Ready Lane

The Ready Lane is a dedicated lane that enables the fast and smooth processing of travelers at the land ports of entry across the US-Canada border by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). It makes use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to display the traveler’s information on a computer monitor inside a border official’s booth instead of having an agent type the information. Travelers will be able to cross the border around 10 to 15 minutes faster in a Ready Lane compared to a regular one.

Approved Ready Lane Documents

All Ready Lane documents should be a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative-compliant, RFID-enabled document that is approved by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

To use the Ready Lane, you will need to stop at the start of the lane and wait for a signal. Hold up your card or cards to ensure that the flat face of the cars can be read through the window of the driver’s side. Make sure all cards are visible to the RFID reader. Drive slowly through the entrance of the booth so that the cards will be read and then stop at the booth and wait for instructions from the border official.
  • US Passport Card
  • Enhanced Driver’s License (EDL)
  • Enhanced Tribal Card (ETC)
  • Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, FAST, SENTRI, and Global Entry Cards)
  • Enhanced Permanent Resident Card (PRC)
  • Border Crossing Card (BCC)

Using the Ready Lane

Ready Lane border crossing
  • To use the Ready Lane, you will need to stop at the start of the lane and wait for a signal.
  • Hold up your card or cards to ensure that the flat face of the cars can be read through the window of the driver’s side.
  • Make sure all cards are visible to the RFID reader.
  • Drive slowly through the entrance of the booth so that the cards will be read and then stop at the booth and wait for instructions from the border official.
  • Each adult passenger (anyone over the age of 16) has to have an RFID-enabled card. Children 15 years old and below may travel through a Ready Lane provided all the adult travelers with them in the vehicle all have an RFID-enabled card.
  • Only SENTRI, NEXUS, and Global Entry cards can be used on SENTRI and NEXUS lanes. On the other hand, cards from the Trusted Travelers program can be used on the Ready Lane.

Ready Lane “ready” Border Crossings

ready lanes