The Port of Vancouver Port Pass allows access to the port and its facilities. This provides efficiency and safety among those who require frequent access for professional work purposes.
The Chamber of Shipping issues Port Passes on behalf of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority under an agency of trust agreement. Individual terminal operators work alongside the Chamber to determine who shall access to their marine facilities. The Chamber of Shipping does not activate access to individual terminals.
If you require a Marine Transportation Security Clearance issued by Transport Canada, you should apply or renew at least six months in advance as the approval process involves several federal agencies and can take several months for approval.
We are committed to providing a safe and respectful environment for our staff. Those who are disrespectful or disruptive will be denied service and reported.
All applications for new port passes and renewals must be completed online. The Chamber of Shipping serves as a sponsor for its member companies, and if your organization is not a member of the organization, applications must be sponsored by one of our member companies or by a terminal within the Port of Vancouver’s jurisdiction.
If you are not a member of the Chamber of Shipping, you will require sponsorship from a Chamber of Shipping member company, facility operator, or the Port of Vancouver, which must be confirmed by the sponsor via email to portpass@cosbc.ca.
Sponsorship Options:
All companies, members and non-members are required to use the Sponsorship Request Form to present the Chamber with a current employee list.
What to Include:
For companies who are sponsored by a terminal operator and have access to the Port of Vancouver’s online portal, the terminal security officer can upload the details of sponsored individuals upon request.
Individual applicants may complete the Online Port Pass Application form at any time.
How to apply online for a Port Pass:
If you do not have access to the Online Application form, please call our office to book an appointment where you will be able to complete the application. If you have submitted the online form but have not received an email to book an appointment within two business days, please call us at 604-681-2351.
Every appointment must be booked in advance as no walk-ins are accepted.
After completing the Online Port Pass Application form, please bring the following items to your appointment:
Cost (NOTE below new fees in effect from January 1, 2023):
Chamber of Shipping Members :
5 year: $75.00 (plus 5% GST)
Non-Members :
5 year: 100.00 (plus 5% GST)
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s lost Port Pass fee applies for Port Pass replacements. Fees start at $60 for the first occurrence.
Please bring with you one piece of Primary Identification. Please note that we cannot accept expired pieces of ID.
Acceptable Primary ID :
Unacceptable ID :
For any questions regarding this information, please contact the Chamber of Shipping at 604-681-2351 or email: portpass@cosbc.ca.
Individuals are encouraged to apply for a Port Pass if they require regular access (5 times in a Calendar Month/ 12 times in a Calendar Year) for legitimate business reasons to port properties located within the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s jurisdiction. The Chamber of Shipping is one of five issuing agencies designated by the VFPA to issue Port Passes to ship agents, service providers, ship suppliers, and general contractors servicing the port community at large.
Sponsorship is the first step of the Port Pass application.
Sponsorship notifies the Port of Vancouver and validates the reason as to why you require a Port Pass for work. While you cannot be sponsored by your employer, you can be sponsored by a terminal that you require access to or by a shipping line or agent that has requested your services on behalf of the vessel. The only way that the Chamber of Shipping can be your sponsor is if your company is a member of the organization.
Each company that is not a member of the Chamber of Shipping must obtain sponsorship from a Chamber of Shipping member company, a facility operator, or the Port of Vancouver. This sponsorship must be confirmed by the sponsor via email to portpass@cosbc.ca.
Using the Sponsorship Request Form, every company, member, or non-member must present the Chamber of Shipping with a current employee list, the legal name, date of birth, gender, height, eye colour, sponsorship expiry date, existing Port Pass number (if applicable), and whether a Marine Transportation Security Clearance (MTSC) is required.
If your company is sponsored by a terminal operator that has access to the Port of Vancouver’s online sponsorship portal, you can request the terminal security officers to upload the details of the sponsored individuals directly into the portal.
If you are self-employed, your sponsor would be the terminal that you will be working out of or by a shipping line or agent that requires your services.
Yes. Every Individual must complete the Online Port Pass Application form. Once the sponsorship information has been submitted and uploaded to the Chamber of Shipping, and the online application has been completed, the applicant will receive an email to book an appointment with one of our Access Control Officers. Note: if your Port Pass was issued by another entity, it may take a few extra days to have the Port Pass transferred to our offices for further processing.
Please be sure to select the Chamber of Shipping as the intended publisher on the application form.
If you do not have access to the Online Application form, please contact our office to book an appointment. Upon arrival at our office, you will be required to complete the online application at the time of your appointment.
If your Port Pass is expiring, you will need to complete all of the same steps as acquiring a new Port Pass. You must obtain sponsorship and complete the online Port Pass application — selecting the Renewal of Expired Port Pass for Application Type.
We work strictly on an appointment basis and do not accept walk-ins. If all sponsorship documents and the online application have been completed yet you have not received an email to our online appointment booking system within two days, please call the Port Pass Department at 604-681-2351. Double check your junk mailbox as the link comes from a 3rd party site.
On the date of your appointment, an Online Port Pass Application is required, and you will be required to present the following items:
a) Any previously issued Port Passes, if applicable
b) One piece of government-issued photo identification
If you have confirmed an appointment and need to change it, you can send a request using the original appointment confirmation email. If you cannot access the link, please call the office at 604-681-2351.
One piece of Primary Identification is required. Please note that we do not accept expired pieces of ID.
Acceptable Primary ID :
Unacceptable ID :
Please Note: We do not accept photocopies of photos of the ID. Only the original physical copy of the ID is valid at the time of the appointment.
Chamber of Shipping Members:
5-year pass: $60.00 (plus 5% GST)
from January 1, 2023 – 5-year pass $75.00 (plus 5% GST)
Non-Members:
5-year pass: $85.00 (plus 5% GST)
from January 1, 2023 – 5-year pass $100.00 (plus 5% GST)
Members of the Chamber of Shipping or Western Marine Community Coalition have the option of being invoiced directly.
If you arrive to your appointment on-time, it should take no more than 10 to 15 minutes, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
Email: portpass@cosbc.ca
Phone: 604-681-2351
If you have changed companies, your Port Pass is still active. Your previous employer must send an email to portpass@cosbc.ca with your first name, last name and Port Pass number advising that you are no longer in their employ.
Your new employer must also send an email to portpass@cosbc.ca with your first name, last name, and Port Pass number advising that you are now in their employ.
If you have lost your Port Pass, report the loss by calling the Chamber of Shipping office immediately or by emailing portpass@cosbc.ca so we can deactivate the pass in the system.
To obtain a replacement pass, the online Port Pass application needs to be submitted, and ensure to choose the correct reason for reapplying, which is, “Reissue of Lost Port Pass” along with “Chamber of Shipping” as the issuing office.
Since July 1, 2016, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority’s lost Port Pass fee is applied to Port Pass replacements – fees start at $60 for the first occurrence.
If your Port Pass has been stolen, please call the Chamber of Shipping office immediately to advise us to deactivate the pass in the system.
The VFPA Port Pass Report needs to be completed and sent to portpass@cosbc.ca.
Following that, the online application needs to be re-submitted choosing the correct reason for reapplying which is, “Reissue of Stolen Port Pass,” along with “Chamber of Shipping” as the issuing office.
There is no fee for a stolen Port Pass.
