The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) is launching a new Verified Traveller program that will offer a faster and more efficient screening experience for eligible travellers at select airports across Canada. This system replicates some of the faster screening processes that we have seen in the United States through their use of the TSA Pre-Check Program.

Verified Traveller Launches: Brings Faster TSA PreCheck Style Security Screening at Select Airports in Canada

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The Canadian Air Transport Security Administration has expanded it’s past Trusted Traveller program which previously offered front of the line service for Nexus members. Under the new Verified Traveller program, there are a number of new categories available to use the program.

Verified Traveller Launches:

Verified Traveler launched in Canada on June 21, 2023 thorough a ministerial announcement. It is being marketed as “An improved security-screening experience at select airports across Canada for eligible travellers”. The system is designed to improve the airport experience after the return to travel mayhem that impacted many airports after the pandemic ended and airports saw an increase in travel demand.

The Verified Traveller Program enhances the Trusted Traveler program operating within the United States. The Trusted Traveller program hasn’t gone anywhere in the United States. Rather, within Canada, the language Trusted Traveller language has been replaced by Verified Traveller, which allows for some additional categories of travellers to gain access to the program.

What is Verified Traveller?

Verified Travellers are identified as travellers who have undergone extensive background checks and carry special photo identification cards. They currently form part of several categories, and if you are a regular personal or business traveller, it’s not hard to find yourself in one of these categories.

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: 

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.

Military: 

Serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces and US military, including reservists, all with valid ID (no uniform required);

Air Crew / Restricted Area Identification Card: 

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 / Police: 

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers, Canadian police officers and constables with a badge and proper photo identification issued by their respective organizations.

Overall, this encompasses a large chunk of frequent travellers. As a regular business traveller, I end up qualifying through the Nexus program. With a little pre-planning, it shouldn’t be too difficult to qualify for this program. In order to gain Verified Traveller access, you’ll need to fully complete membership in one of the associated programs.

Benefits of Verified Traveller:

The Benefits of Verified Traveller are very similar to TSA Pre-Check that is administered by the Transportation Safety Administration in the United States. Within Canada, it allows for a much smoother security screening experience, and a faster route through the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority screening check points.

Verified Traveller Benefits (Canada Domestic):

• 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 – pilot lunching on August 22, 2023
• Montréal-Trudeau International Airport – Domestic/Int’l
• Ottawa International Airport – Domestic /Int’l – pilot launching on August 9, 2023
• Toronto Pearson International Airport – T1 Domestic Level 3
• Toronto Pearson International Airport – T3 Domestic
• Vancouver International Airport – Domestic North
• Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport – Domestic/Int’l

Verified Traveller Benefits US Trans-border:

• 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:

All Verified Traveller Passengers will receive the best benefits of all…

• 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
• Halifax Stanfield International Airport – transborder
• Kelowna International Airport – Domestic/Int’l/Transborder
• Ottawa International Airport – Domestic/Int’l
• Ottawa International Airport – transborder
• 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 – Domestic South
• Vancouver International Airport – Int’l
• Vancouver International Airport – transborder
• Victoria International Airport – Domestic/Int’l/transborder
• Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport – transborder

The Verified Traveller program offers many benefits and is designed to get you moving through the airport screening lanes much faster than previously. This allows travellers to leave in their laptops and other liquids in their suitcases, unless a manual inspection is required.

The one downside is that Verified Traveller lanes are not currently available at all security lanes in Canada. For example, at my home airport in Vancouver, it’s only available at Domestic Screening “C” (the Air Canada domestic wing). If you’re a regular user of this system, you’ll likely get to know the various screening check points that Verified Traveller program is located at.

Using Verified Traveller:

A Verified Traveller can present themselves to the Priority Lanes at each participating location with the appropriate identification. Practically speaking, the security screening enhancements were piloted at select airports in the spring of 2023. In those cases, I usually had my physical Nexus card out in order to access the priority lanes.

While I’ve travelling for business reasons, I usually just like to get through security screening as quickly as possible in order to get to a lounge to catch up on some work. While it is a benefit that non category travellers can accompany a verified traveller, it remains to be seen whether this makes the Verified Traveller lanes more congested than they would otherwise be. In this light, having unaccompanied travellers come with you may also be a disadvantage. Time will tell whether we see further separation or enhancements within these categories.

In Summary: Verified Traveller Launches in Canada

Canada has caught up to the United States and has launched a mild version of TSA – Pre Check across select airports within Canada. The program allows for front of the line access, along with leaving of liquids and laptops in suitcases before proceeding through security screening.

The program has a pretty board eligibility list, so I anticipate that once the program gets more widespread, we will see more Verified Travellers using the priority lanes.

Ultimately, this is a great move allowing for time savings. I’ll be really happy to continue using this at mopre locations across Canada on my next leisure and business trips.

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Do you take full advantage of Verified Traveller in Canada or TSA Pre-Check while in the United States?

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