The Canadian transit visa is an official document that the Canadian visa office puts in an applicant’s passport. This document showcases that the applicant has met the requirements to transit for up to 48 hours through an airport based in Canada. A Canadian transit visa will only be valid for one or two entries, depending on your travel plans, which is why the same must be used before expiry.
Before applying for a transit visa, it is crucial to learn the entry documents you require, which have been outlined on the official website here. Usually, your entry documents will depend on the following factors: your nationality, your travel procedure to Canada for your trip, your travel document issuing country, and the kind of travel document you decide to travel with.
What are the Eligibility and Requirements?
An individual will require a Canadian transit visa if he or she hails from a country where having a visa is mandatory. To know more about visa-required countries, visit the official website here.
Additionally, if your international flight is destined to stop at an airport in Canada on its way to a third destination, if you will be connecting with two different international flights at any Canadian airport, or if you will transit via Canada in 48 hours or less, then you also require a transit visa. Lastly, individuals who do not own a valid visitor visa should also apply for a Canadian transit visa.
However, if you are travelling to or from the United States from countries such as China, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand, and hold a valid passport, then you will be able to travel via Canada without requiring a transit visa. Individuals from Taiwan should have passports without any personal identification numbers. To learn whether you can transit without a visa, visit the official verification website here.
On the other hand, individuals cannot apply for a transit visa if they hail from a visa-required country and their transit in Canada is longer than 48 hours or if they plan to visit Canada. In addition to that, transit visas will not be provided to those who are arriving in Canada from a visa-required country and are crossing the Canadian border via train, bus, car, cruise ship, or boat. In such cases, a visitor visa will be required.
It is also recommended that when you are travelling to Canada, you have a valid passport along with the passport of any children travelling with you. This is because passports are the only reliable documents that are widely accepted when required for individual identification. In any case, if you do not have the proper documents, your travel will either be delayed or you will be unable to transit through Canada.
Lastly, individuals who are involved in human rights violations, criminal activity, and organised crime are not allowed to enter Canada, even for health, security, and financial reasons.
What is the Processing Time?
Once you have applied for your Canadian transit visa online, the authorities will review it and ensure that the application is complete and all the required documents are provided. However, if the application is incomplete, the same will be returned to you. If your transit visa application is deemed complete, then you have to obtain a medical exam, get a police certificate, and complete an interview.
Most transit visa applications are processed within a few weeks or even less. It should be realised that the visa processing time will depend on the visa office and whether the applicant needs to complete any extra steps. To check your processing time (which varies by country), visit here. Keep in mind that you have to provide biometrics with your application, and the above-mentioned processing time does not include the same.
Once your transit visa is processed, your passport and other required documents will be returned to you. However, if any of your documents are found to be fake, they will not be returned. After approval of your Canadian transit visa, it will be put into your passport. But if the application is refused, then an explanation of the reason for the refusal will be sent to you.
Additionally, if you change your address, telephone number, or any other contact information, then the same must be properly communicated to the Canadian visa office serving your specific region or country. The list of Canadian visa offices outside Canada can be found here.
What are the Steps to Apply For Canada Transit Visa Online?
To apply for a Canadian transit visa online, follow the required steps mentioned below.
- Start the application process by first heading over to the official website here.
- On the landing page, click on “Sign Up And Apply” if you do not have an IRCC account. However, if you already have an account, then click on “Sign In”.
- After logging into your account via your email address, you will need to provide all the required information. These include your name, address, contact information, passport information, etc.
- Once you have submitted all the required information, you need to upload the necessary documents onto the online portal.
- Finally, after submission, you will need to wait for at least 14 to 30 business days for a follow-up so that you can complete the application (if it has been approved) by providing a medical exam, a police certificate, and an interview.
