Transportation to Canada

Which airline companies will take you to Canada?

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If you are planning a trip or moving to Canada temporarily or permanently, there are number of tasks you have to prepare for in advance.

Select your Airport of Entry (AOE)

An Airport of Entry (AOE) is an airport that provides customs and immigration services for incoming flights. When selecting your flight, you should always check if the Canadian airport is a port of entry and will accept an international arrival.

​You should also check if the airport is equipped with the fingerprints scan machines, as some international airports do not and may refuse a passenger travelling under the visa waiver program (eTA).

You can find more information on AOEs in the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) website.

Passport Requirements

All visitors to Canada, including visiting crew members, require valid passports except: 

• Citizens of the U.S.
  
• U.S. green card holders, seeking entry from the U.S. or St-Pierre-and-Miquelon.
• French citizens who reside permanently in St-Pierre and Miquelon, seeking entry from St-Pierre and Miquelon.
• Residents of Greenland entering Canada from Greenland.​

Visa Requirements

When you arrive in Canada, a border services officer will greet you. The officer works for the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). The CBSA protects Canada’s borders and points of entry.

The officer will ask to see your passport or travel documents. Even if you do not need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to enter Canada, the officer will ask you a few questions. The officer will make sure that you meet the requirements to enter Canada.

If you give false or incomplete information, you will not be allowed entry to Canada. You must convince the officer that you are eligible for entry into Canada.

You will also have to convince the officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your approved stay if you hold a temporary resident visa. If you are a permanent resident, you will be directed to an Immigration Officer for an Immigration interview.

If you are a visitor, you will need your passport, your eTA or a valid TRV (see exceptions above). For more information, check our Visit webpage.

If you are a temporary resident, you will need your passport, your Study Permit or Work Permit, and your eTA or TRV. If your destination if Quebec, you will also need a Certificate d'Acceptation du Quebec (CAQ). For more information, check our Study or Temporary Work Permit sections.

​If you a permanent resident, you will need your passport, your Confirmation of Permanent Residency (CoPR), and your immigrant visa. If you are a permanent resident of Quebec, you might need a Certificate de Selection du Quebec (CSQ). For more information, check our Permanent Resident section.

Transit Visa

If your flight to Canada has a layover in any country, for even 1 hour, you should check if you need a transit visa or any electronic travel authorization (ESTA for the U.S., ETA for Australia) or don't need any visa at all. This could be problematic as when you find a cheap flight fare with a layover, the company will usually not ask you if you'll need a transit visa. 

This is especially relevant for African, Middle East, Latin American and Asian countries that usually will need to have a visa to transit by a European or American country. If you need to have a layover to get to Canada, you should choose it carefully.  

Direct Flight to Canada

Air Canada, WestJet and Air Transat are the three biggest Canadian airline companies. (1) Through its network of partner airlines, Air Canada offers flights to Canada from almost anywhere in the world. (2) With WestJet, you can book flights from cities across the U.S., as well as Ireland, the UK, and parts of the Caribbean. (3) Air Transat connects Canada to Europe, the US, and Central American destinations.

​If you want to get to Canada with direct flights, here are the list of companies offering direct flights from your home country:

Europe

Aer Lingus
Air Canada
Air France
Air Transat
Austrian Airlines
Azores Airlines
British Airways
Brussels Airlines
Corsair
Edelweiss
Icelandair
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
​LOT Polish
Lufthansa
Swiss International Airlines
Turkish Airlines
TAP Portugal
WOW Air

America and Caribbean 

AeroMexico
​Air Canada
​Air Transat
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Caribbean Airlines
​Copa Airlines
Cubana
Delta
Fly Jamaica Airways
Interjet
​Sunwing Airlines
United
Westjet Airlines

Africa

Air Algérie
Air Canada
Egyptair
Ethiopian Airlines
Royal Air Maroc
Tunisair

Asia

Air China
​Air Canada
All Nippon Airways
Beijing Capital Airlines
Cathay Pacific
China Airlines
China Eastern
China Southern Airlines
​Eva Air
Hainan Airlines
Hong Kong Airlines
Japan Airlines
​Korean Airlines
Pakistan International
Philippine Airlines
​Turkish Airlines

Middle East

Air Canada
​Air Transat
​Emirates
Etihad Airways
Qatar Airways
Royal Jordanian
​Saudi Airlines

Oceania

Air New Zealand
Qantas Airways

Canadian Low-Cost Flights

Some new low-cost carriers are preparing for take-off in Canada, which it’s hoped will make flights to Canada more affordable, particularly for connecting flights from one Canadian city to another.

Make sure it is what you want, as the cheapest plan will usually only get you a cabin luggage, but no meals, no checked baggage, no entertainment. 

For domestic flights: Flair Airlines (Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Edmonton, ...), Jetlines (from Hamilton to Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, ...), Swoop.

For international flights: Wow Air (from Montréal/Toronto to the U.S., Europe, Israël), Primera Air (from Toronto to London, Birmingham, Paris).

Make sure you are not forgetting anything, with our Pre-Arrival To-Do List