Canada-Canada
If your flight originated in Canada and you need to take a connecting flight to another Canadian destination, you do not normally need to leave the restricted area or worry about your checked luggage (verify with your airline). You can confirm your departure gate number on one of the flight-schedule display screens.
If for some reason you wish to leave the restricted area, remember to keep your boarding pass with you and to arrive at pre-boarding screening checkpoint “A” far enough in advance of your flight.
Canada-United States
If your flight originated in Canada and you have a boarding pass for a connecting flight to a U.S. destination, you must follow the U.S. Connections signs, go through pre-boarding screening checkpoint “C”, and then go through U.S. Customs. Your checked luggage will be transferred automatically by the luggage-handling system. Note, however, that U.S. customs officers are authorized to recall your luggage, if necessary, for manual inspection. If the customs officers do not yet have the information on your luggage at hand, you will be asked to proceed to the waiting area.
Canada-International
If your flight originated in Canada and you need to take a connecting flight to an international destination and you already have your boarding pass, you do not need to leave the restricted area or worry about your checked luggage. You can confirm your departure gate number on one of the flight-schedule display screens and keep your boarding pass on hand to go through the control entry into the international area. Once in the international area, you can not return into the mixed area.If for some reason you wish to leave the restricted area, remember to keep your boarding pass with you and to arrive at the pre-boarding screening checkpoint far enough in advance of your flight.
If you do not have your boarding pass, you need to obtain one at your airline’s check-in counter.
United States-Canada
After having gone through border control – primary inspection, you will be asked to follow one of two procedures:
- If your airline offers the option of automatically transferring your luggage, you will be directed to the domestic departures area.
- If your airline does not offer the option of automatically transferring your luggage, you will have to pick it up yourself from the carousel, then follow the normal procedure for international arrivals and then for domestic departures.
United States-International
After scanning your passport at the kiosk, you will be asked to follow one of two procedures:
- If your airline offers the option of automatically transferring your luggage, you will be directed to the international departures area.
- If your airline does not offer the option of automatically transferring your luggage, you will have to pick it up yourself from the carousel, then follow the normal procedure for international arrivals and then for international departures.
Passengers in transit: Attention! Check whether you need a transit visa.
Citizens of certain countries and territories need a visa to enter Canada. If you are among them, you will need a transit visa to travel through Canada without stopping or visiting. This applies even if you are in Canada for less than 48 hours.
You may not need a transit visa.
For more information on eligibility requirements for travellers, airlines, and airport authorities visit Transit through Canada without a visa on the CIC website.
International-Canada
After having gone through border control – primary inspection, you will be asked to follow one of two procedures:
- If your airline offers the option of automatically transferring your luggage, you will be directed to the domestic departures area. (If you are not arriving from the European Union, you will first be directed to the pre-boarding screening checkpoint for connections.)
- If your airline does not offer the option of automatically transferring your luggage, you will have to pick it up yourself from the carousel, then follow the normal procedure for international arrivals and then for domestic departures.
International-United States
If your flight originated outside Canada or the United States and you need to take a connecting flight to a U.S. destination, follow the signs "Connections". There are two possible options:
- If your airline offers the option of automatically transferring your luggage and you have a boarding pass for your connecting flight, you will be asked to proceed via a connecting flights corridor, avoiding Canadian customs. You will, however, have to go through U.S. customs. Your checked luggage will be transferred automatically by the luggage-handling system. Note, however, that U.S. customs officers are authorized to recall your luggage, if necessary, for manual inspection. If the customs officers do not yet have the information on your luggage at hand, you will be asked to proceed to the waiting area.
- If your airline does not offer the option of automatically transferring your luggage, you must pick it up yourself from the carousel, then follow the normal procedures for international arrivals, then for U.S. departures.
Passengers in transit: Attention! Check whether you need a transit visa.
Citizens of certain countries and territories need a visa to enter Canada. If you are among them, you will need a transit visa to travel through Canada without stopping or visiting. This applies even if you are in Canada for less than 48 hours.
You may not need a transit visa.
For more information on eligibility requirements for travellers, airlines, and airport authorities visit Transit through Canada without a visa on the CIC website.
International-International
When you arrive at YUL, you will transit through the connections centre. This connections' area is dedicated to travellers transiting through Montreal to other destinations.
After completing the process, you will be asked to follow one of two procedures:
- If your airline offers the option of automatically transferring your luggage and your departure flight is on the same day as your arrival flight, you will be directed to the international departure area. Please note that if you are not arriving from the European Union or the United States, you will be directed to the dedicated security checkpoint beforehand. You do not have to upload and provide your declaration in ArriveCan.
- If your airline does not offer the option of automatically transferring your luggage or your departure flight is not on the same day as your arrival flight, you are required to download and provide all required information through ArriveCan and pass through the border control. Then, you will need to pick up your baggage from the carousel and follow the usual route for international arrivals, then follow the normal procedure for international arrivals, and then for international departures.
