the U.S. CBP Mobile Passport Control app, available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. This allows passengers to submit their passport and travel information digitally before their trip, making departure smoother. NEXUS cardholders and passengers with mobility issues may also use a dedicated line at U.S. customs by presenting their documentation.

Preclearance measures are governed by the Preclearance Act of 2016, which outlines travellers' rights and enables feedback to be provided to Canadian senior officials regarding specific situations that may arise during preclearance.

Frequently asked questions