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Summaries of EU Legislation

EU–Canada agreement on passenger name record data

SUMMARY OF:

Agreement between Canada and the EU on the Transfer and Processing of Passenger Name Record Data

Decision (EU) 2024/2891 on the signing, on behalf of the EU, of the Agreement between Canada and the EU on the Transfer and Processing of Passenger Name Record Data

Decision (EU) 2025/851 on the conclusion, on behalf of the EU, of the Agreement between Canada and the EU on the Transfer and Processing of Passenger Name Record Data

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE AGREEMENT AND THE DECISIONS?

The agreement between Canada and the European Union (EU) sets out rules for the transfer and processing of passenger name record (PNR) data from the EU to Canada. Its aim is to support the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorism and serious transnational crime, while ensuring full respect for fundamental rights, in particular the right to privacy and the protection of personal data.

The Council of the European Union authorised the signing of the agreement through Decision (EU) 2024/2891 and approved its conclusion through Decision (EU) 2025/851.

KEY POINTS

Objectives and scope

The agreement establishes a framework for transferring PNR data from the EU to Canada and sets the conditions for its subsequent use and retention by Canadian authorities. PNR data refers to information collected by air carriers during the booking process, such as travel dates, contact details, itineraries and payment methods. The terms of the agreement include:

  • an exhaustive list of PNR data elements to be transferred to Canada;
  • the purposes for which PNR data can be used;
  • a prohibition against processing sensitive data;
  • obligations to ensure the security of PNR data and to notify data breaches;
  • oversight by one or more independent authorities;
  • transparency obligations;
  • the right of access and the right for data subjects to request the correction of their PNR data;
  • administrative and judicial redress for infringing the rights of the agreement;
  • specific safeguards for the automated processing of PNR data;
  • rules for restricted retention of PNR data with a view to ensuring that such data are not stored longer than what is necessary for and proportionate to the objective pursued by this agreement;
  • conditions for disclosure of PNR data to other government authorities.

DATE OF ENTRY INTO FORCE

The agreement will enter into force on the date of the second notification by which each party (the EU and Canada) informs the other in writing that it has completed its internal procedures.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Agreement between Canada and the European Union on the transfer and processing of passenger name record data (OJ L, 2025/841, ).

Council Decision (EU) 2024/2891 of on the signing, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between Canada and the European Union on the transfer and processing of Passenger Name Record data (OJ L, 2024/2891, ).

Council Decision (EU) 2025/851 of on the conclusion, on behalf of the Union, of the Agreement between Canada and the European Union on the transfer and processing of Passenger Name Record data (OJ L, 2025/851, ).

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