U.S. Customs Preclearance Opens Today at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

It’s a big day at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport as U.S. Customs preclearance opens for the first time.

Travellers flying to the U.S. can now clear U.S. Customs and Border Protection before their flight, helping to avoid long Customs lines at destination airports.

Airport officials say passengers should plan to arrive a little earlier at YTZ to allow time for the process of entering the United States. 

“You’ll still turn left at check-in like usual, and after security, you’ll pass through U.S. Customs on your way to relaxing in the departures lounge. Then, when you arrive at your U.S. destination, you’ll just need to grab your luggage and be on your way.” 

Billy Bishop Customs pre-clearance also includes expedited NEXUS screening for NEXUS card holders. 

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.

Officials say 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.

This fee is not intended to generate profit; it is intended only to cover the costs of providing U.S. border processing onsite. 

For Year One, the established per enplanement charge based on a weighted distribution of U.S. flight activity is set at $22.50 per passenger.

There’s some relief on the other end: By arriving in the U.S. as a domestic passenger, travellers 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.

A couple of things to note:

• 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. 
• 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.