Canada tracks your entry and exit from the country

Since February 2019, the Canadian Govt. has been able to track travellers entering and exiting the country by land.

 

The number of days you live in Canada is relevant to several Canadian Visas. Visitor Visas, Student Visas, Work Visas, Permanent Residency Visas as well as Canadian Citizenship all take into account the number of days you have lived in Canada.

 

Through the Entry/Exit Program, IRCC can track your movements from the CBSA (Canadian Border Services Agency). For instance, if you travel from Canada to the US, your basic information is sent to the CBSA in an “Exit Report”. The information includes:

• Your complete name
• Your date of birth
• Your nationality and citizenship
• Your gender
• Visa information like number, type and country of issuance

Canada will extend the Entry/Exit Program to air travel by June 2020.

 

What is the purpose of the Entry/Exit Program?

Several Canadian Visas require you to fulfil some residency requirements, especially Canadian PR Visas and Citizenship. You need to have lived in Canada for at least 1095 days to qualify for Canadian citizenship.

 

The Entry/Exit Program would also be able to tell if a foreign national has overstayed his visa.

 

Information from the CBSA would help IRCC determine the eligibility of a foreign national for a Canadian Visa. The information would also help IRCC investigate fraud cases related to immigration, travel and citizenship programs.

 

How will IRCC use the information?

IRCC says that it would use the information from the CBSA for all immigration and citizenship applications. It would also use the information for investigation purposes.

 

Immigration

Temporary Residence Visas

Information from the Entry/Exit Program would help determine if the visa applicant had previously overstayed their visa.

 

Information from the Entry/Exit Program would be used for the following visas:

• Temporary Resident Visas
• Visitor records
• Temporary Resident Permits
• Work Permits
• Work Permit extensions
• Study Permits
• Study Permit extensions
• eTAs (Electronic Travel Authorizations)

Permanent Residency

IRCC will use Entry/Exit Program information for the following:

• PR cards
• PR travel documents
• Overseas refugees
• Family-class sponsorships

The information available from the Entry/Exit Program would help track the number of days a candidate spends inside and outside of Canada. You must spend 730 days out of 5 years inside Canada to qualify for Canadian Permanent Residency.

 

Inland refugee claims

IRCC will use the entry and exit information to investigate the travel history of asylum seekers. Inconsistent information could lead to further investigation.

 

Citizenship

You have to prove your physical presence in Canada for 1095 days within 5 years preceding the application to qualify for Canadian citizenship.

 

Investigations

IRCC will use the information to verify if an applicant has made a false claim about their physical presence in Canada to obtain citizenship. The information will also be used to ascertain if an individual is eligible for a Canadian passport.

 

Travellers’ rights

You have the right to request a copy of your travel history. In case of an error, the IRCC may ask the CBSA to rectify the same.

 

However, the IRCC must comply with the Privacy Act. They cannot disclose entry and exit information unless it is necessary under the Immigration Refugee Protection Act.

 

CBSA is allowed to share information with Employment and Social Development Canada, Royal Canadian Mountain Police and Canada Revenue Agency.

 

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