This article is especially for the people who have come to Canada for sightseeing purpose and want to know about visa for transit for Canada. After reading this article, you’ll know about the type of visa to apply and process involved to get visa for transit for Canada.

If you’re transferring in Canada, you likely need to get a transit visa which allows you to stopover in Canada while travelling to another country. Getting it’s easy, but how do you know if you qualify? This article shows you how.

The spouse and children of an applicant may be granted visas to Canada to stay with their spouse or parent during a temporary visit while they are in Canada. Transit Visa For Canada is similar to the visitor visa, but it allows the person seeking entry into Canada multiple entries.

Applying for a Canadian visa is stressful, not just because it’s often rejected but because of all the immigration forms you need to fill out. The INR 150 online application process makes this even more hectic. You will land on a page that has no essay boxes or fields to fill out except your name and country of origin etc. Everything else is automatically calculated — so how can you put in a transit visa application? Here are three ways. The following information applies to India and will have similar requirements in other countries with visa restrictions.

It is possibly the most practical way to get into Canada on a temporary basis. It allows visa-free travel and stops that can be repeated an unlimited number of times.

You can apply for a transit visa by filling out the application for a Temporary Resident Visa and selecting transit visa from the list of options on the form.

You may not need a transit visa if you are travelling to or from the United States. The Transit Without Visa program (TWOV) and the China Transit Program (CTP) allow certain foreign nationals to transit through Canada on their way to and from the United States without a Canadian transit visa, if they meet certain requirements.

Applying for an airport transit visa in Canada

If you live in Canada and want to apply for an airport transit visa for the Netherlands or Luxembourg, find out about the rules and how to apply.

If you live in Canada or the United States of America, you can submit your visa application at one of the Netherlands visa application centers (VAC) of VFS Global in Vancouver, Edmonton and Toronto; or at the Netherlands embassy in Ottawa.

Attention:You can only travel to the Netherlands if you are exempt from the EU entry ban. Please read the entry rules on Government.nl.

Do I need an airport transit visa?

Whether you need an airport transit visa depends on a number of things, including your nationality. The Visa Advisor helps you determine whether you need an airport transit visa.

What do I need to do?

• You must submit a passport or other travel document issued within the last 10 years. This must have at least 2 blank pages and be valid for at least another 3 months after the date of your transit through the airport in the Netherlands.
• You must submit a completed and signed Schengen visa application form. In the online form indicate ‘airport transit’ as the main purpose of your journey. Each person travelling with you on your travel document must submit their own visa form. Forms for children under the age of 18 need to be signed by a parent or guardian.
• Bring a photo that meets the Dutch requirements for passport photos.
• When you submit your application your fingerprints will be taken. These will be held for 59 months. Some applicants, such as children under the age of 12, do not need to have their fingerprints taken. Did you provide biometric data (fingerprints and photo) within the last 59 months prior to your current application? Then you can choose to have someone else submit your application for you. You do not have to appear in person.
  
  Please note: If, during the assessment of your application, it appears that your fingerprints are not in the system, you will have to come and submit them. Also, you can always be invited for an interview if your application gives reason to do so.
  
  You must also provide a number of documents to ensure that your application is assessed correctly. See the airport transit checklist.

How much does a visa cost?

When you apply for a visa at a Dutch embassy or consulate, you must pay a fee. You can find the fee on the fees page (look at the prices of a Schengen visa). If you apply through an external service provider, such as a visa agency, you will have to pay an extra fee to the provider.

The visa fee shall be waived for applicants belonging to one of the following categories:

• children under 6 years;
• school pupils, students, postgraduate students and accompanying teachers who undertake stays for the purpose of study or educational training;
• researchers* travelling for the purpose of carrying out scientific research or participating in a scientific seminar or conference;
• representatives of non-profit organisations aged 25 years or less participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events organised by non-profit organisations.

*as defined in point (2) of Article 3 of Directive (EU) 2016/801 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 1 )

How long does it take?

The earliest you can apply is 6 months before you intend to travel. For seafares this is 9 months. You should apply no later than 15 working days in advance. 

In most cases, you will be informed within 15 calendar days whether your application has been successful. Sometimes it can take up to 30 days if more time is needed, and up to 45 days, for example if extra documents are required.

Longer waiting time for visa applications

You may experience longer waiting times to get an appointment. And it may take longer than 15 days to process your application.

This is because more applicants want to travel to the Netherlands after COVID travel restrictions have been eased worldwide.

We are working to expand the number of available appointments and to increase our capacity. We regularly offer new appointment slots, so please keep checking the appointment system.

Plan your trip well in advance. And make sure you have all the documents ready for your appointment.

How will my application be assessed?

Your application will be checked in the Schengen Information System (SIS II). In addition, your application details will be checked and saved in the Visa Information System (VIS).

Transit visa

You need a transit visa if you’re from a visa-required country and:

• your international flight stops at a Canadian airport on its way to another country
• you’ll be connecting between 2 international flights at a Canadian airport
• you’ll transit through Canada in 48 hours or less
• you don’t have a valid visitor visa

eTA

You need an eTA to transit through Canada by air if you’re from an eTA-required country.

You don’t need an eTA if you’re transiting through Canada and you enter by train, bus,boat or cruise ship. You do need to bring the right travel documents.

Transit without a visa

Citizens and permanent residents of the United States

US citizens and lawful permanent residents of the U.S. can transit through Canada without a visa by:

• air
• car
• bus
• train
• boat
• cruise ship

You just need to bring the right travel documents.

Conclusion

Visitors from all countries except Canada and the US who wish to travel by train or boat between the US and Canada must be in possession of a pass issued by the Government of Canada. This permit is issued at most land crossings or train stations that allow cross-border travel. An application for this permit must be submitted no later than one month before traveling.