Stakeholders have until midnight 29 December to submit feedback on the Canada Border Services Agency’s proposal to make “Free-Flow International-to-International Transit” a permanent fixture at major Canadian airports . The pilot allows passengers connecting between two international flights at Montréal-Trudeau, Vancouver and Toronto Pearson to bypass CBSA inspection, provided airlines share itinerary data confirming onward departure.
The programme processed more than 744,000 travellers in 2024 and is touted as a cornerstone of CBSA’s Traveller Modernisation initiative, freeing frontline officers to focus on higher-risk arrivals . Airlines support the change, arguing that it brings Canada closer to the seamless-transfer model used at hubs like Amsterdam and Singapore and strengthens the case for Pearson as a trans-Atlantic transfer point.
Business-travel groups back the plan but want safeguards to prevent missed connections from turning into legal limbo for passengers denied entry. Airport authorities have asked CBSA to clarify who bears liability if a traveller falls ill or if their onward flight is cancelled after clearing Canadian airside security.
![Deadline Today: CBSA Consultation on ‘Free-Flow’ International Transit]()
Companies navigating current Canadian transit-visa requirements can streamline the process through VisaHQ, which provides real-time guidance, digital document submission and expedited courier services: https://www.visahq.com/canada/. A single dashboard lets travel coordinators track each application and receive alerts when policy changes—such as the shift to permanent Free-Flow—alter documentation needs.
Once the consultation closes, CBSA will finalise regulatory amendments for publication in the Canada Gazette, paving the way for implementation in late 2026. Mobility teams should monitor the outcome; permanent Free-Flow rules could cut connection times for assignees and reduce the need for certain transit visas.
If adopted, carriers will have to upgrade data feeds to include final-destination fields and departure confirmations—an IT project that could affect global reservation systems. HR travel managers should liaise with preferred airlines to confirm readiness before booking tight international transfers through Canada next winter.
The programme processed more than 744,000 travellers in 2024 and is touted as a cornerstone of CBSA’s Traveller Modernisation initiative, freeing frontline officers to focus on higher-risk arrivals . Airlines support the change, arguing that it brings Canada closer to the seamless-transfer model used at hubs like Amsterdam and Singapore and strengthens the case for Pearson as a trans-Atlantic transfer point.
Business-travel groups back the plan but want safeguards to prevent missed connections from turning into legal limbo for passengers denied entry. Airport authorities have asked CBSA to clarify who bears liability if a traveller falls ill or if their onward flight is cancelled after clearing Canadian airside security.
Companies navigating current Canadian transit-visa requirements can streamline the process through VisaHQ, which provides real-time guidance, digital document submission and expedited courier services: https://www.visahq.com/canada/. A single dashboard lets travel coordinators track each application and receive alerts when policy changes—such as the shift to permanent Free-Flow—alter documentation needs.
Once the consultation closes, CBSA will finalise regulatory amendments for publication in the Canada Gazette, paving the way for implementation in late 2026. Mobility teams should monitor the outcome; permanent Free-Flow rules could cut connection times for assignees and reduce the need for certain transit visas.
If adopted, carriers will have to upgrade data feeds to include final-destination fields and departure confirmations—an IT project that could affect global reservation systems. HR travel managers should liaise with preferred airlines to confirm readiness before booking tight international transfers through Canada next winter.
