Canada and U.S. Advance New Airport Preclearance Projects

In a move to streamline transborder travel, Canada and the United States confirmed today that two major preclearance projects are set to launch by spring 2026.

This initiative allows travelers to clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspections at Canadian locations before departure, effectively "pushing the border out" to improve national security.

A primary focus of this update is Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ), where construction of the preclearance facility is now complete, and final testing is underway to support new Air Canada routes to Chicago, Boston, and Washington D.C.

This expansion is a "critical component" of the shared 2026 border strategy, aimed at reducing congestion at major international hubs like Toronto Pearson.

Beyond aviation, officials are also discussing the potential for preclearance at rail stations and marine terminals, such as the cruise terminal at Canada Place in Vancouver.

For travelers, this means a significantly faster arrival experience in the U.S., as they can land as domestic passengers, avoiding long immigration queues and facilitating easier connections for both business and leisure travel.