Travellers
Private Vessel Remote Clearance Pilot Project

All persons and conveyances entering Canada must report directly to a designated Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) office that is open for business. To address the challenges of reporting in remote areas of the Arctic region, the CBSA has developed the Private Vessel Remote Clearance (PVRC) pilot project as an alternative means of reporting and examination available to persons arriving on private or chartered vessels wishing to navigate in Canadian waters.

The PVRC pilot project is intended to simplify and expedite the clearance process for non-commercial pleasure craft looking to enter Canadian waters in the Baffin Island and Northwest Passage region of Nunavut. The pilot project will accept clearance requests from vessel operators with up to 50 passengers and crew.

In order to be eligible for the PVRC pilot project, the vessel’s captain (or designate) must voluntarily submit pre-arrival information at least 30 days in advance of the vessel’s arrival in Canadian waters. Applications received after this date may be rejected and the client will be required to follow the standard reporting procedures.

Note: Failure to obtain CBSA’s acceptance into the PVRC pilot project prior to entering Canadian waters, or failure to follow the PVRC procedures contained in this document, may result in significant processing delays and costs to the operator of the vessel.

Pre-arrival documents and data

The following information must be submitted to the CBSA to be considered for the PVRC pilot project:

  1. Passenger and crew manifests;
  2. A photocopy/scan of passports, and, if applicable, Temporary Resident Visas, for all persons on board;
  3. BSF552, Crew’s Effects Declaration;
  4. E667, Cross-Border Currency or Monetary Instruments Report – General, if applicable;
  5. E677, Cross-Border Currency or Monetary Instruments Report - Individual, if applicable;
  6. A copy of your itinerary, including all stops;
  7. Date you plan to enter/leave Canada;
  8. A list of any repatriating or joining crew members with above information;
  9. A declaration from all members aboard about their goods being imported, exported or left in Canada;
  10. Vessel information, licence or registration, name, make, model, type;
  11. List of firearms including make, model, serial number, ownership, etc.; and,
  12. Contact information for any clarifying questions and payment for permits, if applicable.

Missing information or incomplete documents may result in processing delays or rejection of your PVRC application.

Admissibility

The following requirements may apply to some clients and may affect an individual’s admissibility to Canada:

Work Permits / LMIA

If you, or any member aboard the vessel, require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), and subsequent work permit (e.g., expedition guide), you must apply to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) in order to secure a work permit in advance of the vessel’s arrival in Canada. Once you receive the LMIA from ESDC, please forward it to the CBSA officer in charge in order for your work permit to be generated.

Foreign Nationals

Be advised that if you, or any member aboard your vessel, have been convicted of an indictable offence or a combination of summary offences, you may be deemed inadmissible to Canada. If you believe you may be inadmissible to Canada, we strongly recommend that you seek information from the Canadian Consulate in your country before commencing your trip. Failure to do so may result in delays, denied entry, or deportation.

Customs Violations

If you, or any member aboard the vessel, have been a subject to forced payments, seizures or enforcement actions in the past, whether from Canadian or foreign customs authorities, you are required to advise the CBSA officer in charge when submitting your application. Failure to do so may result in your application being rejected from the PVRC pilot project.

Agricultural Goods/ CITES

No international waste may be disposed of in the Arctic as there are no facilities to accept it. You must ensure that you are well prepared and self-sustaining for the entire length of your travels. If you, or any member aboard the vessel, are in possession of, or will acquire animals of any kind or species, you are required to advise the CBSA officer in charge when requesting acceptance to the PVRC pilot project. There are strict regulations on certain types of animals and species and proper permits may be required.

If you have any questions regarding these matters, please forward your inquiries to the e-mail address listed below.

Where to apply

Applications to obtain a clearance through the PVRC pilot project, including the required pre-arrival information, and any questions regarding the pilot project, can be forwarded to the CBSA officer in charge of the Nunavut Clearances via electronic mail at Nunavut_Clearance@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

Private vessels with over 50 passengers and crew and all commercial passenger vessels

Private vessels with over 50 passengers and crew, and all commercial passenger vessels, will still be required to make arrangements for in-person CBSA clearance on a cost-recovery basis, or must report to the CBSA at a designated reporting site prior to entering Arctic waters.

The closest designated CBSA reporting site for large private vessels is located in Goose Bay, Newfoundland. Other options are St. John’s, Newfoundland or Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Rejected Application

If your application is rejected from the PVRC pilot project, you will be required to report to a designated CBSA reporting site for clearance.

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