3 Canadian Airports Let Transit Passengers Skip Border Check
Canada’s Free Flow International-to-International Transit: What changed and why it matters to travellers
Immediate update and why travellers should care
On June 26, 2026, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) introduced the Free Flow International-to-International Transit process. Qualifying international travellers at three Canadian airports can now bypass in-person border check-in before their connecting international flight. If you transit through Toronto Pearson (Terminal 1), Vancouver International, or Montréal Pierre Elliott-Trudeau and have a confirmed onward ticket within 24 hours, this can shorten wait times, reduce contact points with border officers, and simplify connections. Make sure you understand what documentation to carry and where you must remain in the terminal.
Origins and regulatory path
Free Flow builds on the CBSA’s 2018 International to International (ITI) pilot. The earlier pilot required passengers to scan passports at kiosks to avoid officer interviews; the new rules remove that kiosk step by having airlines send passenger data directly to CBSA. The changes were published in the Canada Gazette in late November 2025, went through a 30-day public consultation that closed on December 29, 2025, and are now in force at the three pilot airports.
How Free Flow works in practice
Key operational elements travellers should know:
– Eligible airports: Toronto Pearson (Terminal 1), Vancouver International, and Montréal Pierre Elliott-Trudeau.
– Time window: You need a confirmed international ticket departing Canada within 24 hours of arrival.
– Location restriction: You must stay in the airport’s designated international departure area until boarding.
– Documentation: Carry any visas or travel authorizations required for your final destination (e.g., Transit Visa or eTA when applicable).
– Baggage transfer: If your baggage is transferred automatically to the onward carrier on the same day, you’ll normally qualify and be directed to the international departure zone.
– Information sharing: Airlines will collect and transmit passenger and flight details (final destination, scheduled departure time) to CBSA.
When Free Flow does not apply
You must use standard CBSA processing if:
– Your connecting flight is cancelled or delayed so the layover exceeds 24 hours.
– You leave the airport’s designated international departure area.
– Baggage is not transferred automatically or your onward flight is not the same day — you must collect luggage and clear CBSA before continuing.
Special handling for U.S.-bound connections
If you are transiting through Canada to the United States, you may proceed to the airport’s U.S. connection area instead of meeting a Canadian officer. There you and your baggage will be re-screened for security and processed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Who benefits — and who should be cautious
Beneficiaries include same-day international transit passengers at the three participating airports whose baggage is checked through and who hold the required visas or authorizations. Be cautious if your connection is fragile, your baggage isn’t checked through, or you need to leave the secure international area — any of these can revoke Free Flow eligibility.
Operational and passenger implications
Free Flow shifts some routine processing to a data-driven model that relies on airlines sharing passenger information. CBSA can focus in-person resources on higher-risk travellers while eligible connectors move faster to their gates. For passengers, this can mean shorter transit times and fewer touchpoints — but you must monitor delays and keep required documentation handy.
Practical checklist for travellers
Before relying on Free Flow:
– Verify your onward ticket departs within 24 hours of arrival.
– Confirm with your airline whether your baggage will be transferred automatically.
– Carry any required visas, Transit Visas, or electronic travel authorizations.
– Remain inside the international departure zone until boarding.
– If your connection is delayed or cancelled and the layover exceeds 24 hours, report to CBSA.
– When connecting to the U.S., expect re-screening and CBP processing.
Which airports can adopt Free Flow next?
Free Flow is active at the three airports that took part in the ITI pilot. Other Canadian airports may apply to CBSA to adopt the process if they meet operational requirements and coordinate with airline partners.
Regulatory context and agency perspective
CBSA says the initiative is intended to make legitimate travel easier while concentrating resources on higher-risk travellers and activities. Rob Chambers, Vice President of the Travellers Branch at CBSA, framed the change as part of ongoing work with airport partners to streamline international connections.
What to watch next
Watch for expanding airport rollouts, how quickly airlines integrate the required data-sharing, operational guidance clarifications from CBSA, and how airports and carriers communicate eligibility to passengers.
Final practical note
Free Flow removes an in-person CBSA step for qualifying international-to-international transits at three major Canadian airports. It simplifies travel for same-day connecting passengers with checked-through baggage and the right documentation — but any deviation from the rules (delays beyond 24 hours, cancelled flights, leaving the secure area, or baggage not checked through) requires standard CBSA processing. Confirm baggage transfer and onward boarding times with your airline before relying on Free Flow.
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