Customs (and other) Frequently Asked Questions
U.S. vs Canadian Customs
Canadian & U.S. Customs are different (of course). One notable aspect is that to arrange to clear Canadian Customs one calls a national 800 # (888-226-7277)—one doesn’t speak to or deal with a local Canadian Custom’s agent until arrival at a specific border station. For U.S. Customs, one calls a specific U.S. border station and speaks to (perhaps) the same agent on the phone that one will later meet in person when clearing Customs.
Why is this significant? Because the national Canadian Custom’s agent may have information that the local Canadian Custom’s agent does not have. There may be some new arcane policy or some advice at the national level that may not apply, in part or in full, at the local Canadian border services location.
CANPASS
There is a “CANPASS–Private Aircraft” program. This link explains the cost ($40 Canadian/5 years) and features/benefits of CANPASS.
Though the phone # one calls to request clearance into Canada is the same, there is a separate (yet similar) procedure for non-CANPASS members. That information is summarized at this link.
What Canadian airports can I clear customs at?
Question: “When I called the Canadian Border Services Agency, they told me that I was welcome to land at either AOE/CAN, AOE/15 or AOE/CANPASS airports. The only advantage to being registered with CANPASS was that I could land outside of normal customs hours. But I was welcome to clear customs at a CANPASS airport without having registered for CANPASS so long as I did so during normal open hours. Do you know if this is true? I see a lot of conflicting info.”
My comment: I have –never—been told I had permission to land at a CANPASS-only airport during business hours. For instance, CAJ3, Creston, is a CANPASS only airport. CFS (Canadian Flight Supplement) shows Creston as “AOE/CAN” meaning “Airport of Entry/CANPASS”…Per the Canada Border Services Agency site (link here), this means that Creston CAJ3 can ONLY be used by CANPASS members. If you are NOT a CANPASS member, you cannot use Creston at any hour! When I cleared Canadian customs at Exkhart International, 1S1, I was told if one lands at Creston and is not a CANPASS member one can be fined up to $5,000!
What are the advantages of being a CANPASS member?
Answer: As far as I know, the advantages are:
- “Trustworthy” recognition in the Canadian Custom’s system when you call—perhaps fewer questions and faster service over the phone.
- Likely (mostly) guaranteed that upon landing, you will not be met with a border official. If after arriving, waiting until past your scheduled arrival time, you can just shut off your engine (optional), call the 888 # and they will issue a clearance code—you’re on your way in a few minutes
- More airports that you can land at, e.g. CAJ3 Creston (above) or Milk River CEW5, for instance
Border Transponder code
Question: “If I use Flight Following, do I still need to separately call Flight Services for a border crossing squawk code before reaching the border? Or will they just supply it to me as part of the flight following service?”
Answer: While in contact with ATC using Flight Following, one probably already has a unique squawk code. If so, ask the controller, “I assume my current squawk code is good for the required border crossing code.” If one does not already have a unique squawk code while using flight following, one can ask the controller to provide a unique border crossing code. They will probably provide you with one at that time. OR, if they are “too busy,” they may authorize you to change frequencies for a brief period to get a code from Flight Service. NOTE: Oftentimes if you are too low, you will not be able to raise Flight Service via radio. So be prepared and have their phone number handy as you will likely have cell service. I have had to call numerous times when I was too low for radio contact.
If you depart say Cut Bank, by the time you climb up high enough to get ATC for flight following, you will already be very near the border—there might not be time to utilize flight following –and—get a hold of Flight Service, unless you spend time circling aimlessly getting things organized.
Customs Landing Time (your landing “window”)
Question: “You mentioned that Springbank might be a better choice than Lethbridge due to landing fees. Is it better to plan a short leg once in Canadian airspace in order to be more likely to make the “landing window” for customs? I see Milk River (CEW5) has a paved runway – but no fuel or other services. Is this a better option?”
Answer: Again, Milk River CEW5, is a AOE/CAN airport. You CANNOT use Milk River UNLESS you are a CANPASS member.
Good question regarding the “landing window” timeframe. Both Canadian and U.S. Customs (technically) require one to indicate, plus or minus 15 minutes, the projected landing time. Supposedly, one can be fined a substantial amount for missing one’s landing “window.” At the least, if you miss the window you risk raising the ire of the responding custom’s agent and/or having the agent depart when you weren’t there when you promised. If the agent isn’t there—if the agent went back to their highway border station—you might have to wait a SIGNIFICANT period of time for them to show up. Case in point, U.S. customs agents clearing you at Cut Bank drive in from the Sweetwater border station—45+ minutes away!
Best to plan like this: Say your flight plan says you will be at the custom’s airport at 1:00 pm. Flight plan and declare for an arrival at 1:15 pm. If you’re early, slow down, do a few flight-seeing circles or large “S” turns. If you are going to be late, call (cell phone or radio) Flight Service. Ask Flight Service to call the customs office and inform them you will be late (headwind, weather, whatever). Or better yet, if you have cell phone coverage, you call the customs number yourself. Make sure you get the name of the agent whom you talk to so if that isn’t the agent meeting you at your plane later you can tell them you did call and to ask “Agent x” why he/she didn’t inform them of your call.
Question: “So, is it better to plan a short leg, whether going to the U.S. or Canada for that matter, to insure higher odds of making your “window?”
Answer: Not necessarily—just plan extra time and slow down as per the above suggestion or call ahead and inform them you are going to be delayed. By the way, if a delay is developing, call as soon as you know—don’t wait until you are 15 minutes from landing and an hour late to call !!
Allowed Arrival “Window” Deviation
U.S. Customs policy is to allow pilots +/- 15 minutes from your declared arrival time. If you will be outside this “window,” get on the phone (to the specific border station) or radio (Flight Service) and update your arrival time.
Canadian customs, at least for CANPASS –members– allows a 30 min window (link on this point here). There is no “window” ETA comment that I can find under the “General Aviation” category (link). However, I’d strongly recommend, simply as a courtesy if for no other reason, that one make every effort to call the Canadian reporting # (888-226-7277) if one anticipates being more than 15 minutes outside the projected/declared ETA. After all, why risk antagonizing the border agent before you even meet them?
eApis: Exit Airport
Question: “I’ve already filed with eApis to depart S10 Lake Chelan direct to Penticton and arrive to clear Canadian customs there. Do I need to fly into a USA exit airport or can I fly direct S10-Penticton? I have submitted eApis with the route, tail number, personal details, documents etc and received the “ok to travel” email with no restrictions or directions.”
Answer: There is no need to actually stop at an official U.S. “Exit” airport. Filing eApis, and correctly noting your “Ok to Travel” notice is sufficient.
CBP Private Aircraft (Detailed info)
This PDF goes into detail ad nauseum. You should review the entire PDF. But, as a minimum, please read the “Arriving in the US” section as well as “Departing the US” section.
Recent changes highlighted in this PDF
Historically, different CBP ports have implemented varied procedures for requesting and granting Permission to Land, however that is now becoming more standardized through the efforts of CBP headquarters.
One significant change is that CBP will no longer grant Permission to Land unless you have successfully submitted your APIS ARRIVAL manifest first. When you are granted Permission to Land by CBP at the arrival port, you should receive an email from CBP (in addition to the one sent by DHS) confirming that Permission to Land has been granted and any specific instructions that CBP may have. If you are denied Permission to Land, you will also receive an email from the port confirming that Permission to Land was denied.
Failing to receive the email confirming Permission to Land is an indication that either the port has not yet adopted the new procedure or that Permission to Land was not properly issued by the CBP officer who responded to your request and a follow up request would be advisable. Be prepared to prove who gave you permission to land – the receipt email from DHS alone does not grant you Permission to Land.