If you're making a stopover in Canada, you might require a transit visa. This article provides guidance on how to get one.
Citizens of specific countries must secure a visa to enter Canada. If you plan to pass through Canada without any stops, you may still need a transit visa. To check if your country or territory is subject to this requirement, refer to the official Canadian citizenship and immigration website.
To get your transit visa, simply fill out the Temporary Resident Visa application form and select "transit visa" on it. It's important to know that transit visas are free. Processing times differ from one country to another, and you can check the Canadian government website's "Check application processing times" section for details. Additionally, you'll likely need to provide your biometric data, and instructions on how to do this will be given once you've submitted your visa application.
Holders of transit visas may exit a Canadian airport, provided they can demonstrate to a border services officer that they have a valid reason for entering Canada and that they have not exceeded the 48-hour time limit.
Transiting to Canada without a visa
Some people do not need a visa to enter Canada, but they still need to obtain specific documents for entry. Ensure that you have followed the necessary identification procedures for both yourself and any accompanying children. To determine if you require a transit visa for Canada, you can use the online "Check if you need a visa" tool provided by the Canadian government.
Furthermore, Canada Immigration Services and the Canada Border Services Agency offer two options for some travelers to transit through Canada without a visa. These options are the Transit Without Visa (TWV) program and the Chinese Transit Program (CTP). These programs enable specific foreign nationals to transit through Canada on their journey to or from the United States without requiring a Canadian visa, provided they meet the specific criteria.
The TWV is for people from Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand; the CTP is for people from China, whose last point of embarkation before arriving in Canada is 15 specific cities in Asia, such as Osaka, Hong Kong, and Beijing.
They must also hold a valid US visa, travel with an approved air carrier, and transit through a participating Canadian international airport.
The Canadian international airports participating in CTP are:
- Toronto Pearson International Airport (Terminal 1 only);
- Vancouver International Airport;
- Montreal International Airport (Air Canada flights only);
- Calgary International Airport;
- Winnipeg International Airport.
The same airports participate in TWV, with the exception of Montreal International Airport.
The airlines participating in both programs are:
- Air Canada;
- Air Canada Rouge;
- Air China;
- Cathay Pacific;
- China Airlines;
- China Eastern;
- China Southern;
- Hainan Airlines;
- Jazz Air;
- Philippines Airlines;
- West Jet;
- Xiamen Airlines.
The main goals of these programs are to facilitate the transit process through Canada and Quebec for genuine travelers coming to or leaving the United States. Additionally, they aim to boost economic development by enhancing the appeal of Canadian international airports for both passengers and airlines operating flights to and from the United States.
To determine your eligibility for these programs, please consult the links below:
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