Maple News reports that the Canadian government has released new details on how traveller information is collected, stored, and shared at the border, shedding light on its Entry/Exit Program and the agencies involved in processing this data.
Under the Entry/Exit Program, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) collects key biographic information—including name, date of birth, citizenship, passport details, and dates of entry or exit—for every individual crossing the Canadian border. This information is stored and may be used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as part of immigration and residency assessments.
The data plays a critical role in confirming applicants’ compliance with residency requirements when applying for Canadian permanent residence, study or work permits, and citizenship. It also assists officials in verifying the residence of sponsors and spouses in sponsorship applications, identifying possible overstays by temporary residents, and detecting fraudulent claims in immigration and travel document applications.
Since July 2019, Canada and the United States have been exchanging land border biographic entry data. If a person enters the U.S., their entry is recorded as an exit from Canada, and vice versa. Although the Entry/Exit Program has been extended to air travel, exit information from air travellers is not routinely shared with the U.S. Currently, exit and entry information is not being collected for travellers moving by sea or rail.
Access to traveller data is tightly regulated. CBSA is the primary custodian of entry and exit records. Authorized personnel include border service officers, intelligence analysts, enforcement officers, hearings advisors, and others within national security and border operations divisions.
IRCC officers may only access this information if it directly relates to a current immigration application. They are not permitted to disclose the data unless it’s required for processing under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and covered by an existing legal agreement, such as a Memorandum of Understanding.
This step toward transparency highlights the government’s commitment to fair and accurate immigration decisions while ensuring travellers’ data is protected under strict privacy guidelines.
As Canada continues to modernize its immigration and border systems, potential applicants to Canadian programs are advised to be mindful of their travel history, as these details are now actively used in application decisions.