Entering Canada on a visitor visa with a ONE-WAY ticket (Family visiting PR spouse/father) CBSA experience?

[bluejayzzzzz]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for recent experiences or advice regarding one-way flight tickets to Canada for dependents on a visitor visa / eTA.

My Situation:

• I am currently living in Toronto as a Permanent Resident (PR).
• My wife and two young children (5yo and infant) are still in South Korea and will be flying out to join me in Toronto soon.
• They do not have PR status yet and will be entering Canada under temporary status (Visitor Visa / eTA).
• My wife has a strong travel history and visited me in Canada multiple times before the pandemic, always complying with visa terms.
• I hold a job here (software engineer at a major tech company), possess home ownership in Toronto, and can support them financially.

The Problem / Question: We are trying to decide whether it is safe to buy one-way tickets to Toronto for them.

1. CBSA Border: If they bypass check-in issues and land in Canada, does CBSA generally accept a one-way ticket for family members of a PR if they carry proof of financial support, housing, and a history of previous compliant visits to Canada? Or is a secondary inspection almost guaranteed?

I have known friends in similar situations who flew into Canada on a one-way ticket and were never asked to show proof of a return ticket by CBSA. So, I am wondering if doing this with solid supporting documentation is generally fine, or if airline agents/CBSA are getting much stricter about this lately.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts or recent experiences!

 

[CanGoldDigger]

One-way ticket is usually not a deal breaker and you are not required to have a return ticket. But it's an CBSA officer's call.

 

[steaky]

The Problem / Question: We are trying to decide whether it is safe to buy one-way tickets to Toronto for them.

1. CBSA Border: If they bypass check-in issues and land in Canada, does CBSA generally accept a one-way ticket for family members of a PR if they carry proof of financial support, housing, and a history of previous compliant visits to Canada? Or is a secondary inspection almost guaranteed?

I have known friends in similar situations who flew into Canada on a one-way ticket and were never asked to show proof of a return ticket by CBSA. So, I am wondering if doing this with solid supporting documentation is generally fine, or if airline agents/CBSA are getting much stricter about this lately.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts or recent experiences!

At land borders, CBSA officers usually ask if travelers have return tickets. It might be a problem if they don't (from my experience, they never asked to show proof).

 

[canuck78]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for recent experiences or advice regarding one-way flight tickets to Canada for dependents on a visitor visa / eTA.

My Situation:

• I am currently living in Toronto as a Permanent Resident (PR).
• My wife and two young children (5yo and infant) are still in South Korea and will be flying out to join me in Toronto soon.
• They do not have PR status yet and will be entering Canada under temporary status (Visitor Visa / eTA).
• My wife has a strong travel history and visited me in Canada multiple times before the pandemic, always complying with visa terms.
• I hold a job here (software engineer at a major tech company), possess home ownership in Toronto, and can support them financially.

The Problem / Question: We are trying to decide whether it is safe to buy one-way tickets to Toronto for them.

1. CBSA Border: If they bypass check-in issues and land in Canada, does CBSA generally accept a one-way ticket for family members of a PR if they carry proof of financial support, housing, and a history of previous compliant visits to Canada? Or is a secondary inspection almost guaranteed?

I have known friends in similar situations who flew into Canada on a one-way ticket and were never asked to show proof of a return ticket by CBSA. So, I am wondering if doing this with solid supporting documentation is generally fine, or if airline agents/CBSA are getting much stricter about this lately.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts or recent experiences!

Could also be a problem for the airline. Many airlines require that you have a paid return ticket so they are not responsible for the cost if you are refused entry and have to return home on the next flight. Have you started the sponsorship process? Much more reassuring to CBSA if they can see that you have started the sponsorship process if it is clear that your family is not truly visiting Canada.

 

[Buletruck]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for recent experiences or advice regarding one-way flight tickets to Canada for dependents on a visitor visa / eTA.

My Situation:

• I am currently living in Toronto as a Permanent Resident (PR).
• My wife and two young children (5yo and infant) are still in South Korea and will be flying out to join me in Toronto soon.
• They do not have PR status yet and will be entering Canada under temporary status (Visitor Visa / eTA).
• My wife has a strong travel history and visited me in Canada multiple times before the pandemic, always complying with visa terms.
• I hold a job here (software engineer at a major tech company), possess home ownership in Toronto, and can support them financially.

The Problem / Question: We are trying to decide whether it is safe to buy one-way tickets to Toronto for them.

1. CBSA Border: If they bypass check-in issues and land in Canada, does CBSA generally accept a one-way ticket for family members of a PR if they carry proof of financial support, housing, and a history of previous compliant visits to Canada? Or is a secondary inspection almost guaranteed?

I have known friends in similar situations who flew into Canada on a one-way ticket and were never asked to show proof of a return ticket by CBSA. So, I am wondering if doing this with solid supporting documentation is generally fine, or if airline agents/CBSA are getting much stricter about this lately.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts or recent experiences!

Prior to my wife becoming a PR, we were denied boarding by the airline on three separate occasions by 2 different airlines (Singapore and Air Canada). We ultimately purchase a one way return just prior to the flight and cancelled it immediately after entering Canada (Air Canada has a 100% refund policy for flights cancelled within 24 hours).

 

[Buletruck]

As an aside, we also had a return flight to Singapore for her to return to her home country (Indonesia) as a PR refused by Air Canada as she had no onward travel documented from Singapore (she is visa free into Singapore and hops on a ferry to get back). Again, we just presented an online ferry booking we made at the counter.....it's all a pretty weak policy with simple solutions. A bus ticket to the US would work as all they need to cover their position is proof of onward travel.

 

[mingyangottawa]

What actually governs the decision is IRPR R179(b) / IRPA A20(1)(b): the applicant has to establish that they will leave Canada by the end of their authorized stay. A visa or eTA doesn't guarantee entry — under R180, the border officer effectively re-runs that same assessment at the port of entry, and the burden of establishing it sits with the traveller, not with CBSA to disprove it. A one-way ticket isn't itself a disqualifying fact under that test; it's one data point an officer could ask about, alongside your wife's documented compliance history, her ties, and the purpose and expected length of the visit.

 

[wopazef]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for recent experiences or advice regarding one-way flight tickets to Canada for dependents on a visitor visa / eTA.

My Situation:

• I am currently living in Toronto as a Permanent Resident (PR).
• My wife and two young children (5yo and infant) are still in South Korea and will be flying out to join me in Toronto soon.
• They do not have PR status yet and will be entering Canada under temporary status (Visitor Visa / eTA).
• My wife has a strong travel history and visited me in Canada multiple times before the pandemic, always complying with visa terms.
• I hold a job here (software engineer at a major tech company), possess home ownership in Toronto, and can support them financially.

The Problem / Question: We are trying to decide whether it is safe to buy one-way tickets to Toronto for them.

1. CBSA Border: If they bypass check-in issues and land in Canada, does CBSA generally accept a one-way ticket for family members of a PR if they carry proof of financial support, housing, and a history of previous compliant visits to Canada? Or is a secondary inspection almost guaranteed?

I have known friends in similar situations who flew into Canada on a one-way ticket and were never asked to show proof of a return ticket by CBSA. I’m wondering if anyone has had recent experiences with this, especially given the information available in stubhub reviews and other recent travel-related feedback, and whether doing this with solid supporting documentation is generally fine or if airline agents/CBSA are getting much stricter about one-way tickets lately.

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts or recent experiences!

A one-way ticket isn’t automatically a problem, and secondary inspection isn’t guaranteed. The important thing is that they can satisfy the airline and CBSA that they qualify to enter as visitors and will respect the conditions of their temporary status. I’d have them carry proof of your PR status, your job and financial support, accommodation in Toronto, their relationship to you, previous compliant travel history, and any documents related to their PR application. A return or onward ticket may help avoid questions, but it isn’t necessarily required in every case. The bigger concern is that they intend to join you permanently, so they should be prepared to clearly explain their situation if CBSA asks. If their visitor documents are valid and their circumstances are properly

 

[canuck78]

A one-way ticket isn’t automatically a problem, and secondary inspection isn’t guaranteed. The important thing is that they can satisfy the airline and CBSA that they qualify to enter as visitors and will respect the conditions of their temporary status. I’d have them carry proof of your PR status, your job and financial support, accommodation in Toronto, their relationship to you, previous compliant travel history, and any documents related to their PR application. A return or onward ticket may help avoid questions, but it isn’t necessarily required in every case. The bigger concern is that they intend to join you permanently, so they should be prepared to clearly explain their situation if CBSA asks. If their visitor documents are valid and their circumstances are properly

Your status in Canada, whether you are employed, etc. means very little when it comes to a visitor ability to enter Canada or board a flight. There previous adherence to immigration laws helps when it comes to entry into Canada but not board a flight. There are plenty of people who overstay even if the person they are visiting, has a job, has funds, etc. because there are no consequences to the host if their visitors don't follow the laws.

 

[canuck78]

As an aside, we also had a return flight to Singapore for her to return to her home country (Indonesia) as a PR refused by Air Canada as she had no onward travel documented from Singapore (she is visa free into Singapore and hops on a ferry to get back). Again, we just presented an online ferry booking we made at the counter.....it's all a pretty weak policy with simple solutions. A bus ticket to the US would work as all they need to cover their position is proof of onward travel.

Not sure I would risk being denied entry on an international flight based on a bus ticket these days.

 

[Buletruck]

Not sure I would risk being denied entry on an international flight based on a bus ticket these days.

Airlines aren't in a position to make a determination on whether the method of onward travel is acceptable or not, nor do they deny entry. They deny boarding due to lack of onward travel. Their responsibility ends at whether the traveller has onward travel booked or not. As long as onward travel is valid, they're no longer responsible for return travel costs if entry is refused. CBSA might have a different view on that, but that's a conversation for the point of entry.