Canada Transit Visa

If you’re from a visa-exempt country, you will not need to obtain a transit visa when transiting through, or travelling to, Canada. You must instead apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) if you are transiting through Canada by air.

In addition, Canadian citizens, and citizens and permanent residents of the United States, do not need a transit visa.

If you’re a citizen of a visa-required country, you may require a valid visa, and depending on your plans, that may have to be a transit visa.

If you’re from a visa-required country, whether or not you’ll need a visa to transit through Canada depends on the following:

• What method of transport you’ll take to travel to Canada
• How long your stay in Canada will be
• If you’ll be visiting Canada

To see if your country is on the visa-exempt list, see our FAQ.

Citizens from certain countries may also be eligible to travel through Canada through the Transit Without Visa program, or the China Transit Program. If eligible, travellers may not need to obtain a transit visa in order to travel through Canada.

If you’re from a visa-required country, you will need to obtain an airport transit visa if the following apply:

• Your international flight stops at a Canadian airport on its way to another country
• You’ll be connecting between two international flights at a Canadian airport
• You’ll transit through Canada in 48 hours or less
• You don’t have a valid visitor visa

You can’t apply for a transit visa if any of the following apply:

• You’ll be visiting Canada (leaving the secure international transit area of the airport)
• You’ll be staying in Canada for more than 48 hours while transiting
• You’ll be crossing the border by means other than plane, such as:
  • bus
  • car
  • train
  • boat
  • cruise ship

If any of these apply to you, you will need to apply for a visitor visa.

You must normally apply for a transit visa online.

However, if you’re unable to apply online because of a disability, or if you’re travelling with an identity or travel document that was issued to a refugee, a stateless person or a non-citizen, you may apply on paper.

How to Apply for a Transit Visa Online

You must sign in to your Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Portal account, or create one if you don’t already have one.

You must then complete the online visa application form given, which will be for a standard visitor visa. You must ensure that you select the ‘Transit’ option underneath the ‘Visa Requested’ field.

You will then need to supply the necessary supporting documents for your application.

How to Apply for a Transit Visa On Paper

If you need to apply for a transit visa on paper, you will have to download the relevant application form from the Canadian government website.

The application process is similar to applying for a transit visa online. You will have to fill out the necessary forms (which are identical to that of applying for a visitor visa) and supply the required documents needed for your application.

You will then need to send the application to your local visa application center.

In order to be eligible for a transit visa, you will need to supply the following documents with your application:

• Clear colour copy of an identity document, such as a valid passport
• Family information form
• Use of a representative form, if applicable (only if a family member is applying on behalf of the applicant or third parties)
• Minor children documents, if applicable (documents needed depend if the child under 18 years of age will travel with only one parent, with a relative or friend, or alone)

In addition, the following documents are optional but will help establish your eligibility for a transit visa:

• Previous travel history
• Travel itinerary

There is no visa fee attached as Transit visas are free to obtain.

The Canadian government generally aim to process transit visa applications within a few weeks or less. However, this may vary depending on the local visa office in the foreign country, and if you need to complete any additional steps to get your application processed.

For more information about the transit visa application process and to receive assistance with your application, reach out to one of our trusted legal advisers on +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online today.

After you apply, IRCC will review your application and make sure that it is complete.

They will return your application to you if it is incomplete or if there are any important documents missing.

As part of the application process, you may also be asked to do the following:

• Get a medical exam
• Get a police certificate
• Go for a visa interview

In addition, it is likely that you will need to give your biometrics information in the form of fingerprints and a photograph as part of your transit visa application. You will be notified when you will need to make an appointment to give your biometrics.

If your application is approved, you will receive your original documents back and get a  transit visa will be placed in your passport.

If your application is refused, you will be notified of this along with a reason explaining why.

There is no formal appeals process for when your application is refused.

However, you will be free to apply for a transit visa again any time after your refusal. However, you should make sure that you do so only if your situation has significantly changed, or if you have significant new information to submit.

If you require any additional assistance with your transit visa application, or if you’re unsure as to why it’s been refused, get in touch with one of our Canadian immigration experts today. Call us on +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online.