Port of Québec gains ‘first port of arrival’ status as CBSA expands customs capacity

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) announced on April 24 that the Port of Québec will be designated a ‘first port of arrival’ for international marine containers, allowing ships to clear Canadian customs in Québec City rather than at U.S. or Atlantic trans-shipment hubs. The upgrade, backed by federal border-infrastructure funds, will see new inspection technology, a container-examination facility and additional border-services officers deployed over the next 18 months. For Canadian importers the change is significant. Currently, many Asian and European consignments destined for central Canada must enter through Montreal or U.S. East Coast ports before being railed or trucked north. Direct clearance in Québec City will cut days from transit times, reduce drayage costs and alleviate congestion at Montreal’s over-capacity terminals. The designation aligns with Ottawa’s CAD $1.3 billion Border Plan to de-risk supply chains and support nearshoring. It also dovetails with Budget 2025’s CAD $5 billion envelope for ports, airports and rail corridors. Québec’s provincial government and terminal operator QSL have committed to expand berth space and cold-chain capability to attract agri-food and life-science shippers. From a mobility perspective, the new status will streamline crew changes and ship-to-shore personnel transfers, as CBSA will station officers and biometric kiosks on-site. International seafarers flying into Jean-Lesage International Airport will be able to clear marine-crew work permits directly at the port, reducing reliance on Montreal. CBSA says the port must meet strict security and detection benchmarks before live operations begin in Q4 2027. Importers are encouraged to enrol in the Agency’s CARM client portal to pre-classify goods and take advantage of low-risk Trusted Trader benefits once the port goes live.