COW – Entry-exit Controls and Pilot Initiative – May 28, 2026
Entry-exit Controls
- Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) collects some entry and exit information to help support immigration enforcement and border security.
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and CBSA can use this information to help verify whether someone has left Canada and to support immigration decision-making.
- If someone does not leave voluntarily when required, CBSA can enforce removal orders through established legal processes.
- IRCC and CBSA continue to improve how immigration and border systems work together to strengthen program integrity.
Temporary resident (TR) pilot initiative
- We are taking steps to help TRs status be compliant with immigration law and respect the conditions of their stay.
- This summer, IRCC will launch a pilot to send notifications to a select group of students and workers before and after their status expires.
- The goal is to help people take action early and reduce overstays before enforcement becomes necessary.
- This initiative also helps reduce pressure on enforcement resources by encouraging voluntary compliance.
- We will assess the pilot results before deciding whether to expand the initiative more broadly.