Advance Declaration is now available to all travellers arriving on international flights into Canada’s Edmonton International Airport (YEG).
Part of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)'s Traveller Modernization initiative, Advance Declaration provides travellers with the option to submit their customs and immigration declaration up to 72 hours in advance of their arrival in Canada. Travellers can now spend less time at primary inspection kiosks (PIKs) when they arrive at the airport, resulting in shorter wait times at the border. Edmonton is also now offering Express lanes in the customs areas for travellers who have completed an Advance Declaration, enabling them to avoid having to queue for PIKs.
The ongoing CBSA drive to modernise and expedite the travel experience means that Advance Declaration is already available to travellers arriving on international flights at several key Canadian airports, among them Calgary, Toronto Pearson, Montreal-Trudeau, Québec City Jean Lesage, and Billy Bishop Toronto City.
"While safety and security are always our top priorities, we aim to deliver an efficient and positive experience for our traveller's journey throughout the airport, including navigating their border crossing. We welcome CBSA's Advance Declaration and are certain our passengers will be pleased to experience a better and faster border experience at YEG,” said Steve Maybee, VP, operations, infrastructure and corporate communications, Edmonton International Airport.
Early usage data shows that using the Advance Declaration feature cuts the amount of time a traveller spends at a PIK or eGate by roughly one third.
Image: Merle Prosofsky/ Edmonton International Airport
