Transit Between International Flights Rules

Summary#

This is a proposed change, published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on November 29, 2025, by the Canada Border Services Agency. It would amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations to clarify how people who are transiting through Canadian airports (without entering Canada) are handled, including a new term for holding areas and new rules about examinations and information to be recorded.

What it does#

• Adds a new definition of designated holding area, linked to the Presentation of Persons (2003) Regulations.
• Changes the transit rule in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations so it explicitly covers passengers arriving from any country who are transiting to a country other than Canada and who remain in a sterile transit area or a designated holding area.
• Requires anyone who tries to leave a sterile transit area or designated holding area to appear immediately for examination.
• Updates what information must be recorded about a traveller, including:
  • whether they are a passenger or crew member and confirmation they are transiting outside Canada;
  • if they are transiting, their first destination outside Canada;
  • the unique passenger reference assigned by the carrier, if any.
• The proposal would take effect on the day the final regulations are registered.

Who's affected#

• Travellers who pass through Canadian airports and stay in sterile transit areas or the new designated holding areas — for example, people connecting between two international flights without entering Canada.
• Airlines and other commercial transporters that provide passenger data (they may need to give or record a unique passenger reference).
• Airport operators and staff who manage sterile transit and holding areas.
• Canada Border Services Agency officers who will apply the updated examination and information rules.

Why it matters#

• It clarifies who counts as “in transit” and where border-control rules apply inside airports. That can affect whether a traveller can move freely inside an airport or must be examined before leaving a transit area.
• Airlines may need to collect and pass along slightly different passenger details to comply.
• For travellers, the change could affect how and when you are checked by border officers during a connection or if you try to leave a transit holding area.
• This is a proposal, not final law. The public can make representations within 30 days of publication (so by about December 29, 2025).