Airport Transit and Holding Area Rules

Summary#

The final rule SOR/2026-149 — Regulations Amending the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Transit Between International Flights) updates how Canada treats people who are transiting through airports without entering Canada. It adds a definition for a “designated holding area,” requires anyone leaving a sterile transit or designated holding area to be examined, and requires carriers to confirm transit status and report a first destination outside Canada. The changes came into force on June 22, 2026.

What it does#

• Adds a definition for designated holding area, using the same meaning as in the Presentation of Persons (2003) Regulations.
• Clarifies that the transit rule covers passengers arriving from anywhere who are transiting to a destination outside Canada and who stay in a sterile transit area or a designated holding area.
• Requires that anyone who wants to leave a sterile transit area or a designated holding area must appear immediately for examination.
• Changes what information must be collected or confirmed for a person in transit:
  • whether they are a passenger or crew member and if they are transiting to a place outside Canada;
  • if they are in transit, their first destination outside Canada;
  • the unique passenger reference assigned by the carrier, if any.
• Comes into force on the day it was registered (June 22, 2026).

Who's affected#

• People transiting through Canadian airports who remain in sterile transit areas or designated holding areas.
• Airlines and other commercial carriers that move international transit passengers (they may need to record and share the required transit information and any passenger reference).
• Airport operators and border/immigration officers who manage sterile transit and designated holding areas and carry out examinations.
• It is clear the rule targets transits to places outside Canada; if there is uncertainty about particular operational details, the regulation text does not spell those out.

Why it matters#

• Transit passengers could be stopped for immediate examination if they try to leave the transit holding areas. That can affect connections and travel plans.
• Airlines may need to ensure they collect and provide additional transit information for passengers, which could affect check-in and data handling.
• The changes clarify how Canadian border authorities identify and handle people who never formally enter Canada but pass through Canadian airports.