> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.planeconnection.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# How to File a Canada CBSA Advance Notification
> Submit Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) advance notification for private and charter aircraft arriving in Canada, manage submission status, and generate a print-ready manifest.
By the end of this guide, you will have created a CBSA advance notification for a Canada-bound trip, validated the manifest, recorded the submission method, and generated a print-ready passenger manifest for ground handling.
The Operations module must be enabled for your workspace. You also need the appropriate operations
permissions. Contact your workspace administrator if you cannot access these features.
**Who should read this:** Dispatchers and trip coordinators operating flights to Canada. You need
the `flights.read` and `flights.update` ops permissions.
## What is CBSA advance notification?
Canada requires private and charter operators to notify the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) before landing. Under the **Customs Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. 1 (2nd Supp.) s.12.1)** and **CBSA Memorandum D2-5-3**, operators must report:
* All crew members and passengers
* Estimated arrival time and port of entry
* Travel document details for all persons on board
Advance notice requirements are **2 hours** for flights originating in the United States and **2 hours** for international (non-US) flights, though some ports require earlier notification.
PlaneConnection automatically detects Canada destinations from the arrival ICAO code (any airport beginning with `CY` or `CZ`) and surfaces the CBSA tab on the trip.
## Prerequisites
* The trip must have at least one leg arriving at a Canadian airport.
* Configure your operator details under **Ops > Settings > CBSA** before submitting.
* Crew and passenger profiles should have complete travel document information.
## Navigate to the CBSA filing page
1. Open the trip from **Ops > Trips** or the Dispatch Board.
2. Click the **CBSA** tab in the trip navigation.
The page lists previous submissions for this trip and a button to create a new one.
## Create a new submission
### Step 1: Start a new submission
Click **New Submission**. PlaneConnection creates a draft submission pre-filled with the trip's aircraft data, flight route, and scheduled arrival time.
### Step 2: Select the submission method
Choose how you will report to CBSA:
| Method | When to use |
| ---------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| **Phone** | Call CBSA at 1-888-226-7277 directly |
| **Online** | File at cbsa-asfc.gc.ca |
| **Vendor** | Filed through your trip support provider |
| **FBO** | FBO files on arrival (fallback — not recommended) |
### Step 3: Select the port of entry
Choose the destination airport from the **Port of Entry** dropdown. Only designated CBSA airports are listed. CBSA requires advance notification at the first Canadian point of landing.
### Step 4: Auto-populate the manifest
Click **Auto-Populate** to pull crew and passenger details from the trip assignment. PlaneConnection fills names, dates of birth, citizenship, and travel document information from the profiles on file.
Review each person's entry. Required fields are:
| Field | Crew | Passengers |
| ------------------------- | :--: | :--------: |
| First name, Last name | Yes | Yes |
| Date of birth | Yes | Yes |
| Gender | Yes | Yes |
| Citizenship (ISO alpha-3) | Yes | Yes |
| Country of birth | Yes | Yes |
| Country of residence | Yes | Yes |
| Document type | Yes | Yes |
| Document number | Yes | Yes |
| Document issuing country | Yes | Yes |
| Document expiry | Yes | Yes |
| Crew role (PIC/SIC/FA) | Yes | — |
| Canadian address | — | Visitors |
Passengers who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents do not need to provide a Canadian
address. Visitors require a hotel name and city at minimum.
### Step 5: Add NEXUS / CANPASS numbers (optional)
For crew or passengers enrolled in NEXUS or CANPASS, enter their trusted traveler number. This speeds CBSA processing at designated airports.
### Step 6: Set the purpose of flight
Select the purpose of flight from the dropdown: Charter, Private, Positioning, Ferry, Medical, or Training. This maps to the CBSA reporting category.
### Step 7: Validate the manifest
Click **Validate**. PlaneConnection checks that all required fields are complete, document expiry dates are in the future, and citizenship codes are valid ISO alpha-3 codes. Fix any errors shown before proceeding.
### Step 8: Mark as ready
Click **Mark as Ready** once validation passes. The status changes to **Ready**, indicating the manifest is complete for submission.
### Step 9: Record the submission
After calling CBSA or filing online, click **Mark as Submitted** and enter the confirmation number you received. PlaneConnection stores the confirmation reference against the submission.
## Submission statuses
| Status | Meaning |
| ------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Draft** | Manifest created but not complete. |
| **Ready** | Validation passed; ready to report to CBSA. |
| **Submitted** | Notification filed; confirmation number recorded. |
| **Confirmed** | CBSA acknowledged the notification. |
| **Rejected** | CBSA rejected the notification. See the rejection reason and amend. |
| **Amended** | A previously submitted notification has been updated. |
| **Cancelled** | Notification cancelled (trip cancelled or diverted). |
## Print a passenger manifest
Click **Print Manifest** from any submission to generate a print-ready PDF. The manifest includes:
* Operator and aircraft details
* Complete crew list with roles and travel document references
* Complete passenger list with travel document information
* Purpose of flight, estimated arrival time, and port of entry
Provide this document to CBSA officers on arrival as backup to the advance notification.
## Amend a submission
If crew or passenger details change after filing, or if CBSA requests corrections:
1. Open the submission from the CBSA tab.
2. Click **Amend**.
3. Update the fields, enter an amendment reason, and click **Validate**.
4. Click **Submit** to re-file. A new submission is created linked to the original.
## AI filing assistant
The ALI copilot sidebar can help populate CBSA manifests. Open the sidebar while on the CBSA tab and ask ALI to "fill in the CBSA manifest for this trip." ALI pulls data from the crew and passenger profiles already associated with the trip. Review all suggestions before saving.
## CBSA key numbers
| Resource | Details |
| ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| CBSA advance notification phone | 1-888-226-7277 (available 24/7) |
| CBSA online filing | cbsa-asfc.gc.ca |
| Regulatory reference | Customs Act R.S.C. 1985 s.12.1; D2-5-3 |
Private and charter aircraft are subject to CBSA inspection upon arrival regardless of advance
notification status. All persons on board must remain with the aircraft until released by a CBSA
officer.
## Configure CBSA settings
Go to **Ops > Settings > CBSA** to configure:
* **Advance notice hours** — Separate thresholds for US-origin (default 2 hours) and international-origin (default 2 hours) flights
* **Default port of entry** — Pre-populated on new submissions
* **Operator name and certificate number** — Included on all manifests
* **Notifications** — Email alerts for confirmation and rejection events
## Related
Submit advance passenger information for CARICOM member state destinations.
Add crew, passengers, and legs before generating international manifests.
Ensure passenger travel document data is complete before auto-populating.
Coordinate ground services alongside international customs filing.