An independent Alberta would not face a hard border with the rest of Canada.
Claimed by: Commonly stated by Alberta independence advocates
Unverifiable: Not enough reliable public information to reach a verdict. How we rate.
Short answer
How the border would work is one of the many things that would have to be negotiated, so no one can promise it would stay open. Trade terms, customs, immigration, and citizenship between a sovereign Alberta and Canada would all be subject to talks, and the outcome could range from a relatively open arrangement to controlled crossings. Because Alberta would be the much smaller party negotiating with a neighbour of about 35 million people, the result is genuinely uncertain and cannot be assumed in advance.
What remains uncertain
There is not enough reliable public information to reach a definitive verdict. The claim is neither supported nor ruled out on the available record.
What the evidence shows
Analysis stresses that everything between a sovereign Alberta and its neighbours, including borders, citizenship rules, and trade, would be subject to difficult negotiations with nothing guaranteed.
Legal explainers note a yes vote only triggers negotiations, and the terms of any new Alberta-Canada relationship would have to be worked out.