- Eligible nationalities: Citizens of Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Taiwan (without personal ID numbers) can transit Canada en route to or from the US without a visa.
- Strict transit conditions: Travelers must hold a valid US visa, fly with an approved airline, depart within 24 hours, and remain restricted to the airport’s sterile international transit area.
- Security and operational protocols: Layovers exceeding 24 hours revoke program eligibility, and passengers are subject to mandatory security rescreening or primary inspection kiosks upon arrival.
The Canadian government has outlined strict conditions for citizens of four designated countries to transit through Canada without a visa. This applies under the Transit Without Visa programme.
Travellers must fly through Canada to or from the United States. The policy is limited exclusively to passport holders from Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Taiwan. Taiwanese passports must exclude a personal identification number to qualify.
Required Documents and Flight Rules
Passengers need a valid US visa and a confirmed airline ticket. Flights must depart Canada within 24 hours of arrival. Travellers must also use an airline participating in the official programme.
Upon arrival, passengers must stay within the sterile international transit area. This zone separates transit travellers from other individuals and goods. Leaving this area requires inspection by the Canada Border Services Agency.
What drove the recent updates to Canada’s transit rules?
Canada updated these transit rules to streamline passenger processing for eligible travellers moving between international destinations and the United States. The framework ensures strict security compliance at designated airports while maintaining clear operational protocols for participating carriers and border control officers handling short international connections.
Passengers travelling to the US undergo security rescreening before proceeding to US Customs. Those returning from the US use a primary inspection kiosk to scan passports. Layovers exceeding 24 hours due to cancellations revoke TWOV coverage, requiring immediate agency reporting by 23:59 UTC daily.
