Travel Through Canada Without a Visa

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) have established two programs that allows an individual to travel through Canada without a visa; the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) program and the China Transit Program (CTP).

Transit Without Visa (TWOV)

Nationals from the following countries qualify for the Transit Without Visa (TWOV) program:

  • Indonesia
  • Thailand
  • Taiwan
    • Taiwan passport holders who do not qualify for the visa exemption to visit Canada may still benefit from the TWOV program
  • Philippines

All nationals who qualify for the TWOV program must also meet these conditions:

  • They hold a valid passport issued by an approved country (listed above);
  • They hold a valid United States of America (USA) visa;
  • They travel to Canada on an approved airline (either Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Philippines Airlines, Jazz Air, Sky Regional Airlines Inc., and Air Georgian); and
  • They transit through an approved Canadian airport (either Vancouver International Airport or Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1 only)

Notice: Individual travelers cannot apply to the TWOV program; only airports and airlines can submit an application

Passengers traveling to the United States of America

In addition to the conditions above, while traveling to the United States of America, nationals from approved countries must hold a confirmed onward ticket for a direct flight to the United States leaving Canada the same travel day (no layover or overnight stay is permitted).

Passengers may be asked to fill out a TWOV card for statistical purposes.

China Transit Program (CTP)

Nationals from China may now qualify for the China Transit Program (CTP).

All Chinese nationals who qualify for the CTP must meet these conditions:

  • hold a valid passport issued by the People’s Republic of China;
  • hold a valid United States of America USA visa;
  • travel to Canada on an approved airline (either Air Canada, Air China, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, Philippines Airlines, Jazz Air, Sky Regional Airlines Inc., and Air Georgian); and
  • transit through an approved Canadian airport (either Vancouver International Airport or Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Terminal 1 only)

Notice: Individual travelers cannot apply to the CTP; only airports and airlines can submit an application.

Passengers traveling to the United States of America

In addition to the conditions above, while traveling to the United States of America, CTP travelers must hold a confirmed onward ticket for a direct flight to the United States leaving Canada the same travel day (no layover or overnight stay is permitted). CTP travelers must also arrive in Canada from one of the following six cities in Asia (as last points of embarkation):

  • Beijing
  • Guangzhou
  • Shanghai
  • Hong Kong
  • Manila
  • Taipei

Passengers may be asked to fill out a TWOV card for statistical purposes.

Missing a flight connection or arriving after hours

Travelers who miss their connecting flight or arrive after hours when the USA in-transit pre-clearance facility is closed are no longer eligible to travel without a transit visa under the TWOV program and must proceed to a CBSA officer for examination. Based on the examination, the CBSA officer may decide to issue them a fee-exempt temporary resident permit.

Passengers arriving from the United States of America

In addition to the conditions above, when traveling from the United States of America, nationals from approved countries must meet the following conditions to qualify as a TWOV passenger:

  • They arrive in Canada from the United States on a direct, non-stop flight on an approved airline and proceed to the CBSA area for clearance or remain in an isolated transit area while waiting for a connecting flight (passengers that leave the isolated transit area must go to the CBSA area for examination);
  • They are not under a removal or deportation order;
  • They had a valid USA visa to enter the USA and have not overstayed the period of time they were authorized to remain in the USA;
  • They are destined for a third country, including their country of nationality, and have the required travel documents to enter that third country as well as the required travel documents for any countries they may transit through; and
  • They hold a confirmed onward ticket for a flight that will leave Canada on the same travel day (no layover or overnight stay is permitted).

They may be asked to fill out a TWOV card for statistical purposes.

Notice: Travelers who are changing flights in Canada must arrive during the hours of operation of the USA in-transit pre-clearance facility to be able to travel without a Canadian transit visa under the TWOV program. Therefore, travelers should check their flight connections with the airline.

Please Contact Us for more information on these programs.

Global Immigration Consulting Services