Canada is ending its Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permit program effective September 14th, 2026. The program previously allowed pre-approved U.S. and Canadian residents to cross the border in remote northern areas without stopping at a checkpoint. Areas affected include waterways from Lake Superior through Lake of the Woods, including the Norwest Angle. Only Grand Portage – Pigeon River and International Falls – Fort Francis currently have staffed crossings. New telephone sites will be added, though locations are still to be determined and will be decided in consultation with Indigenous communities, businesses, and law enforcement.
The program was already suspended during COVID and paused again in 2024 for review. Current permits will be automatically extended until September 14th, 2026. After that date any travelers crossing into Canada in remote areas for activities like fishing, camping, hiking, or snowmobiling will need to report at a staffed border crossing or a newly designated telephone reporting site.
Learn more at https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/canpass/rabc-pfre/menu-eng.html.