CBSA Extends Remote Border Crossing Permits to Late 2026 Amid Phone Reporting Shift

The Canada Border Services Agency announced a third extension of its Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permits, now valid through Nov. 30 2026, as it transitions to a telephone-based reporting system. The permits apply to remote entry points including the Northwest Angle, Pigeon River to Lake of the Woods, the Canadian side of Lake Superior, the Sault Ste. Marie upper lock, and Cockburn Island.

From Dec. 1, anyone using these routes must report to a CBSA port of entry or a designated phone-reporting location. Two such sites are operational at Prairie Portage and Cache Bay ranger stations for paddlers entering Quetico Provincial Park, with additional sites planned elsewhere. Permit holders remain required to declare goods but need not appear in person at a border post.

The agency also advises regular cross-border travelers to enroll in the NEXUS program, which offers pre-approved, low-risk crossing options. Restrictions will apply to chartered vessels and paid-passenger services, and boaters who do not land or interact with Canadian waters will not be affected.