The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is weighing a major change that could make international stopovers in Canada far smoother by eliminating the requirement for travellers to check in at customs before continuing their journey abroad.
The agency announced Monday that it has launched a 30-day consultation on a proposed regulatory amendment that would allow passengers connecting through Canadian airports to bypass customs entirely. Instead, airlines would take on the responsibility of collecting and providing additional information to the CBSA — including travellers’ final destinations and their scheduled return to Canada — to confirm that passengers have departed the country as expected.
Under the proposal, fliers in transit would still be required to carry valid immigration documentation to pass through Canada, but they would no longer need to physically report to CBSA officers between flights. The agency says the system, known as the Free Flow International-to-International Transit process, would maintain strong border security while significantly improving efficiency for passengers.
The initiative has already been tested at Toronto Pearson, Montreal Trudeau, and Vancouver International Airport since 2023. More than 1.4 million passengers have been processed under the pilot program, which the CBSA describes as both secure and highly effective.
The proposal is part of the federal government’s broader Red Tape Review — an effort to streamline outdated procedures, improve service delivery, and reduce unnecessary overlap between regulators. If ultimately approved, the change would mark one of the most significant shifts in Canada’s airport transit procedures in years, aiming to make the country more competitive as an international travel hub.