Canada Announces Transit Without Visa Program and China Transit Trial to Facilitate Travel through Canadian Airports

The Government of Canada announced the implementation of a Transit Without Visa program making it easier for certain international travelers en route to and from the US with valid US visas to transit through Canadian airports without a Canadian transit visa. At this time, the program only applies to nationals of the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Taiwan who hold valid US visas and who are travelling through the Vancouver International Airport to and from the United States on participating airlines, Philippine Airlines, China Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways. In addition, the Government also announced that a separate one-year long China Transit Trial has been put in place for eligible Chinese nationals flying on direct, non-stop flights to the Vancouver International Airport, originating from Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Manila and Taipei.