The service hours for 35 land ports of entry across the Canada-US border will change starting 12.01 am local time on January 6, 2025.
Travellers who frequently cross the Canada-U.S. border by road will have shorter windows during which they can cross.
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These new timings may also affect newcomers looking for flagpoling services—the practice by which temporary residents may receive immigration services in person at a point of entry by exiting and returning to Canada in 24 hours.
The change of hours affects ports of entry in Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, British Columbia, and Alberta.
The US will also be adjusting service hours at many of its ports to align with the changed timings.
The new hours will be as follows:
| Province | Port of Entry | Revised timings | Days of the week |
| Alberta | Del Bonita | 9 am to 5 pm | 7 days a week |
| British Columbia | Cascade | 8 am to 8 pm | 7 days a week |
| Nelway | 8 am to 6 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Cartwright | 8 am to 4 pm, | 7 days a week | |
| Coulter | 8 am to 4 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Crystal City | 9 am to 5 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Goodlands | 9 am to 5 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Gretna | 8 am to 6 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Lena | 8 am to 4 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Piney | 9 am to 5 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Snowflake | 9 am to 5 pm | 7 days a week | |
| South Junction | 8 am to 8 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Tolstoi | 8 am to 6 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Windygates | 9 am to 5 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Winkler | 8 am to 8 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Quebec | Chartierville | 8 am to 8 pm | 7 days a week |
| Clarenceville | 8 am to 4 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Frelighsburg | 8 am to 8 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Herdman | 6 am to 6 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Hereford Road | 8 am to 8 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Highwater | 8 am to 8 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Lacolle Route 221 | 6 am to 10 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Lacolle Route 223 | 8 am to 8 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Noyan | 8 am to 8 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Trout River | 6 am to 6 pm | 7 days a week | |
| New Brunswick | Bloomfield | 9 am to 5 pm | Monday to Saturday (except Canadian and U.S. holidays) |
| Gillespie Portage | 7 am to 7 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Fosterville | 8 am to 8 pm | Last Monday of May to first Monday of September | |
| 8 am to 6 pm | Remainder of the year | ||
| St. Croix | 9 am to 9 pm | 7 days a week | |
| Saskatchewan | Carievale | 8 am to 6 pm | Second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November |
| 9 am to 7 pm | Remainder of the year | ||
| Estevan Highway | 8 am to 6 pm | Second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November | |
| 9 am to 7 pm | Remainder of the year | ||
| Monchy | 9 am to 5 pm | Second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November | |
| 10 am to 6 pm | Remainder of the year | ||
| Northgate | 8 am to 4 pm | Second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November | |
| 9 am to 5 pm | Remainder of the year | ||
| Oungre | 8 am to 6 pm | Second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November | |
| 9 am to 7 pm | Remainder of the year | ||
| West Poplar River | 9 am to 5 pm | Second Sunday of March to first Saturday of November | |
| 10 am to 6 pm | Remainder of the year |
*All timings are in local time zones.
The commercial timings are available on the CBSA website.
Rationale for changes
According to the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the new timings will “enhance overall security for both countries” by allowing CBSA to “use its resources more efficiently by deploying officers at busier ports of entry.”
“This will support the CBSA’s ability to process travellers and goods as well as to manage enforcement activities,” the statement says.
The release adds that the adjustments are based on an analysis of operational pressures, peak periods, and services required at the ports of entry.
The release states that this will help “both countries to return inadmissible travellers and goods to the other country, which is more difficult when one side of the border is closed while the other remains open.”
About inadmissability
Inadmissibility in Canadian immigration law refers to a person being denied entry into the country due to various factors such as criminal convictions, security concerns, health issues, or violations of immigration laws.
There are several ways for individuals to overcome inadmissibility.
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