Presidential Permits for Border Crossings

Under Executive Order 11423, as amended, the Secretary of State has the authority to receive applications for and to issue Presidential permits for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of certain facilities at the borders of the United States with Canada and Mexico. Permits are required for the full range of facilities at the border, including land crossings, bridges, pipelines, tunnels, conveyor belts, and tramways. This authority applies to all new border crossings and to all substantial modifications of existing crossings at the international border.

Working with federal agencies such as the Department of Transportation, the General Services Administration, the Department of Homeland Security's Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of State determines whether a proposed border-crossing project is in the U.S. national interest. The Department coordinates closely with concerned state and local agencies, and invites public comment in arriving at this determination. Within the context of appropriate border security, safety, health, and environmental requirements, the Department believes that it is generally in the national interest to facilitate the efficient movement of legitimate goods and travelers across U.S. borders.

The Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs receives permit applications for most facilities at the Canadian and Mexican borders, except:

• the Department of State's Office of International Energy and Commodity Policy for liquid pipelines,
• the Department of Energy for electrical transmission lines,
• the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for natural gas pipelines.

If you plan to submit an application for a Presidential permit for Mexico, please read a detailed description of the application process and contact us via e-mail at WHA-BorderAffairs@state.gov or via phone at 202-647-9894.

If you plan to submit an application for a Presidential permit for Canada, please read a detailed description of the application process and contact us via e-mail at WHACANmail@state.gov or via phone at 202-647-2170.

For related information, please see the Federal Highway Administration's Border Transportation Planning web site.

Recent public notices related to Presidential permit applications:

• Notice of Receipt of Application for a Presidential Permit To Construct, Operate, and Maintain a New Border Crossing Facility on the U.S.-Mexico Border at San Diego, CA and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico [73 FR 4300 (January 24, 2008)]
• Notice of Receipt of Application for a Presidential Permit To Construct a New International Rail Bridge Between Webb County, TX and Colombia, Mexico [72 Federal Register 50711 (September 4, 2007)]
• Issuance of a Presidential Permit Authorizing the Greater Yuma Port Authority To Construct, Operate, and Maintain a Livestock Border Crossing Near San Luis, Arizona, at the International Boundary Between the United States and Mexico [72 FR 66216 (Nov 27, 2007)]