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CBSA hiring 2026: 1,000 new officers, steps and how to apply

CBSA hiring: the CBSA plans to hire 1,000 new officers by 2028-2029, over 100 hired as of May 8, 2026. Requirements, GC Jobs, exams, Rigaud training.

November 10, 2026 · By the Agent Policier editorial team · Lire en français

Jobs

As of May 8, 2026, over 100 of the 1,000 new officers had been hired by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), which plans to hire them all by the end of fiscal year 2028-2029, according to its briefing binder for the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (May 28, 2026). This article covers CBSA hiring and the application process. For pay, see our page on customs officer salary. This text applies to women and men alike.

1,000 new CBSA officers by 2028-2029

The CBSA's 2026 to 2027 Departmental Plan (modified March 13, 2026) lists among its key priorities the recruitment, training and deployment of 1,000 new CBSA officers over the next three years. The May 28, 2026 binder gives the progress.

Budget 2025 allocated $669 million over five years and $198.3 million ongoing to bolster CBSA operations
As of May 8, 2026, over 100 new officers were hired, of the 1,000
Among them were 76 border services officers, 21 trade officers, 3 recourse officers, 4 chemists and 2 detection technology engineers
200 recruits were expected to be in training at the college in Rigaud by July 2026
Over 400 new officers are expected to be in place by the end of fiscal year 2026-2027

The selection process now open

The CBSA's recruitment page states that the Officer Trainee Developmental Program selection process is open. It is GC Jobs poster 2026-EA-OIM-FB-02-0010, CBSA Border Services Officer Trainee (Developmental), FB-02.

Closing date: June 24, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time
Who can apply: Canadian citizens and permanent residents abroad, as well as persons residing in Canada
Location: various locations across Canada
Language: English essential or bilingual imperative (BBB/BBB)

The poster offers only "English essential" or "bilingual imperative" positions. It offers no French unilingual position. It gives no number of positions. Applications are drawn from the inventory as positions become available.

Requirements to apply

The "Find out if you qualify to become a border services officer" page (modified September 9, 2026) lists the conditions to meet when you apply.

Be at least 18 years old before starting the Officer Induction Training Program
Hold a secondary school diploma or equivalent
Hold a valid, unrestricted driver's licence that permits you to drive in Canada. Graduated, probationary and expired licences are not accepted
Meet the security level required
Accept a position wherever the CBSA needs you most

The GC Jobs poster adds passing the two Canadian firearms safety courses and an enhanced secret clearance, which you must obtain and maintain.

The CBSA application process, step by step

According to the poster, every candidate must attend an information session and complete an entrance exam, an interview, document validation, a psychological assessment, an information session on the physical abilities test, a medical assessment, the firearms courses, a second language evaluation for bilingual positions only and a security screening.

The "Selection steps and timelines" page (modified March 10, 2026) gives these details.

The process can take up to 18 months
Entrance exam results remain valid indefinitely. After a failure, you must wait 1 year to retake it
Psychological and medical assessment results are valid for 2 years (with some conditions for the medical exam)

Training at the college in Rigaud

The "Post-recruitment training and development" page (modified July 17, 2026) describes three phases.

3 weeks of distance learning, an average of 5 hours a day
15 weeks in residence at the Canada Border Services College in Rigaud, Quebec, generally Monday to Friday, with occasional evenings, weekends or holidays
12 to 18 months of on-the-job development at your port of entry, as an officer trainee (FB-02)

Accommodations and meals are provided. The CBSA covers one round trip from home and pays a weekly allowance of $525. On successful completion, the trainee is appointed border services officer (FB-03). The steps page, modified earlier on March 10, 2026, still lists 4 weeks online and 14 weeks in residence.

On salary, the poster shows $80,344 to $89,462 a year for an FB-02 trainee, "under review." That is about $41.06 to $45.72 an hour, calculated by our editors on 37.5 hours × 52.18 weeks (FB collective agreement, clause 25.06). The full scale is in our customs officer salary article.

This article is neither legal nor union advice.

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Frequently asked questions

How to get hired by CBSA?

Apply online to the GC Jobs poster 2026-EA-OIM-FB-02-0010, open until June 24, 2027. You need to be 18 before training, hold a high school diploma and a valid, unrestricted driver's licence. The entrance exam, interview and other assessments follow.

How long does the CBSA application process take?

The CBSA says the process can take up to 18 months. Then come 3 weeks of online training, 15 weeks in Rigaud and 12 to 18 months on the job.

Is it hard to get a job at CBSA?

The CBSA does not publish a success rate. A candidate who fails the entrance exam must wait 1 year to retake it.

Do you have to be bilingual to work for the Canadian government?

Not for every CBSA position. The current poster offers "English essential" or "bilingual imperative" positions, with no French unilingual position. A bilingual position requires the intermediate level (BBB) in the second official language, according to the CBSA.

How many officers is the CBSA hiring?

The CBSA plans to hire 1,000 new officers by the end of fiscal year 2028-2029. As of May 8, 2026, over 100 had been hired.

How do I apply online?

You apply on GC Jobs, the federal public service job site. The "Apply now" link is on the CBSA recruitment page.

Where do CBSA officers train?

In-residence training takes place at the Canada Border Services College in Rigaud, Quebec. It lasts 15 weeks, generally Monday to Friday, with occasional evenings, weekends or holidays. Accommodations and meals are provided, with a weekly allowance of $525.