Category: Temporary Resident Visas

In order to improve the competitiveness of Canadian airports, the Canadian government has programs so that people who are transiting to Canada to get to the United States do not need to apply for temporary resident visas.

The Transit Without Visa Program

The Transit Without Visa Program (“TWOV Program”) allows certain foreign nationals with valid United States visas, traveling to and from the United States,  to transit through Canada without having to first obtain a Canadian visa.

The TWOV Program operates at both Vancouver International Airport and Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

The program only applies to nationals of Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand.

In order to be eligible to travel under the TWOV Program, nationals of these countries must:

• be in possession of a valid visa issued by the United States;
• be in possession of a valid passport issued by the authorities of a participating country;
• hold a confirmed onward ticket for a connecting flight that departs Canada immediately (foreign nationals transiting Canada under the TWOV Program may not seek entry to Canada as temporary residents);
• arrive in Canada on an eligible airline; and
• transit through either Vancouver International Airport or Toronto Pearson Airport.

The eligible airlines are Cathay Pacific Airways, Philippine Airways, Air Canada, and Jazz Aviation LP.

The China Transit Trial Program

The China Transit Trial Program (“CCT Program”) allows nationals of the Peoples’ Republic of China with valid United States visas, traveling to and from the United States,  to transit through Canada without having to first obtain a Canadian visa.

The TWOV Program operates at both Vancouver International Airport and Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

Chinese nationals participating in the CTT Program must have as their last embarkation point one of the following six cities:

• Beijing;

 » Read more about: The Transit Without Visa Program and the China Transit Trial Program  »