Free and Secure Trade
Terms and conditions

In this section

In focus

The FAST membership card is valid for five years provided you continue to meet all the terms and conditions of the FAST program and comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Protecting privacy and personal information

To become a FAST member, you are required to provide personal information. The CBSA uses this information to determine your eligibility for the program.

All personal information collected is protected by the CBSA under the Privacy Act. The CBSA shares this information with its partners in order to establish your eligibility. Program partners include United States (U.S.) Customs and Border Protection, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service.

The FAST application forms outline why the information is being collected and how you can exercise your right to access that information.

Lost, stolen or damaged FAST cards

You must make an appointment with a FAST Enrolment Centre at once if your FAST membership card is lost, stolen or damaged.

Note: If you are issued a new card, previous cards must be destroyed as they will not be accepted.

Penalties for providing false information

Your FAST application may be denied if you fail to provide true, accurate and complete information to the FAST program. Severe penalties are provided by law for knowingly and wilfully falsifying or concealing a material fact or using any false document when submitting your application. A false representation also means that your application for any other benefit under Canadian and U.S. border services may be denied.

Reasons for cancellation

If a member has contravened the legislation, a new eligibility assessment is performed to determine whether the individual continues to meet the eligibility criteria:

Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

Member is a:

  • Canadian citizen,
  • Canadian permanent resident, or
  • American citizen, or
  • American permanent resident

and has a Canadian documented immigration contravention under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act that is recorded in the Global Case Management System (GCMS), excluding violations involving human smuggling or trafficking.

Eligibility following contravention

  • May be eligible to (re)apply after 10 years have elapsed since the immigration contravention.

Note: The 10-year period begins from the date that the offence is recorded in GCMS.

Customs Act

Member has a recorded enforcement action under the Customs Act in the Integrated Customs Enforcement System (ICES).

Recorded enforcement actions in ICES considered when determining eligibility:

  • Seizure
  • Ascertained forfeiture

Eligibility following contravention

  • May be eligible to (re)apply after six years have elapsed since the recorded enforcement action into ICES.

Note: The six-year period begins from the date the contravention is recorded in ICES.

Other Government Departments legislation

Member has a recorded enforcement action under any program legislation in a national database such as the Integrated Customs Enforcement System (ICES).

Program legislation: The CBSA administers acts and regulations on behalf of other government departments. Examples of legislative contravention at time of passage are:

  • controlled, restricted or prohibited animals, plants or goods;
  • any type of weapon or firearm that is restricted or prohibited; and currency equal to or greater than Can$10,000 being brought into or taken out of Canada.

Note: For the purpose of fairness and consistency, only enforcement actions taken under other legislation recorded into ICES will be considered.

Eligibility following contravention

  • May be eligible to (re)apply after six years have elapsed since the recorded enforcement action.

Note: The six-year period begins from the date the contravention is recorded in a national database.

Criminal Code

Member has a conviction under the Criminal Code of Canada or the Criminal Code of another country (such as in the U.S.).

Notes:

  • Onus is on the member to prove that a conviction was prosecuted summarily (Canada) or as a misdemeanour (U.S.).
  • Onus is on the member to prove that a charge did not result in a conviction.

Eligibility following contravention

  • May be eligible to (re)apply if he/she has a conviction that has been pardoned.
  • May be eligible to (re)apply if summary (misdemeanour) conviction is older than 10 years.

or

  • May be eligible to (re)apply if the two summary (misdemeanour) convictions arising out of a single occurrence are older than 10 years.
  • However, if the member is convicted of one of the following offences, he or she will not be eligible to (re)apply: convictions involving illegal narcotics, controlled drugs or substances, weapons, child pornography, smuggling, trafficking, or currency offences appearing in the Canadian Police Information Centre and the National Crime Information Centre, notwithstanding the length of time elapsed.

Notes:

  • The 10-year period begins upon completion of the imposed sentence (e.g. end of probation, time served, payment of fine, etc.).
  • The U.S. does not recognize pardons.

If the member violates a term or condition of the program, the border services officer must determine if the member should retain his/her membership.

The violations of the program terms and conditions are grouped as follows:

Improper use of the membership at time of passage

1. Member has the following at time of passage:
  • Commercial goods* (including promotional samples)
  • Restricted / controlled / prohibited goods
  • More than Can$10,000 of currency or monetary instruments of a certain value unless otherwise exempted.

*Laptops, iPads, BlackBerry devices and such items for personal use by the member are not considered commercial goods.

Eligibility following violation:
  • May be eligible to (re)apply after six years have elapsed since the violation.

Note: The six-year period begins from the date that the violation occurred.

2. Member transfers his/her card to another individual at time of passage.

The member must not transfer his/her card to another individual.

Eligibility following violation:
  • May be eligible to (re)apply after six years have elapsed since the violation.

Note: The six-year period begins from the date that the violation occurred.

3. Member facilitates or attempts to facilitate the entry of a non-member at time of passage.

The driver of the conveyance has the responsibility of ensuring that all accompanying travellers in the conveyance are carrying a membership.

Eligibility following violation:
  • May be eligible to (re)apply after one year has elapsed since the violation.

Note: The one-year period begins from the date that the violation occurred.

Documentation

At all times, a member must carry his/her membership card, as well as all required travel and identification documents, including:

  • personal ID;
  • immigration/citizenship documents; and
  • any other documentation that is required to enter Canada (e.g. a letter of consent from the parent/legal guardian not travelling with the children).

Eligibility following violation:

  • May be eligible to (re)apply after one year has elapsed since the violation.

Note: The one-year period begins from the date that the violation occurred.

Personal information

Member fails to update:

  • immigration status (work permit, study permit) or
  • personal information that may affect his/her admissibility and eligibility in the program.

Eligibility following violation:

  • May be eligible to (re)apply after one year has elapsed since the violation.

Note: The one-year period begins from the date that the violation occurred.

Note:

Should there be two contraventions/violations, the longest penalty period will apply.

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