Travellers who currently rely on the Remote Area Border Crossing (RABC) permit to move between northern Minnesota and remote regions of north-western Ontario and southern Manitoba will need to adjust their routines. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) updated its RABC web pages on September 27-28, 2026 to confirm the program will be discontinued on December 1, 2026 and replaced by a telephone reporting regime. Existing permits remain valid until 11:59 p.m. on November 30. The RABC program—popular with anglers, cottagers and seasonal workers—allows pre-approved individuals to enter designated remote areas without physically reporting to a port of entry. CBSA says the shift to telephone reporting aligns the region with requirements already in place throughout Canada, improving data collection and traveller compliance. Under the new system, every crossing must be reported each time via a dedicated Telephone Reporting Centre or at one of several outlying area telephones. Failure to report will constitute a breach of the Customs Act, carrying potential fines and loss of NEXUS or CANPASS privileges. Commercial traffic remains prohibited at these remote crossings; freight forwarders must continue to use staffed ports such as Pigeon River or Emerson. For Indigenous communities straddling the border, CBSA has promised dedicated outreach to minimise disruption to traditional movement, hunting and fishing rights. The agency is soliciting feedback on the placement of additional telephone reporting stations before finalising locations in October. Businesses operating adventure-tourism lodges and northern construction projects should brief staff and clients immediately. Marketing materials, GPS devices and printed travel guides that reference the RABC program need updating. Companies arranging charter flights into remote lakes must also ensure pilots are aware of the new reporting protocol to avoid costly enforcement actions.
Source: CBSA
