Overnight transit through Canadian airport

[SergeyDr]

Good day everyone.

I planning to fly from EU to Caribbean islands. Currently one of the most suitable tickets are with Air Canada with overnight layover in Montreal airport (about 17 hours) in one way and also overnight layover in Toronto airport (about 24 hours) on return.
I must apply for transit visa, according to my citizenship.

Will it be possible to leave airport and have a night in a hotel in city?
If not, how will it be possible to spend such amount of time in the airport, as i couldn't find that restricted airside area is opened 24h? If it is closed during nighttime, i will be forced to leave it go through border control, right? So will i be allowed to pass it with transit visa?

In the internet there are a lot of confusion about that and embassy or visa center didn't give a clear answer

 

[k.h.p.]

No, you cannot leave the airport on a transit visa.

 

[SergeyDr]

So, if i have transit visa, and i have overnight layover, and airside part is closed overnight, what will happen? I will not be allowed to board an airplane to Canada, or i will be arrested in Canada airport? And why transit visa is for 48 hours if it is impossible to stay 48 hours in transit area?

 

[k.h.p.]

You need to ask your airline what will happen. The airside is typically open at Canada's large international airports, allowing you to stay airside for the overnight layover.

 

[k.h.p.]

So, if i have transit visa, and i have overnight layover, and airside part is closed overnight, what will happen? I will not be allowed to board an airplane to Canada, or i will be arrested in Canada airport? And why transit visa is for 48 hours if it is impossible to stay 48 hours in transit area?

You won't be arrested in the airport. To leave the airport you need to go through customs (you need to go through customs for the transit anyways) so you just won't be allowed to leave.

 

[SergeyDr]

You need to ask your airline what will happen. The airside is typically open at Canada's large international airports, allowing you to stay airside for the overnight layover.

I couldn't find such info on websites of Montreal and Toronto airports, so i thought they work like in EU. It's usually closed overnight.
Also i wrote to AirCanada, no response...

 

[SergeyDr]

Found this old TripAdvisor forum where a CIC email says it's possible to leave the airport on a transit visa + people have reported doing so:
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g1-i10702-k8404372-o30-Canada_transit_visa-Air_Travel.html

Unless there's an IRCC source that I missed where it explicitly says you can't, please do post.

Exactly posts like there made me confused, as many people reported that they could leave airport with transit visa and stay overnight in the hotel. Eg, post 55 in the same thread there.

 

[k.h.p.]

Found this old TripAdvisor forum where a CIC email says it's possible to leave the airport on a transit visa + people have reported doing so:
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/ShowTopic-g1-i10702-k8404372-o30-Canada_transit_visa-Air_Travel.html

Unless there's an IRCC source that I missed where it explicitly says you can't, please do post.

This post says that one "CPB" agent says you can leave, and another said you need a TRV to leave the airport, not a transit visa.

It also seems to refer to Customs and Border Patrol, which is a US agency, but that's just likely a misinterpretation.

IRCC's website specifically says that you need a transit visa if you are not visiting Canada, and your flight stops at a Canadian airport: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=420&top=16

Leaving the airport, even for a hotel, is clearly "visiting" Canada. For that you need a TRV.

 

[bellaluna]

Exactly posts like there made me confused, as many people reported that they could leave airport with transit visa and stay overnight in the hotel.

Sorry, I deleted my post, because I did catch this from IRCC:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...ervices/visit-canada/transit/eligibility.html




You can’t apply for a transit visa if you’re from a visa-required country and

• your transit through Canada will be longer than 48 hours
• you plan to visit Canada (even if you’re travelling by air and it’s for less than 48 hours)

Although admittedly, "visit Canada" is a bit vague.

 

[k.h.p.]

Hard to imagine how leaving the airport for a hotel, which would also allow you to visit a city or just disappear, is not considered "stopping or visiting," which is not allowed on a transit visa:

Foreign nationals who are required to obtain a visa for travel to Canada will also need a transit visa to travel through Canada without stopping or visiting. This visa is required even if the foreign national will be in Canada for less than 48 hours. There is no fee for a transit visa.

 

[bellaluna]

This post says that one "CPB" agent says you can leave, and another said you need a TRV to leave the airport, not a transit visa.

It also seems to refer to Customs and Border Patrol, which is a US agency, but that's just likely a misinterpretation.

IRCC's website specifically says that you need a transit visa if you are not visiting Canada, and your flight stops at a Canadian airport: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=420&top=16

Leaving the airport, even for a hotel, is clearly "visiting" Canada. For that you need a TRV.

Yup, thanks, managed to catch that myself a few minutes later.

 

[k.h.p.]

Sorry, I deleted my post, because I did catch this from IRCC:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...ervices/visit-canada/transit/eligibility.html




You can’t apply for a transit visa if you’re from a visa-required country and

• your transit through Canada will be longer than 48 hours
• you plan to visit Canada (even if you’re travelling by air and it’s for less than 48 hours)

Although admittedly, "visit Canada" is a bit vague.

It's easy if you think about it this way: are you doing something that it outside the sterile, customs-controlled area of the airport? Then you are visiting.

 

[scylla]

Good day everyone.

I planning to fly from EU to Caribbean islands. Currently one of the most suitable tickets are with Air Canada with overnight layover in Montreal airport (about 17 hours) in one way and also overnight layover in Toronto airport (about 24 hours) on return.
I must apply for transit visa, according to my citizenship.

Will it be possible to leave airport and have a night in a hotel in city?
If not, how will it be possible to spend such amount of time in the airport, as i couldn't find that restricted airside area is opened 24h? If it is closed during nighttime, i will be forced to leave it go through border control, right? So will i be allowed to pass it with transit visa?

In the internet there are a lot of confusion about that and embassy or visa center didn't give a clear answer

When do you plan to travel? Right now Canada has a travel ban in place until end of July which may be extended further. I would hold off booking any flights until you know how long the travel ban will be in place since you may buy a ticket and then not be allowed to board the plane. Also, while the travel ban is in place, it's mandatory that you quarantine for 14 days if you enter Canada.

 

[k.h.p.]

CBSA does occasionally make exceptions and issue TRVs at the airport if a flight is cancelled and rescheduled to later than 48 hours. There are ways to manage this, which involves being told not to leave the hotel, having to check in with CBSA, etc., but it is not possible on a transit visa up front.

 

[SergeyDr]

Sorry, I deleted my post, because I did catch this from IRCC:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigratio...ervices/visit-canada/transit/eligibility.html




You can’t apply for a transit visa if you’re from a visa-required country and

• your transit through Canada will be longer than 48 hours
• you plan to visit Canada (even if you’re travelling by air and it’s for less than 48 hours)

Although admittedly, "visit Canada" is a bit vague.

The same link from you but post 55 https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/ShowTopic-g1-i10702-k8404372-o50-Canada_transit_visa-Air_Travel.html