Halifax Stanfield International Airport has introduced self-service technology to replace paper customs declarations.
Arriving international passengers at Nova Scotia’s biggest airport now use kiosks or a smartphone app to declare themselves at the border.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Halifax International Airport Authority announced that 24 Primary Inspection Kiosks (PIK) and the eDeclaration mobile application are now operating at the airport.
The kiosks allow passengers to fill out an electronic version of the paper customs declaration card that previously was handed out during flights.
The PIK kiosks verify travel documents, allow passengers to complete an on-screen declaration, and confirm identity using facial recognition for all eligible international passengers arriving by air.
Those looking to save more time can complete their declaration in advance using the CanBorder – eDeclaration mobile app, which will give them a quick response (QR) code to scan at a kiosk upon arrival. Passengers can download the free CanBorder – eDeclaration mobile app.
Halifax Stanfield is the fifth Canadian airport to launch the PIK technology in 2017 and the seventh in total. They will be rolled out at more airports across Canada through 2018.
PIK kiosks are now available at the following locations:
- Ottawa International Airport – YOW
- Vancouver International Airport – YVR
- Terminal 3, Toronto Pearson International Airport – YYZ
- Edmonton International Airport – YEG
- Halifax Stanfield International Airport – YHZ
- Montreal-Trudeau International Airport – YUL
- Québec City Jean Lesage International Airport – YQB
CBCA has a video showing how the kiosks work.
Privacy
Data collected by the kiosks is encrypted before being sent to CBSA, and wiped from the machines after processing. However some information that is already gathered by the agency will still be stored by them.
Joyce Carter, President and Chief Executive Officer, Halifax International Airport Authority:
“We are continuously looking for innovative ways to improve the airport experience of our passengers. Employing the latest technology to expedite the customs process aligns with our strategic priority of maximizing airport efficiency. We were delighted to collaborate with the Canada Border Services Agency and launch this enhancement for the benefit of returning residents and arriving visitors.”
N.B. Image credit: canada.ca
