The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) used International Customs Day, celebrated on January 26, to spotlight a new slate of border-modernization initiatives designed to balance security with faster passenger and cargo flows. Under the 2024-2028 Border Plan, the agency is piloting facial-verification e-gates at Montréal-Trudeau and expanding its Advance CBSA Declaration app, which allows travelers to submit customs information before arrival. CBSA statistics show the tool cuts primary-inspection processing by up to 30 seconds per traveler—an efficiency gain that could translate into 35 million saved minutes annually when fully scaled.(canada.ca)
Acting President Erin O’Gorman said the agency will also move ahead with the ‘Free-Flow Transit’ proposal, removing the requirement for international-to-international passengers to clear CBSA when connecting through Canadian airports. Stakeholders—including Air Canada and the National Airlines Council of Canada—argue the change would make Toronto and Vancouver more competitive hubs for intercontinental traffic.
On the commercial side, CBSA is expanding the Known Trader program to small and mid-sized importers, giving them streamlined release options similar to those enjoyed by large customs self-assessment participants. That could ease supply-chain friction for Canadian subsidiaries of multinational firms that rely on just-in-time shipments.
![CBSA Marks International Customs Day with Pledge to Modernize Border Processing]()
For mobility managers and individual travelers navigating these updates, VisaHQ can be a valuable partner. Through its dedicated Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/), the platform offers step-by-step visa and eTA processing, customizable invitation-letter templates, and real-time alerts on CBSA policy changes—helping companies stay compliant while taking full advantage of the agency’s new fast-track programs.
Global mobility teams should note that CBSA continues to tighten enforcement at land crossings. In 2025 the agency seized 34 percent more undeclared firearms year-over-year, and officers have been instructed to scrutinize employer-provided letters more closely to verify the genuineness of business visits. Companies are advised to refresh traveler-briefing materials and ensure that invitation letters clearly state the purpose and duration of trips.
While CBSA’s modernization agenda promises smoother travel, it also hinges on data-sharing agreements that raise privacy questions. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has requested detailed privacy-impact assessments for each digital border project, and observers expect parliamentary hearings later this spring.
Acting President Erin O’Gorman said the agency will also move ahead with the ‘Free-Flow Transit’ proposal, removing the requirement for international-to-international passengers to clear CBSA when connecting through Canadian airports. Stakeholders—including Air Canada and the National Airlines Council of Canada—argue the change would make Toronto and Vancouver more competitive hubs for intercontinental traffic.
On the commercial side, CBSA is expanding the Known Trader program to small and mid-sized importers, giving them streamlined release options similar to those enjoyed by large customs self-assessment participants. That could ease supply-chain friction for Canadian subsidiaries of multinational firms that rely on just-in-time shipments.
For mobility managers and individual travelers navigating these updates, VisaHQ can be a valuable partner. Through its dedicated Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/), the platform offers step-by-step visa and eTA processing, customizable invitation-letter templates, and real-time alerts on CBSA policy changes—helping companies stay compliant while taking full advantage of the agency’s new fast-track programs.
Global mobility teams should note that CBSA continues to tighten enforcement at land crossings. In 2025 the agency seized 34 percent more undeclared firearms year-over-year, and officers have been instructed to scrutinize employer-provided letters more closely to verify the genuineness of business visits. Companies are advised to refresh traveler-briefing materials and ensure that invitation letters clearly state the purpose and duration of trips.
While CBSA’s modernization agenda promises smoother travel, it also hinges on data-sharing agreements that raise privacy questions. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has requested detailed privacy-impact assessments for each digital border project, and observers expect parliamentary hearings later this spring.
