(CANADA) — The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced on December 19, 2025 that it will end Canada’s Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) Program on September 14, 2026, replacing the long-running permit system with mandatory telephone reporting for remote entries in northern Ontario and southern Manitoba.
The change extends the validity of existing RABC permits issued after September 1, 2023, until 11:59 p.m. on September 13, 2026, shifting an earlier expiration date that had been set for December 31, 2025.
CBSA also confirmed it is not accepting any new RABC applications, closing the door to new entrants while current permit holders move toward a new reporting system.
What is changing
Under the post-program requirements, travelers who would have relied on an RABC permit will have to report either:
- In person at a CBSA port of entry, or
- At a designated telephone reporting site
after September 13, 2026.
🔔 RABC ends Sept 14, 2026. Before any remote trip, map the exact CBSA port of entry or designated phone-reporting site you’ll use, and gather trip details, passengers, and goods for reporting.
CBSA said telephone reporting is intended to enhance “security, accountability, and consistency” by increasing oversight of entry times and locations and aligning with existing Canadian processes and U.S. Customs and Border Protection practices.
Key takeaway: The permit model ends and will be replaced by mandatory reporting tied to the act of entry (in person or by designated phone reporting).
Timeline and administrative review
- On September 25, 2024, CBSA paused new RABC applications and renewals for an administrative review.
- On February 18, 2025, CBSA tied permit extensions to a date change that extended permits to December 31, 2025 (per spokesperson Luke Reimer).
- On December 19, 2025, CBSA extended permits again to 11:59 p.m. on September 13, 2026, and announced the program will end on September 14, 2026.
- CBSA has stated it will not accept any new RABC applications before the end of the program.
This sequence created a finite transition period for current permit holders rather than an immediate cutoff.
Who used the RABC Program
The RABC was an annual authorization with a CAN $30 fee (waived for principal applicants under 18). It applied to pre-approved:
- Canadian and U.S. citizens, and
- Permanent residents
Permits covered the principal applicant and qualifying family members, creating a single authorization for groups entering together.
CBSA said the program was used by thousands annually, mostly Americans, reflecting remote cross-border tourism and recreational travel.
Typical locations covered by the permit
CBSA identified several remote areas where the RABC permit applied, including:
- Northwest Angle (Minnesota) — entry to southern Manitoba
- Crossings around Pigeon River to Lake of the Woods
- Points along the Canadian shore of Lake Superior
- Sault Ste. Marie upper lock system
- Cockburn Island
These are regions where waterways and wilderness routes can place travelers far from traditional staffed border posts — for example, areas tied to Quetico Provincial Park and waterways near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
Practical effects for travelers
The practical shift is from holding an annual permit that allowed border crossings without visiting a port of entry to a requirement to:
- Report in person at a CBSA port of entry, or
- Use a designated telephone reporting site at or after the time of entry
Consequences and planning considerations:
- Travelers must plan around access to CBSA ports or designated telephone reporting sites after September 13, 2026.
- Some travelers may change routes to reach a port of entry before beginning a remote trip.
- Others may rely on designated telephone reporting sites if those sites align with trip plans.
- The change formalizes practices many travelers have already been juggling since the application pause on September 25, 2024.
💡 TIP: Practice your reporting workflow ahead of time—know the reporting site hours, what information you must provide, and how to log entry times to avoid delays at the border.
CBSA has framed this shift as enhancing uniformity and oversight by tracking entry times and locations more consistently than a year-long permit allowed.
Continued requirements and documentation
- Travelers must still declare goods; that requirement remains unchanged regardless of reporting method.
- For Americans returning to the U.S. from these remote areas, CBSA noted that U.S. re-entry requires a valid passport, regardless of the Canadian reporting method used.
⚠️ There will be no new RABC applications; after Sept 13, 2026 you must report in person or by phone. Failing to report or mis-timing entry could lead to noncompliance and border delays.
Fee, eligibility and scope (summary)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Annual fee | CAN $30 (waived for principal applicants under 18) |
| Eligible applicants | Pre-approved Canadian & U.S. citizens and permanent residents |
| Coverage | Principal applicant + qualifying family members |
| Use | Mostly by U.S. travelers for recreational/backcountry travel |
How to get more information
CBSA directed travelers seeking information about current permit status or telephone reporting details to:
Final note
The coming end of the RABC Program sets a firm date for travelers and border communities that have long relied on the permit to manage entry in the backcountry. With the program scheduled to end on September 14, 2026, CBSA has set a deadline that will reshape how remote travelers begin trips through places like the Northwest Angle, Lake of the Woods, and the Canadian shore of Lake Superior.
Canada is phasing out the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permit by September 2026. The CBSA will replace the annual permit system with mandatory in-person or telephone reporting. This change impacts U.S. and Canadian citizens traveling through remote regions like Lake of the Woods. The goal is to modernize border security and ensure consistent tracking of all entries into Canadian territory.
