U.S. Preclearance at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
Preclearance begins March 10, 2026
As of March 10, 2026, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport offers a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Preclearance facility, allowing travellers to complete U.S. immigration, customs, and agriculture inspections before departure. This means a faster, more seamless arrival in the United States.
All passengers flying to the United States will go through preclearance.
What to expect
If you are travelling to the United States, you will clear U.S. CBP before your flight. When you arrive at the airport:
- Check in with your airline (and check bags, if applicable)
- Clear airport security with the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
- Complete U.S. CBP preclearance inspection
- Relax in the transborder lounge until boarding
Once you’ve completed preclearance, no further inspections are required upon arrival in the U.S. You may proceed directly to your connecting flight or final destination.
Plan Ahead
Time
Preclearance is similar to any international customs process and can take time. Arrive early and follow your airline’s guidance.
Note: The airport is closed to the public between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily. If you have a morning flight, do not arrive prior to 5 a.m. Check-in opens at 5:30 a.m.
What to bring
All travellers to the United States must have a valid passport.
Non-Canadian citizens may also require a visa. Citizens of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries require valid ESTA approval. Please have all required documentation on hand.
Some items are not permitted into the United States. Review the U.S. CBP’s Know Before You Visit guidance before you travel.
Get the app
The U.S. CBP’s secure Mobile Passport Control (MPC) app is free for Apple and Android devices and may help reduce wait times, especially for families and larger groups.
MPC does not replace your passport.
More information
For additional details, visit the U.S. CBP website or contact U.S. CBP at 1-202-325-8000.
Understanding the CBP User Fee
This information is shared to help passengers understand the fee that appears on their ticket and how it supports required border‑processing operations.
Who pays for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility at YTZ?
The preclearance facility at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is being supported through a self‑funded model. This is unlike most other Canadian airports where preclearance operations are funded through larger federal infrastructure programs or long-established airport authority cost‑sharing frameworks.
This means the airport is responsible for recovering the full cost of operating the CBP facility, rather than relying on the broader federal funding structures typically used at larger Canadian preclearance airports. As a result, the airport must implement a cost‑recovery approach to ensure the financial sustainability of the service.
How does preclearance affect passenger fees?
Because Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is responsible for recovering preclearance costs independently, a per‑enplanement fee, applied only to passengers travelling to the U.S., has been introduced to support the operation of the preclearance facility. This fee is not intended to generate profit; it simply covers the costs of providing U.S. border processing onsite.
The CBP User Fee applies to all commercial passengers (some exceptions) departing to the U.S. from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
By arriving in the U.S. as a domestic passenger, travelers bypass Federal Inspection Station (FIS) facilities entirely. As a result, the arrival‑based FIS processing charges that would typically be built into an airline ticket for entry at a U.S. airport no longer apply when departing from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport.
How much is the CBP User Fee?
For Year One, the established per enplanement charge based on a weighted distribution of U.S. flight activity is set at $22.50 CAD per passenger.
Airlines are required to collect the fee at the time of ticket purchase on behalf of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and display it on your ticket or receipt.
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