Image: Canada plans to end the Remote Area Border Crossing program in 2026, replacing it with required phone or in-person check-ins at the border. National Post
Canada will shut down a long-running border entry program next year that allowed travellers to enter remote parts of Ontario and Manitoba without stopping at a customs office. The change will affect thousands of people each year, most of them Americans who visit Canada for recreation or to reach private property.
The program will end in September. After that date, travellers entering Canada in these remote areas will need to report to a staffed border station or use new telephone reporting sites that officials still need to set up.
How the Program Worked
The Remote Area Border Crossing program, known as RABC, gave annual permits to approved Canadian and American residents. These permits allowed them to cross the border freely in five isolated regions where border offices do not exist.
Canada Border Services Agency officials say the program attracted about 11,000 users each year. Roughly 90 per cent of permit holders came from the United States.
Many users included paddlers travelling through shared waterways, fishing guides working near the border, their guests, and Americans who own cottages or land in Canada.
Areas Affected by the Decision
The change will impact several locations across northern Ontario and southern Manitoba. In Ontario, affected areas include Cockburn Island, the upper lock system at Sault Ste. Marie on the Michigan border, and waterways stretching from the Pigeon River to Lake of the Woods. The entire Canadian shoreline of Lake Superior also falls under the program.
The Northwest Angle of Minnesota will also see changes. This small area borders southern Manitoba and remains difficult to reach. Travellers can access it only by water or by driving through about 40 miles of Canadian territory.
People who regularly travel through these regions will now need to plan extra time and follow new reporting steps before entering Canada.
Why Ottawa Is Ending the Program
Border officials say the change will bring Canada’s border rules in line with national standards. The agency said replacing the permit system with phone reporting strengthens safety checks.
The agency said introducing telephone reporting in place of RABC improves border security and “builds on processes already in place across Canada, where travellers are required to report to the CBSA from designated sites every time they enter Canada.”
Officials believe the new system will provide better oversight while still allowing access to remote regions.
Impact on Travellers
The decision may create challenges for frequent visitors who relied on the permit system for quick entry. Paddlers and fishing guides may need to adjust routes, while property owners may face longer travel times.
Officials urge affected travellers to watch for updates before next September. Details about where and how to report by phone have not yet been released.
Until the program ends, existing permits remain valid. After that, anyone entering Canada in these remote areas must follow the new rules.
