Transit through Canada including to and from Alaska
On this page
- Transit to another country by air
- Driving to or from Alaska through Canada
- Transiting and cruising through Canadian waters
- Entry screening
- Service hours for border crossings
Transit to another country by air
You may be permitted to transit through Canada to reach another country. You must make your travel arrangements well in advance if you are transiting through Canada.
While travelling
You must follow all flight requirements and comply with any guidelines provided by the Airport Authority.
Boarding flights to and within Canada
During your connection at the Canadian airport
You must remain in the secure transit area to complete your connection. This means that you won’t be allowed to collect your baggage, or check-in for your next flight anywhere but at your scheduled gate of departure.
You’re exempt from testing and quarantine requirements, as long as you remain in the secure transit area to complete your connection within 24 hours.
If you want to leave the secure transit area due to a flight cancellation or delay, you must be eligible to enter Canada.
Find out if you can enter Canada
Driving to or from Alaska through Canada
If you don’t qualify for the fully vaccinated exemption, you can’t transit through Canada to or from Alaska by land for discretionary purposes, such as a vacation or leisure.
Check if you qualify for the fully vaccinated traveller exemptionIf you don’t qualify for the fully vaccinated exemption
When seeking entry to Canada, you will be subject to strict entry conditions and public health requirements. You will need to have proof that your entry into Canada is not discretionary, such as:
- proof of residence or employment in Alaska if going north
- proof of residence or employment in the lower 48 states if going south
You must provide proof of a valid pre-entry test result to enter Canada.
Habitual residents of Alaska who drive through Yukon or British Columbia to get to another part of Alaska or return to their place of residence are exempt from pre-entry and arrival testing. You must remain in your vehicle while passing through Canada.
Arrival testing at the border
When entering Canada at a land border crossing, you may be given a self-swab kit to do your arrival test.
Going south: You may use any land border crossing
Entry into Canada from Alaska on the northern border is not limited to a specific border crossing.
Going north and driving through Yukon: Specific land border crossings you must use
When travelling from the lower 48 states en route to Alaska, you must enter Canada at one of the 5 identified land border crossings.
- Abbotsford-Huntingdon, British Columbia
- Kingsgate, British Columbia
- Osoyoos, British Columbia
- Coutts, Alberta
- North Portal, Saskatchewan
When you arrive at one of the 5 land border crossings, you must prove to a border services officer that you meet the requirements for entry into Canada.
Your vehicle tag
You will be issued a vehicle hang tag that you must attach to your rear view mirror for the duration of your trip to or from Alaska.
The front of the tag will make it clear that you are transiting through Canada, and it will include the date that you must depart.
The back of the tag will remind you to comply with all conditions of entry, and list public health and safety measures you must follow.
Follow a designated route from the land border crossing.
- You will be allowed a reasonable amount of time to get to Alaska or the lower 48 states
- You must travel using the most direct route to your destination
- You must avoid all national parks, leisure sites, and tourism activities
While in transit to your destination
You must follow the advice given to you by the border services officer to:
- avoid contact with others while in transit
- remain in the vehicle as much as possible
- not make any unnecessary stops
- practice physical distancing at all times
- pay at the pump if you need gas
- use a drive through if you need food
- wear a suitable mask while in transit, unless you are alone in a private vehicle
- ensure good hygiene practices if you need to use a rest area
You are encouraged to use only those services that are open to travellers along the direct route that you are travelling.
Reporting requirement when you leave Canada
Before re-entering the U.S., you must report to the nearest Canada Border Services Agency land border crossing to confirm that you are leaving Canada.
Transiting and cruising through Canadian waters
For all rules applicable to people travelling by marine: Reporting requirements for boaters
Penalties and fines for not following the Emergency OrderEntry screening
All travellers must meet strict requirements to prevent further transmission of COVID-19 and its variants into Canada.
Entry screening
You will be assessed, regardless of citizenship, upon arrival to Canada. Entry screening is part of a multi-layered government response strategy.
When you arrive in Canada, a border services officer will ask you:
- the purpose of your trip
- whether you are feeling ill or unwell
- other questions in order to complete their assessment
Officers will look for signs of illness, regardless of how you respond to screening questions. They will refer any traveller they suspect is ill for a further medical assessment by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
After you arrive
You will be given a handout based on the determination of the border services officer with instructions to follow after you enter Canada.
Handouts are available in different languages
- Quarantine handout for unvaccinated travellers
- Isolation handout for travellers with symptoms
- Travellers exempt from mandatory quarantine
Service hours for border crossings
Consult the service hours for:
- Date modified: