ArriveCAN privacy notice

Terms and conditions of use and privacy statement: Advance Canada Border Services Agency Declaration

The Advance Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA ) Declaration service is intended to facilitate traveller entry to Canada through the voluntary provision of information to the CBSA in advance of arrival. The personal information you provide through the Advance CBSA Declaration is governed in accordance with the Privacy Act and the Customs Act.

Certain traveller information is required upon entry into Canada in order to fulfill requirements under the Customs Act, Reporting of Imported Goods Regulations, the Customs Tariff, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and/or the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act. This information may be provided electronically prior to entry to Canada on a voluntary basis. If it is not provided prior to entry, it must be provided when entering Canada as part of the normal cross-border travel process. It is entirely optional whether this information is provided electronically prior to entry, and there are no penalties if you choose not to provide this information until you enter Canada.

When you use this service, your personal information is encrypted and transmitted securely to, and retained by, the CBSA for a period of 72 hours. This allows the CBSA to retrieve your declaration when you arrive in Canada and validate your declaration at the airport kiosk or eGate.

When you scan your passport or Canadian permanent resident card at a primary inspection device (kiosk or eGate) upon entry to Canada, the CBSA retrieves the declaration that is associated with your travel document and stored during the 72 hour retention period. You may then review and edit the declaration on the primary inspection device. You are not considered to have made a final declaration until you certify and submit it at a primary inspection device.

Your information, including email address, will be used to communicate with you in order to confirm receipt as well as for program evaluation purposes.

If you do not arrive in Canada within the 72 hour timeframe, your stored Advance CBSA Declaration will automatically expire and will be deleted.

Upon entry to Canada: Primary Inspection Device

Use of a Primary Inspection Device (kiosk or eGate) upon entry to Canada is contingent on biometric (photo and/or fingerprint) verification of identity. Authority for biometric verification of enrolled foreign nationals and permanent residents of Canada is authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and all other associated regulations. All other persons, including Canadian citizens, who do not wish to have their photograph captured may opt for in-person processing by a Border Services Officer. By using the Primary Inspection Device, you are agreeing to the capture of your photo and/or fingerprint information, in order to verify your identity.

The information that you are providing at the Primary Inspection Device, which includes information transmitted from your Advance CBSA Declaration, is retained for seven years and is collected under the authority of Section 12 of the Customs Act, Subsection 5(3), Reporting of Imported Goods Regulations, the Customs Tariff, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and/or the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act for the purposes of administering laws that enforce, prohibit, control or regulate the movement of persons, goods or currency into Canada. This includes facilitating compliance with reporting obligations under this legislation and the collection of duties and taxes owing on goods imported into Canada and for the purposes of administration and/or enforcement of the Customs Act or Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and may also be used for the administration or enforcement of other legislation or regulations administered or enforced by the CBSA and will be retained in accordance with the Privacy Act.

This information may also be used in support of ongoing CBSA investigations or enforcement activities and may be disclosed in accordance with Section 107 of the Customs Act and/or Section 8 of the Privacy Act to:

• other government departments and agencies, police forces and other countries to administer laws that prohibit, control and regulate the importations of goods and movement of people
• other government departments, such as Statistics Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and Employment and Social Development Canada and for the purpose of statistical reporting, public health, and program integrity

Each traveller is responsible for their own declaration. Under the law, failure to properly declare goods and/or monetary instruments brought into Canada may result in seizure action, monetary penalties and/or criminal prosecution.

Individuals have the right of access to and/or can request corrections of their personal information under the Privacy Act. Information about Programs and Information Holdings can be found in the Traveller Declaration cards Personal Information Bank CBSA PPU 018. Should you have concerns about the CBSA's handling of your personal information you have a right to file a complaint with the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.