Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Office of Reconsideration do?

The Office of Reconsideration reviews the applications of individuals who have been the subject of an emergency direction not to board an aircraft under the Passenger Protect Program. The Office of Reconsideration allows these individuals to submit additional information supporting their application for reconsideration and ensures that this additional information is provided to the Minister of Public Safety, or his/her delegate, who will determine whether an individual should remain a specified person.

Who can apply for reconsideration?

Canadians, permanent residents or persons in Canada who have been the subject of an emergency direction not to board an aircraft under the Passenger Protect Program.

How do I apply for reconsideration?

Complete and submit the Application to the Office of Reconsideration under the Passenger Protect Program form to the Office of Reconsideration.

Remember that your application must include a certified photocopy of at least two pieces of government-issued identification that support your identity (e.g. documents issued by federal or provincial/territorial authorities). Please do not submit your original documents.

Where do I send my application?

Your application must be submitted to the Office of Reconsideration at the following address:

Office of Reconsideration
Public Safety Canada
340 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0P8
Canada

How does the Passenger Protect Program work?

Under the Passenger Protect Program, Public Safety Canada determines whether there are reasonable grounds to suspect that an individual poses a threat to aviation security. Transport Canada specifies these individuals to air carriers. It provides the name, date of birth and gender of specified individuals to airlines.

Airlines are required by the Identity Screening Regulations to screen all passengers for domestic and international flights to, from or within Canada, and identify specified individuals. This verification is done regardless of whether a passenger requests a boarding pass at an airport check-in counter, at a self-serve check-in kiosk, or online.

If a passenger's name, date of birth and gender match a specified individual, the air carrier notifies Transport Canada. Transport Canada may issue an emergency direction prohibiting the airline from carrying that individual and prohibiting the person from boarding. Upon receiving an emergency direction not to board an aircraft under the Passenger Protect Program, an individual may apply to the Office of Reconsideration for a review.

More information about the Program can be found at Passenger Protect Program.

How do I know I've been denied boarding because of the Passenger Protect Program and not for some other reason?

You will have been provided a document, called an emergency direction, at the time you were denied boarding of the aircraft. If you did not receive this document, but were still denied boarding, it will usually have been for a reason that is not related to the Passenger Protect Program.

Only individuals who have received an emergency direction not to board under the Passenger Protect Program may apply to the Office of Reconsideration for a review.