Which travellers require a transit visa/permission and which officially documented exemptions are important?
A traveller from a visa-required country normally needs a transit visa for an international airport connection lasting no more than 48 hours if they lack a valid visitor visa and are not eligible for an eTA. US citizens and lawful US permanent residents can transit without a visa with the correct travel documents. Other eTA-required travellers need an eTA for air transit. The Transit Without Visa and China Transit programmes are conditional US-linked exceptions, not blanket nationality exemptions: they impose passport, travel-document, participating-airline, airport, sterile-area and 24-hour departure conditions. Visiting Canada or a transit longer than 48 hours requires a visitor visa where the traveller is visa-required.
See recorded sources
- federal-38: ## Visitor visa
## Visitor visa You need a visitor visa if you’re from a visa-required country and you plan to: * visit Canada (even if you’re travelling by air and it’s for less than 48 hours) * stay in Canada more than 48 hours while transiting You also need a visitor visa if you’re from a visa-required country and you’re crossing the border by: * bus * car * train * boat * cruise ship Apply for a visitor visa ## Transit visa You need a transit visa if you’re from a visa-required country and: * your international flight stops at a Canadian airport on its way to another country * you’ll be connecting between 2 international flights at one or more Canadian airports * your transit through Canada will last 48 hours or less * you don’t have a valid visitor visa * you’re not eligible for an eTA . Apply for a transit visa ## eTA You need an eTA to transit through Canada by air if you’re from an eTA-required country . You don’t need an eTA if you’re transiting through Canada and you enter by train, bus, boat or cruise ship. You do need to bring the right travel documents†www.cbsa.gc.ca . Apply for an eTA ## Transit without a visa ### Citizens and permanent residents of the United States US citizens and lawful permanent residents of the U.S. can transit through Canada without a visa by: * air * car * bus * train * boat * cruise ship You just need to bring the right travel documents†www.cbsa.gc.ca . ### Passport holders of certain countries or territories You may be able to transit without a visa if you hold a passport from one of the following countries or territories and you meet certain conditions: * China * Indonesia * Philippines * Thailand or * Taiwan (holder of passport without an personal identification number) Who can transit without a visa
- transit-twov: ## If you plan to travel to the United States via Canada
## If you plan to travel to the United States via Canada To be eligible, you need to 1. have these documents * a valid U.S. visa * a valid passport from * Indonesia * Philippines * Thailand * Taiwan (this must be a passport without a personal identification number) * a confirmed airline ticket for a flight to the United States that leaves Canada within 24 hours of your arrival 2. travel with an airline that participates in the TWOV 3. travel through specific Canadian airports 4. not leave the Canadian airport during your stopover, except to board your flight * you must remain in the international transit area 5. depart Canada within 24 hours of arrival * if your flight is cancelled or delayed and your layover is more than 24 hours, you’ll no longer qualify for this program. You’ll have to go to the Canada Border Services Agency for examination. You should check your flight connections with the airline. ## If you plan to connect through Canada on your way from the United States to an international destination To be eligible, you need to 1. have these documents * any documents you may need to enter the country you’re going to, such as a valid visa * a valid passport from * Indonesia * Philippines * Thailand * Taiwan (this must be a passport without a personal identification number) * a confirmed airline ticket for a flight that is * direct and non-stop to Canada * on the way to the country you’re going to * leaving Canada within 24 hours of your arrival * You must also meet U.S. immigration conditions * you entered the United States with a valid visa, and did not stay longer than you were authorized to * you are not under a removal or deportation order 2. travel with an airline that participates in the TWOV 3. depart from any city in the United States 4. travel through one of these Canadian airports * Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1 only * if you’re flying through Terminal 3, or need to change terminals between flights, you’re not eligible for the Transit Without Visa Program * Vancouver International Airport * Calgary International Airport * Winnipeg International Airport 5. not leave the Canadian airport during your stopover, except to board your flight * you must remain in the international transit area ## What to expect during your connection at the Canadian airport You must remain in a sterile transit area within the Canadian airport while you make your connection to or from the United States. This sterile transit area physically separates you and your baggage from other passengers and goods. If you need to leave this area for any reason, you’ll need to see a Canada Border Services Agency officer for examination. ### Travelling through Canada on your way to the United States When you arrive, you’ll go directly from your arrival gate to the U.S. connection area at the Canadian airport. You and your baggage will be re-screened for security. You’ll then go to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, where a border officer will process you for entry to the United States. Once cleared, you’ll be allowed into the departures area to proceed to your flight. ### Travelling through Canada on your way from the United States to an international destination When you arrive, you’ll go directly from your arrival gate to a primary inspection kiosk†www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca in the connection centre. The location of connection areas and the hours of operation may be different in each airport. Check with your airline if you have questions about the connection process for your trip. After scanning your passport at the kiosk, you’ll wait in the international departures lounge until you leave the Canadian airport. ### Missing a flight connection or arriving outside the hours of operation for U.S. Preclearance facilities There may be situations that disrupt your travel while you are in Canada. These can include * missing your connecting flight at the Canadian airport * being refused entry to the United States In each of these situations, you’re no longer exempt from needing a visa under the Transit Without Visa Program. You’ll need to see a Canada Border Services Agency officer for examination before you can continue your travels. ### Airlines that participate in the program * Air Canada * Air Canada Rouge * Air China * Cathay Pacific * China Airlines * China Eastern * China Southern * Hainan Airlines * Jazz Air * Philippines Airlines * WestJet * Xiamen Airlines ### Specific Canadian airports * Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1 only * If you’re flying through Terminal 3, or need to change terminals between flights, you’re not eligible for the TWOV * Vancouver International Airport * Calgary International Airport * Winnipeg International Airport ## Features
- transit-china: ## If you plan to travel to the United States via Canada
## If you plan to travel to the United States via Canada To be eligible, you need to 1. have these documents * a valid U.S. visa * a valid passport from People’s Republic of China * (Note: not issued by Hong Kong or Macao Special Administrative Regions) * a confirmed airline ticket for a flight to the United States that leaves Canada within 24 hours of your arrival 2. travel with an airline that participates in the CTP 3. depart from certain cities in Asia 4. travel through specific Canadian airports 5. not leave the Canadian airport during your stopover, except to board your flight * you must remain in the international transit area 6. depart Canada within 24 hours of arrival * if your flight is cancelled or delayed and your layover is more than 24 hours, you’ll no longer qualify for this program. You’ll have to go to the Canada Border Services Agency for examination. You should check your flight connections with the airline. ## If you plan to connect through Canada on your way from the United States to an international destination To be eligible, you need to 1. have these documents * any documents you may need to enter the country you’re going to, such as a valid visa * a valid passport from People’s Republic of China * (Note: not issued by Hong Kong or Macao Special Administrative Regions) * a confirmed airline ticket for a flight that is * direct and non-stop to Canada * on the way to the country you’re going to * leaving Canada within 24 hours of your arrival * You must also meet U.S. immigration conditions * you entered the United States with a valid visa, and did not stay longer than you were authorized to * you are not under a removal or deportation order 2. travel with an airline that participates in the CTP 3. depart from any city in the United States 4. arrive in Canada through one of these airports * Calgary International Airport * Montréal International Airport (Air Canada flights only) * Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1 only * if you’re flying through Terminal 3, or need to change terminals between flights, you’re not eligible for the China Transit Program * Vancouver International Airport * Winnipeg International Airport 5. not leave the Canadian airport during your stopover, except to board your flight * you must remain in the international transit area ## What to expect during your connection at the Canadian airport You must remain in a sterile transit area within the Canadian airport while you make your connection to or from the United States. This sterile transit area physically separates you and your baggage from other passengers and goods. If you need to leave this area for any reason, you’ll need to see a Canada Border Services Agency officer for examination. ### Travelling through Canada on your way to the United States When you arrive, you’ll go directly from your arrival gate to the U.S. connection area at the Canadian airport. You and your baggage will be re-screened for security. You’ll then go to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, where a border officer will process you for entry to the United States. Once cleared, you’ll be allowed into the departures area to proceed to your flight. ### Travelling through Canada on your way from the United States to an international destination When you arrive, you’ll go directly from your arrival gate to a primary inspection kiosk in the connection centre. The location of connection areas and the hours of operation may be different in each airport. Check with your airline if you have questions about the connection process for your trip. After scanning your passport at the kiosk, you’ll wait in the international departures lounge until you leave the Canadian airport. ### Missing a flight connection or arriving outside the hours of operation for U.S. Preclearance facilities There may be situations that disrupt your travel while you’re in Canada. These can include * missing your connecting flight at the Canadian airport * being refused entry to the United States In each of these situations, you’re no longer exempt from needing a visa under the China Transit Program. You’ll need to see a Canada Border Services Agency officer for examination before you can continue your travels. ### Airlines that participate in the program * Air Canada * Air Canada Rouge * Air China * Cathay Pacific * China Airlines * China Eastern * China Southern * Hainan Airlines * Jazz Air * Philippines Airlines * WestJet * Xiamen Airlines ### Specific Canadian airports * Toronto Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1 only * If you’re flying through Terminal 3, or need to change terminals between flights, you’re not eligible for the CTP * Vancouver International Airport * Montréal International Airport (Air Canada flights only) * Calgary International Airport * Winnipeg International Airport ## Certain cities in Asia * Beijing * Chengdu * Fuzhou * Guangzhou * Harbin * Hong Kong * Manila * Nagoya * Osaka * Seoul (Republic of Korea) * Shanghai * Shenyang * Taipei * Tokyo * Xiamen ### Before you arrive
