Canada Reveals 4 Countries Whose Citizens Can Transit Without A Visa Under Strict Conditions

The Canadian government has outlined the conditions under which citizens of four designated countries may transit through Canada without obtaining a Canadian transit visa under its Transit Without Visa (TWOV) programme.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the programme is designed for eligible travellers flying through Canada to or from the United States. The arrangement does not mean citizens of the listed countries can freely enter Canada without a visa, as travellers must satisfy specific requirements before they can use the programme.

The four countries covered under the TWOV arrangement are Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Taiwan. For Taiwanese travellers, eligibility applies to holders of passports that do not contain a personal identification number.

For passengers travelling through Canada to the United States, the Canadian government requires eligible travellers to have a valid U.S. visa, a valid passport from one of the designated countries and a confirmed airline ticket for a flight to the United States that departs Canada within 24 hours of arrival.

Travellers must also use an airline participating in the TWOV programme and transit through designated Canadian airports. They are required to remain within the international transit area during their stopover and may not leave the airport unless they are proceeding to board their connecting flight.

The Canadian government currently lists Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal 1, Vancouver International Airport, Calgary International Airport and Winnipeg International Airport among the participating airports for the programme. A number of airlines, including Air Canada, Air Canada Rouge, Air China, China Airlines, China Eastern, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, Philippine Airlines and WestJet, are also listed as participating carriers.

For travellers connecting through Canada after arriving from the United States and continuing to another international destination, additional conditions apply. They must have the documents required to enter their final destination, hold an eligible passport and have a confirmed qualifying onward flight that leaves Canada within 24 hours.

The government also warned that passengers could lose their eligibility under the programme if their flight is cancelled or delayed and their stay in Canada extends beyond 24 hours. In such circumstances, they must report to a Canada Border Services Agency officer for examination.

Travellers planning to use the arrangement have been advised to confirm their eligibility and flight connections with their airline before departure, as meeting the nationality requirement alone does not guarantee access to the Transit Without Visa programme.