Canada Says It Will Align With US Changes That No Longer Require Travellers to Remove Shoes for Airport Security

Transport Canada said it will align with a new U.S. policy that no longer requires passengers to remove their shoes during the airport security screening process.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem made the policy shift announcement on July 8, saying that she believed the change could be made while maintaining high security standards.

The policy of removing shoes was developed after British passenger Richard Reid attempted to detonate explosives that were hidden in his shoes during a flight from Paris to Miami in 2001. Reid, who had received training from the al-Qaeda terrorist organization, was sentenced to three life imprisonment terms after he pleaded guilty in 2002.

Transport Canada told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement that it was aware of the U.S. decision and would align its practices.

“The Government of Canada will work with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to ensure requirements are aligned,” spokesperson Hicham Ayoun said in the email.

Ayoun said that Transport Canada works closely with TSA to harmonize screening procedures on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.

Shoe removal is not common practice for Canadian travellers either domestically or internationally, but those travelling to the United States have been required to remove shoes for screening at Canadian airports with pre-clearance, Ayoun said.

“Transport Canada will pursue its ongoing work to improve the passenger screening process, all while maintaining the highest standards of safety and security,” Ayoun wrote in the email.

The move follows other recent changes the United States has made, including adding a requirement for Canadian travellers to register if they are staying in the United States longer than 30 days.

The requirement, announced in March, is for Canadians over the age of 14, and also requires that travellers submit biometric data, including fingerprints.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security will issue registration documents for travellers that they are required to carry at all times. Failure to comply with the new regulations could result in penalties, fines, and misdemeanor charges.

In May, Ottawa had advised Canadians to expect scrutiny at U.S. border crossings. It advised travellers to comply with border agents, and warned travellers they could be detained and have their cellphones searched.

The changes come during a time of tension between the two countries amid the United States imposing tariffs on Canadian products and Canada reciprocating.

The number of Canadian travellers to the United States has declined since the trade war began.

The number of those crossing into the United States by vehicle fell by 38.1 percent in May compared to a year prior, according to recent data released by Statistics Canada—more than the 35.2 percent decrease in April.

The decline was the first marked since 2021 when COVID-19 restrictions were in place, according to StatCan.

Canadians visiting the United States by air have also declined through the first months of 2025, StatCan said. The number of travellers returning from the United States in May dropped by 24.2 percent, more than the 14 percent decline recorded in April.

Jack Phillips contributed to this article.