Every person who seeks to enter Canada must appear for an examination conducted by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) at a Port of Entry (POE). The examination process determines whether the person is admissible to Canada and in what capacity. IRPA section 18 authorises CBSA officers to examine everyone seeking entry — the examination occurs in two stages: a brief primary inspection for all travellers, and a more detailed secondary examination for those referred by the primary officer. The examination is distinct from the authorised period of stay, which is determined by the officer after a person is admitted.

For current CBSA procedures on examination and secondary inspection, refer to the CBSA secondary inspections page.

• Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), s 18 — the duty to appear for examination for everyone seeking to enter Canada
• IRPA, s 20 — what foreign nationals must establish to gain admission
• IRPA, s 22–23 — temporary resident status and conditions
• IRPA, s 44 — inadmissibility reports prepared by CBSA officers
• IRPA, s 55 — grounds for detention by CBSA officers
• CBSA: Secondary inspections — cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/inspections
• ENF 4 — Port of Entry Examinations

Primary inspection

Every traveller entering Canada goes through a primary inspection — a brief examination conducted by a CBSA officer at the first point of contact (a kiosk, a booth, or at the border crossing). During primary inspection:

• The officer reviews the traveller's travel document (passport, visa or eTA if applicable, PR card, or work/study permit)
• The officer may ask basic questions about the purpose of the visit, intended length of stay, and goods being brought into Canada
• The officer queries immigration and criminal databases to check for any flags or concerns
• The officer makes a decision: admit the traveller (without referral or with a referral to immigration secondary) or refer to secondary examination for a more detailed assessment

Referral to secondary does not mean the traveller is inadmissible — it means the officer has a question or concern that requires more time to resolve than is available at primary.

Secondary examination

Secondary examination is a more detailed inspection process for travellers who are referred from primary. In immigration secondary:

• An officer conducts a more thorough interview and document review
• The officer assesses the traveller's admissibility in detail — purpose of visit, ties to home country, financial means, criminal record, prior immigration history, any inadmissibility grounds
• For persons presenting for admission with work permits, study permits, or other status documents, the officer reviews and validates those documents
• The officer may access IRCC systems to verify permit status and any instructions on file

What CBSA must establish — IRPA s.20

Under IRPA s.20, a foreign national seeking entry to Canada as a temporary resident must establish to the officer's satisfaction that they:

• Will leave Canada by the end of the authorised stay
• Hold a valid temporary resident visa (if required) or are visa-exempt
• Are not inadmissible on any ground (health, character, security, misrepresentation, etc.)
• Are coming to Canada for a purpose consistent with their stated status (visitor, student, worker)

Permanent residents seeking re-entry must establish that they continue to hold PR status (including meeting the residency obligation) and are not inadmissible.

Possible outcomes at the Port of Entry

After examination, a CBSA officer may:

• Admit the traveller — entry to Canada is granted; for visitors, the officer stamps the passport and writes in or stamps the authorised stay period (typically 6 months)
• Allow conditional entry while a matter is resolved — in some cases (e.g., where documents need verification) the person may be allowed to enter under conditions
• Issue a section 44 inadmissibility report — if the officer has reasonable grounds to believe the person is inadmissible, they may prepare a written report that initiates a formal admissibility hearing process
• Order detention — if the officer has grounds to detain (flight risk, danger to the public, unknown identity), the person may be detained and a detention review must occur within 48 hours
• Issue a removal order — in some cases (particularly for persons subject to a departure order or persons clearly inadmissible) the officer may issue or execute a removal order at the port

For the section 44 inadmissibility report process, see the inadmissibility report page.

Examination of digital devices

CBSA officers have the authority to examine digital devices (mobile phones, laptops, tablets) at a Canadian Port of Entry — this is considered an examination of goods under the Customs Act. Travellers are not required to provide passwords but refusal to provide access can result in the device being seized for examination, and may contribute to a finding of inadmissibility. The CBSA's authority to examine digital devices is separate from the requirement for a warrant in other contexts, as port-of-entry examination is a border security function.

The authorised stay — separate from examination

It is important to understand that the examination and the authorised stay period are two distinct matters:

• The examination determines whether the traveller may enter Canada and in what status
• The authorised stay is the period during which the traveller may remain in Canada after admission — typically stamped in the passport or issued as a visitor record
• The default authorised stay for visitors is 6 months from the date of entry (unless the officer grants less or more)
• Having a TRV valid for 10 years does not mean a person can stay for 10 years — the TRV is the entry document; the authorised stay is determined at entry

Most travellers will never experience secondary examination, but understanding the process is valuable for persons who have any prior immigration history, criminal record, or unusual circumstances that might generate questions at the border. The key practical point is that referring a traveller to secondary is the officer's prerogative and does not signal inadmissibility — it means the officer needs more information. Honest, direct answers to officer questions, supported by documentation, are the best approach in secondary. For CBSA's current procedures on secondary inspection and what to expect if referred, refer to the CBSA secondary inspections page and the CBSA publication BSF5146.