Canada and the United States will open joint preclearance facilities at four additional land crossings from September 1. The sites include Coutts, Alberta and Derby Line, Vermont. Processing times are expected to drop by 40 percent for passenger vehicles.
Trucks will use dedicated lanes at the new locations. Both governments invested 180 million US dollars in infrastructure upgrades. The agreement covers 24-hour operations at all four sites.
Background context shows the first preclearance pilot launched at Peace Bridge in 2023. Wait times averaged 90 minutes during summer peaks last year. The new facilities will handle 2.4 million vehicles annually.
Similar programs already operate at airports in Montreal and Toronto. Officials expect full rollout at the remaining six crossings by 2028. Data sharing between CBSA and CBP increased by 35 percent in 2025.
What this means for you
Use the new Coutts crossing after September 1 to avoid Calgary airport lines. Complete the preclearance app form 24 hours before travel. Have passports and vehicle registration ready at the booth.
Avoid peak hours of 11:00 to 15:00 on weekends. Commercial drivers should register for FAST cards before August 15. Check real-time wait times on the CBSA website.
Further expansions at Pacific Highway and Blaine are scheduled for 2027. Save receipts for any duty-free purchases made after preclearance.