Advance Declaration now available at Ottawa & Billy Bishop airports

Advance Declaration is now available to all travellers arriving on international flights at the Ottawa International Airport (YOW) and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ), says Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). 

Express lanes will also be available in both airports' customs areas, allowing travellers who complete their Advance Declaration to skip long line-ups for Primary Inspection Kiosks (PIK).

The Advance Declaration allows travellers to submit their customs and immigration declaration, up to 72 hours in advance of their arrival in Canada. 

The optional service is aimed at resulting in shorter wait times at the border. It's part of CBSA's “Traveller Modernization” initiative, which is being rolled out over the coming years.

Advance Declaration is already available to travellers arriving on international flights at the following Canadian airports:

• Toronto Pearson
• Montreal-Trudeau
• Winnipeg Richardson
• Vancouver
• Halifax Stanfield
• Québec City Jean-Lesage
• Calgary

The digital tool will also become available to travellers arriving at Edmonton International Airport in the coming weeks.  

"With Advance Declaration and express lanes now available at Billy Bishop Toronto City and Ottawa International Airports, we are keeping our border secure while providing a better and faster experience for travellers. This is another example of how the CBSA is modernizing the border and we are happy to be working with Ports Toronto and Ottawa International Airport Authority to make this option available to travellers," said Eric Lapierre, regional director general, Northern Ontario Region, CBSA and Lisa Janes, regional director general, Greater Toronto Area Region, CBSA, in a joint statement. 

The government says that early usage data shows that using the Advance Declaration feature in ArriveCAN cuts the amount of time a traveller spends at a PIK or eGate by roughly one third.

Travellers can also edit their declaration, if needed, at the airport kiosk once they arrive. The declaration is not finalized until it has been confirmed at the airport kiosk. 

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