Key Takeaways
- The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is ending its Remote Area Border Crossing Program (RABC) on September 14, 2026.
- The program allowed travelers with an RABC permit to cross into Canada at remote areas along the U.S. border with minimal processing.
- The RABC program will be replaced with designated telephone reporting sites.
- Approximately 11,000 RABC members per year, mostly American, will be affected by the change.
- The new telephone reporting sites will be introduced in areas formerly covered by the RABC program, including the Northwest Angle Area and the Canadian shore of Lake Superior.
Introduction to the RABC Program
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has recently announced that it will be ending its Remote Area Border Crossing Program (RABC) on September 14, 2026. This program has been in place for decades and has allowed travelers with an RABC permit to cross into Canada at certain remote areas along the U.S. border with minimal processing. The RABC program was designed to facilitate travel between the two countries in areas where it would be impractical or impossible to have a physical border crossing. However, the CBSA has decided to replace the program with a new system that will require travelers to report to designated telephone reporting sites.
The New Telephone Reporting System
As of September 14, 2026, all travelers entering Canada through remote areas of northern Ontario or from the Northwest Angle into southern Manitoba will be required to report to the CBSA at a port of entry or a designated telephone reporting site. The CBSA will introduce these telephone reporting sites in areas formerly covered by the RABC program, including the Northwest Angle Area, Pigeon River through to and including Lake of the Woods, the Canadian shore of Lake Superior, Sault Ste. Marie (upper lock system), and Cockburn Island. The agency believes that this new system will provide a consistent level of security and expectations of compliance for all travelers entering Canada. The CBSA also notes that this measure more closely resembles how travelers from Canada report to U.S. Customs and Border Protection when entering from remote areas.
Impact on RABC Members
The RABC program has approximately 11,000 members per year, with roughly 90% of them being American. These members will be affected by the change and will need to adapt to the new telephone reporting system. However, the CBSA has announced that all existing RABC permits will remain valid until 11:59 p.m. on September 13, 2026, providing members with sufficient time to adjust to the new system. The agency will also be working with Indigenous communities, local businesses, and law enforcement partners to determine the location of the new telephone reporting sites in the coming months.
Reasoning Behind the Change
The CBSA believes that replacing the RABC program with telephone reporting sites will build on processes already in place across Canada, where travelers are required to report to the CBSA from designated sites every time they enter Canada. This will ensure a consistent level of security and expectations of compliance for all travelers entering Canada. The agency also notes that this measure will bring the reporting process for remote areas in line with the process used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. By making this change, the CBSA aims to improve the efficiency and security of the border crossing process, while also ensuring that all travelers are aware of and comply with Canadian laws and regulations.
Conclusion
The Canada Border Services Agency’s decision to end the Remote Area Border Crossing Program and replace it with designated telephone reporting sites marks a significant change in the way travelers will be able to enter Canada from remote areas along the U.S. border. While this change may cause some inconvenience for the approximately 11,000 RABC members per year, it is intended to improve the security and efficiency of the border crossing process. The CBSA will be working with various stakeholders to determine the location of the new telephone reporting sites and to ensure a smooth transition to the new system. As the September 14, 2026, deadline approaches, travelers who currently hold an RABC permit should be aware of the changes and prepare to adapt to the new telephone reporting system.