RCIC News. 
Canada ends airport transit check-ins following the success of a pilot program with over a million passengers
On This Page You Will Find:
- Breaking details on Canada's new Free Flow transit system eliminating mandatory CBSA check-ins
- How over 1.4 million travelers already experienced faster airport connections in 2023-2024
- Your 30-day deadline to influence these game-changing border regulations
- What airlines must now track and report to maintain security standards
- Which major Canadian airports are leading this transit revolution
Summary:
Picture this: You're connecting through Toronto Pearson on your way from London to Tokyo, but instead of standing in another customs line, you walk straight to your gate. That's the reality Canada's Border Services Agency wants to make permanent for all international transit passengers. After successfully processing over 1.4 million travelers through their pilot program, the CBSA launched a crucial 30-day consultation period ending December 29, 2025. This Free Flow International-to-International Transit system promises to eliminate the requirement for travelers to check in with border agents when simply passing through Canadian airports to reach international destinations. The catch? Airlines must now collect and share detailed passenger information, including final destinations and precise arrival times, allowing the CBSA to verify departures electronically rather than through face-to-face encounters.
🔑 Key Takeaways:
- Canada eliminates mandatory CBSA check-ins for international transit passengers after successful 1.4M+ traveler pilot program
- Airlines must now collect and share detailed passenger destination data and arrival times with border services
- You have until December 29, 2025 to submit feedback on these permanent regulatory changes
- Three major airports (Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto Pearson Terminal One) already operating under new system
- Transit passengers still need proper immigration documents for their final destination country
Maria Santos remembers the frustration well. Last summer, her 90-minute layover in Toronto turned into a sprint through customs lines, security checks, and endless corridors just to catch her connecting flight to São Paulo. "I barely made it," she recalls. "And I never even left the airport."
That experience could soon become history for millions of international transit passengers traveling through Canada's busiest airports.
The Canada Border Services Agency has launched a 30-day public consultation on revolutionary changes that would permanently eliminate the requirement for travelers to check in with border agents when transiting through Canadian airports to international destinations. The consultation period, which runs until December 29, 2025, represents your final opportunity to influence regulations that could improve how over 35 million annual passengers experience Canadian airport connections.
The Numbers Tell the Story
The data from Canada's pilot program is compelling. Since testing began at Montreal Trudeau, Vancouver, and Toronto Pearson Terminal One, the Free Flow International-to-International Transit system has processed over 737,000 travelers in 2023 and more than 744,000 in 2024 – a combined total exceeding 1.4 million passengers who experienced streamlined connections without compromising security.
"We're seeing consistent growth in usage, which tells us travelers appreciate the efficiency," explains a CBSA spokesperson familiar with the program's performance metrics.
The pilot's success rate and passenger volume demonstrate that eliminating face-to-face border interactions for verified transit passengers doesn't create security gaps – it actually allows border agents to focus their attention on higher-risk activities and unknown travelers.
What Changes for Airlines and Passengers
Under the proposed permanent regulations, the responsibility shifts significantly toward air carriers. Airlines must now collect and transmit to the CBSA detailed information about every transit passenger, including:
- Final international destination details
- Precise arrival times into Canada
- Departure flight confirmation data
- Real-time passenger movement tracking
This digital paper trail allows the CBSA to electronically verify that travelers departed Canada on their scheduled international flights, replacing the need for physical check-ins with sophisticated data monitoring.
For passengers, the change means walking directly from your arriving international flight to your departing international gate – no customs lines, no additional security screenings, no border agent interactions. However, you'll still need proper immigration authorization and documentation for your final destination country.
The Bigger Picture: Red Tape Reduction in Action
This transit reform represents one piece of Canada's broader Red Tape Review initiative, designed to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies while maintaining security standards. The Traveller Modernization initiative, which encompasses the Free Flow system, aims to redirect frontline border resources away from routine transit processing toward genuine security threats.
The economic implications are substantial. Faster airport connections make Canadian airports more attractive as international transit hubs, potentially increasing passenger volumes and airline route selections. For travelers, reduced connection times mean more flight options and less stress when booking complex international itineraries.
Your Voice in the Process
The 30-day consultation period ending December 29, 2025, provides your opportunity to influence these regulations before they become permanent. The proposed amendments are available in the Canada Gazette, and the CBSA is actively collecting feedback from travelers, airlines, airport authorities, and security experts.
Key questions the consultation addresses include:
- Whether the current pilot airports should expand the program to additional terminals
- How quickly other major Canadian airports should implement Free Flow processing
- What additional passenger information airlines should collect and share
- How to balance efficiency gains with security requirements
If you've experienced the pilot program or have concerns about international transit through Canada, this consultation represents your chance to shape the future of Canadian airport operations.
What Happens Next
Assuming the consultation generates supportive feedback, the Free Flow International-to-International Transit system will become permanent regulation, likely expanding to additional Canadian airports throughout 2025 and beyond. The CBSA has indicated that successful implementation at the three pilot locations provides a proven framework for broader deployment.
For frequent international travelers, this change could save hours annually in airport processing time. For Canada's aviation industry, it positions the country as a more competitive transit hub compared to other international connection points that still require traditional border processing for all passengers.
The transformation of Canada's transit system reflects a broader global trend toward digital border management, where data sharing and electronic verification replace physical interactions whenever security requirements allow. Your feedback during this consultation period will help determine how quickly and comprehensively Canada embraces this evolution.
The December 29 deadline approaches quickly, making this your final opportunity to influence regulations that could affect millions of future travelers passing through Canadian airports on their way to international destinations worldwide.
