Transit through Canada

You may need to transit through Canada on your way to another country. The document you need to transit through Canada depends on:

• how you will travel through Canada (by air, car, bus, train, boat, including cruise ship)
• how long it’ll take you to transit through Canada
• the nationality of your passport
• other factors, such as whether you are a permanent resident of the United States or a US visa holder

To find out if you need a visa, you can

• answer a few questions, or
• review the options below

Find out if you need a 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.

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.

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