The Canadian government has announced it will discontinue a long-standing border entry initiative that simplified travel for thousands of people, predominantly American citizens, into remote parts of Ontario and Manitoba. The Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) program is set to end in September 2026.
What Was the Remote Area Border Crossing Program?
For years, the Remote Area Border Crossing program offered a streamlined process for pre-approved travelers. Administered by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the program issued annual permits to both Canadian and U.S. residents. These permits allowed holders to cross into specific, sparsely populated border zones without the need to report to a physical customs checkpoint upon every entry.
The program was historically popular, attracting approximately 11,000 members annually. According to CBSA data, a significant 90 percent of these permit holders were American citizens. The user base largely consisted of outdoor enthusiasts and property owners, including paddlers, fishing guides, their clients, and U.S. residents who own vacation properties in the affected Canadian regions.
Affected Regions and New Requirements
The RABC program covered five specific remote areas. In Ontario, these included:
- Cockburn Island.
- The Sault Ste. Marie’s upper lock system bordering Michigan.
- Waterways stretching from Pigeon River to the Lake of the Woods.
- The entire Canadian shoreline of Lake Superior.
In Manitoba, the program covered the area bordering Minnesota’s Northwest Angle, a unique U.S. enclave accessible only by water or by driving through roughly 40 miles of Canadian territory.
Starting in September 2026, travelers who previously relied on the RABC permit will face new procedures. They will be required to either travel to an established border station or use a designated telephone reporting site to contact the CBSA upon entry into Canada.
Rationale Behind the Change
The CBSA states that replacing the RABC with mandatory telephone or in-person reporting will enhance border security. The agency argues this shift aligns with processes already standard across most of Canada, where travelers must report to CBSA from designated sites during every entry.
"This process ensures a consistent level of security and expectations of compliance for everyone," the CBSA explained in a press release. The move builds upon existing telephone reporting systems like CANPASS, which was introduced around the turn of the century for general aviation and private boats, and expanded in 2022 to include other non-commercial travel methods.
At a designated telephone reporting site, only the vehicle operator may exit to make the report. They can use an on-site phone or their own mobile device to call the CBSA Telephone Reporting Centre. The traveler must then provide standard information for all passengers, including identification, purpose of travel, length of stay, and any required declarations of goods.
The termination of the Remote Area Border Crossing program marks a significant shift in cross-border travel management for Canada's remote northern regions, prioritizing standardized security protocols over the convenience of pre-approved, hassle-free entry.
