An improved security-screening experience at select airports across Canada for eligible travellers.
| NEXUS | GLOBAL ENTRY | MILITARY | AIR CREW / RAIC | RCMP | POLICE |
|---|
Verified Travellers are identified as travellers who have undergone extensive background checks and carry special photo identification cards.
Verified Travellers have three experiences available at select pre-board screening checkpoints across Canada:
Verified Traveller
Benefits:
- Leave permitted liquids, aerosols and gels in your carry-on.
- Leave laptops and electronics in your carry-on.
- Keep shoes, belts, light jackets and headwear on*.
- Keep small items in your pockets.
- Co-travellers 17 years or younger and 75 years and older can accompany you.
*Passengers wearing headwear, including religious or cultural head coverings, may keep it on, however, additional screening of the headwear or head covering is required. If there is an alarm in the head area and it cannot be properly resolved, you may be required to remove your headwear or head covering in order for a physical search to be conducted.
Available at the following airports:
- Calgary International Airport - Domestic C
- Edmonton International Airport - Domestic /Int'l
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport - Domestic /Int'l - 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Montréal-Trudeau International Airport - Domestic/Int'l
- Ottawa International Airport - Domestic /Int'l - 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Toronto Pearson International Airport - T1 Domestic Level 3
- Toronto Pearson International Airport - T3 Domestic
- Vancouver International Airport - E-United States - pilot
- Vancouver International Airport - Security Point 3 – Canada
- Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport – Domestic/Int’l
Verified Traveller
Transborder (U.S. flights)
Benefits:
- Leave permitted liquids, aerosols and gels in your carry-on.
- Keep shoes, belts, light jackets and headwear on*.
- Keep small items in your pockets.
- Co-travellers can accompany you.
*Passengers wearing headwear, including religious or cultural head coverings, may keep it on, however, additional screening of the headwear or head covering is required. If there is an alarm in the head area and it cannot be properly resolved, you may be required to remove your headwear or head covering in order for a physical search to be conducted.
Available at the following airports:
- Montréal-Trudeau International Airport – T1 transborder
- Toronto Pearson International Airport - T1 transborder
- Toronto Pearson International Airport – T3 transborder
Verified Traveller
Front-of-the-line
Benefits:
- Will receive front of the line service.
- Co-travellers can accompany you.
Available at the following airports:
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport - Domestic
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport – transborder
- Calgary International Airport - Concourse A - transborder
- Calgary International Airport – Concourse D - transborder
- Calgary International Airport - Concourse E - transborder
- Edmonton International Airport – transborder
- Greater Moncton Roméo Leblanc International Airport - Domestic/Int'l/transborder
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport – Domestic/Int’l - 3:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Kelowna International Airport - Domestic/Int'l/Transborder
- Ottawa International Airport – Domestic/Int’l - 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport - Domestic/Int'l/transborder
- Regina International Airport - Domestic/Int'l/transborder
- Saskatoon International Airport - Domestic/Int'l/transborder
- St. John's International Airport - Domestic/Int'l/transborder
- Toronto Pearson International Airport - T1 Int'l
- Toronto Pearson International Airport – T3 Int'l
- Vancouver International Airport - D-International
- Vancouver International Airport - ABC-Canada
- Victoria International Airport - Domestic/Int'l/transborder
- Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport - transborder
Note
Verified travellers must comply with screening rules for non-permitted and prohibited items and will be asked to pass through a walk-through metal detector or full body scanner. Your carry-on items will be X-rayed. You may also be required to undergo additional search procedures. You may also be randomly diverted to a regular screening line as part of CATSA’s multi-layered approach to security screening.
Verified Traveller Membership:
NEXUS:
NEXUS is a Canada Border Services Agency program to provide eligible travellers with faster customs and immigration processing when crossing the border between Canada and the U.S. You can apply for a NEXUS card online at www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.
Global Entry is a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, lower-risk travellers upon arrival in the United States.
Serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces and US military, including reservists, all with valid ID (no uniform required);
Canadian aircrew (in uniform) and airport workers with Restricted Area Identification Cards and International aircrew (in uniform) with valid airline ID;
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers with proper photo identification issued by their respective organization.
Police: The experience offered at pre-board screening checkpoints across Canada may vary.
Canadian police officers and constables with a badge and proper photo identification issued by their organization.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Verified Traveller program?
The Verified Traveller program provides travellers who have undergone extensive background checks with added benefits at select security screening checkpoints across Canada.
What security screening benefits are available to verified travellers?
A list of benefits by checkpoint is available here.
How will verified travellers know if there is a Verified Traveller line available to them?
Signage will be posted at the front of all checkpoints that offer a Verified Traveller service, as well as the benefits offered at that checkpoint. A list of checkpoints and associated services is available here.
When was the new Verified Traveller program launched?
The Verified Traveller program was fully launched on June 21, 2023.
Why did CATSA create the new Verified Traveller program?
CATSA is committed to continuously improving its operations, including the facilitation of passengers through security screening checkpoints. The new Verified Traveller program aims to improve the security screening experience for verified travellers.
I am travelling with friends and family. Can they also use the Verified Traveller lines?
Co-travellers who are 17 years of age and under or 75 years of age and older can access CATSA’s Verified Traveller screening lines when travelling with a verified traveller on the same flight.
There are no age restrictions to co-travellers accessing Verified Traveller lines at Transborder checkpoints (flights to the U.S.) or checkpoints offering front-of-the-line service.
Who is eligible to access the Verified Traveller lines?
Verified travellers are passengers who have undergone extensive background checks and carry special photo identification cards.
They include:
- members of NEXUS and Global Entry programs;
- serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces and U.S. military, including reservists, all with valid ID (no uniform required);
- Canadian aircrew (in uniform) and airport workers with Restricted Area Identification Cards (RAICs);
- international aircrew in uniform with valid airline ID;
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers with proper photo identification issued by their respective organization; and
- Canadian police officers and constables with a badge and proper photo identification issued by their respective organizations. The experience offered at pre-board screening checkpoints across Canada may vary.
How do I apply to be a verified traveller?
CATSA recognizes NEXUS members as verified travellers. You can learn more about NEXUS membership by visiting the Canada Border Services Agency website.
Are Verified Traveller lines accessible to those with disabilities?
CATSA is committed to a barrier-free security screening experience for persons with disabilities. Verified Traveller lines are fully accessible and available to all eligible travellers.
What are the hours of operation at Verified Traveller lines?
Pre-board security screening checkpoint hours may vary based on operational need. If the checkpoint is open, all Verified Traveller services at that checkpoint will be available.
At Ottawa International Airport and Halifax Stanfield International Airport, the experience offered at the domestic/international checkpoint will vary throughout the day:
Ottawa International Airport
- Dedicated Verified Traveller service: 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Front-of-the-line service: 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Halifax Stanfield International Airport
- Dedicated Verified Traveller service: 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Front-of-the-line service: 3:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
What happens if there is no Verified Traveller service available at a checkpoint?
No added benefits will be available to verified travellers at these locations.
Will the new Verified Traveller program help to reduce wait times at security?
The new Verified Traveller program aims to improve the security screening experience for verified travellers. General wait times vary from checkpoint to checkpoint for a variety of reasons and can fluctuate throughout the day based on passenger volume and number of flights. CATSA recommends that travellers arrive two hours in advance for domestic flights and three hours in advance for US and international flights