Entrust Collaborates on Canada Chain of Trust Project

According to the UN World Tourism Organization, the tourism sector was in a period of sustained growth pre-COVID-19, with air travel being the most popular mode of transportation. The increase in traffic – coupled with a lack of resources and space at airports – gave rise to the growth of seamless travel and border initiatives. This has been accelerated by COVID-19, given the recent emphasis on safe and touchless travel and borders.

In response to these issues, Entrust (formerly WorldReach) and government partners embarked on a collaborative project to reduce wait time for admissible people crossing the Canadian border. The Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) also identified the need to improve information management to process people quickly and securely. The ability to facilitate the clearance of low-risk travelers, while detecting and/or deterring potential terrorists/criminals before entry, is of critical importance to the Government of Canada. The Chain of Trust project partners came together through a call for proposals from the Centre for Security Science, which is managed by Defense Research Development Canada. Entrust worked with government partners Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and CBSA, as well as Face4 Systems and the University of Ottawa on the initial prototype. The subsequent pilot involves CBSA, Face4, and the Greater Toronto Airport Authority (GTAA).

The Chain of Trust pilot project uses Entrust’s Identity Verification as a Service platform to remotely perform identity verification for returning Canadian nationals currently traveling overseas. This is followed by eligibility screening, security checks, arrival and border security, while feeding into security management and biometric exit controls at the airport. In essence, the front door to seamless traveler journey and “zero touch” border management, which is especially relevant now given COVID-19 protocols.

The Chain of Trust pilot demonstrated how remote identity verification and continuous risk assessment can be integrated across the traveler journey to support more efficient and secure border processing. By enabling identity verification, eligibility screening, and declarations to occur before arrival, the solution helped shift key processing steps away from the physical border environment.

The pilot supported the facilitation of low‑risk, admissible travelers while enabling border authorities to identify persons of interest earlier in the journey. Information collected through the mobile app was securely shared with government systems to support admissibility assessments and guide travelers through required steps using personalized notifications.

At the border, the integrated use of facial recognition corridors, real‑time traveler status, and risk assessment information supported timely and informed decision‑making by border officers. The approach aligned with COVID‑19 protocols by enabling touch‑minimized, “zero‑touch” interactions while maintaining strong privacy protections through encryption and Privacy by Design principles.

The Chain of Trust pilot validated a collaborative, technology‑enabled approach to border management that balances traveler experience, operational efficiency, security, and privacy.

The Chain of Trust pilot established an integrated, mobile‑led approach to identity verification, eligibility screening, and border processing for returning Canadian nationals. By demonstrating how remote identity verification, continuous risk assessment, and biometric border processing can work together across the traveler journey, the project provides a foundation for seamless and touch‑minimized border management.

The collaboration between Entrust, CBSA, IRCC, airport authorities, and technology partners illustrates how validated digital identity and secure information sharing can support government objectives for efficient traveler facilitation, improved security, and privacy‑by‑design protections. The pilot’s outcomes inform how similar digital border capabilities could be applied to future travel scenarios, supporting evolving requirements for safe, secure, and efficient border operations.