Canadian Airport Customs: Quick Clearance Or Long Lines?

Canadian customs at the airport can be a quick process, with some travellers reporting that they have passed through in under 15 minutes. However, this can vary depending on the airport, the time of year, and whether you are declaring anything. For example, Toronto Pearson Airport is known for having a lot of walking involved, and some travellers have missed connecting flights due to long delays. Smaller airports like Billy Bishop are generally faster, with one-hour layovers considered stress-free.

Canadian customs at Montreal airport is usually under 15 minutes

One source said that US pre-clearance at Montreal-Trudeau is infuriatingly slow, but this is only on the way back to the US. On the way there, you'll only be passing through Canadian immigration, which is generally much faster. In fact, one source said that it took them 10-15 minutes to get through passport control at Trudeau in Montreal, and that customs was a snap as long as they weren't declaring anything. Another source said that they had a 25-minute wait at Montreal airport, but that this was from plane to international departures area.

One source said that they had passed through customs in Toronto and that it was surprisingly fast, with almost no waiting at either customs or security. However, another source said that they had to wait about 30 minutes to get through passport control at Pearson.

Toronto airport has a separate security checkpoint for connecting passengers

The speed of Canadian customs at the airport depends on a number of factors, including the airport, the time of year, and whether you are entering or exiting the country.

Montreal is a smaller airport, so customs is usually fast (under 15 minutes). However, one source notes that US pre-clearance at Montreal-Trudeau can be very slow, taking up to 45 minutes on a peak holiday travel day.

Toronto Pearson International Airport has a separate security checkpoint for connecting passengers, which means you are not competing with the masses of people arriving from outside the airport. One source notes that they were able to make a tight 45-minute connection, but it could easily take longer if customs is busy. Another source recommends avoiding a one-hour layover at Toronto Pearson, but says that this would be stress-free at Billy Bishop Airport.

Over the next several years, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) will convert all security checkpoints to the 'CATSA Plus' system, which involves fewer visible officers and more computers to expedite travellers through pre-boarding security without compromising on safety. This system will save the most time at the conveyor belts while guiding carry-on luggage toward the X-ray.

Passengers connecting from an international or trans-border arrival to another international (non-US) departure in Terminal 1 of Toronto Pearson International Airport go to one of the special customs "B" checkpoints for passport control and immigration checks, then are immediately directed to Pier E for departure. This alleviates the need to recheck bags and pass through security screening, as well as relieving congestion in the primary customs hall. International-to-domestic passengers use the same corridor and a bus for one-stop security procedures, avoiding the need to re-clear security if coming from another country with a mutual agreement.

US pre-clearance at Montreal-Trudeau can take up to 45 minutes

The wait time for US pre-clearance at Trudeau Airport can vary depending on the day of the week and time of day. Sunday, Monday and Friday mornings are usually very busy, with wait times of up to 45 minutes, even as early as 5 am. Travellers have also reported long wait times on Sunday afternoons.

To avoid potential delays, it is recommended to arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight. This should give you enough time to clear US customs, even if there are long lines.

It's important to note that the minimum connection time for flights from Canada to the US at Montreal-Trudeau is 55 minutes. This is the time determined by the airline to minimise the number of missed connections. However, this does not account for potential delays due to busy periods or other unforeseen circumstances.

Therefore, if you are travelling through Montreal-Trudeau and need to clear US pre-clearance, it is advisable to allow for plenty of time and be prepared for potential delays.

US immigration at Pearson airport can cause long delays

However, the speed of customs can depend on the airport and the time of travel. For example, Montreal is a smaller airport, and customs is usually fast there (under 15 minutes). That said, one source says that US pre-clearance at Montreal-Trudeau is infuriatingly slow. It can take 10-15 minutes under normal circumstances and up to 45 minutes on a peak holiday travel day.

Toronto Pearson Airport has a separate security checkpoint for people who are arriving from another connection, so you are not competing with the masses of people arriving from outside the airport. However, there is a lot of walking involved even in a best-case scenario. It is also likely to be busier around big holiday weekends and everything will take longer.

It is also worth noting that once you clear passport control at either of those airports, customs is quick as long as you're not declaring anything.

Billy Bishop airport is small and cosy, so a one-hour layover is stress-free

Canadian customs at the airport can vary in speed depending on the airport and the time of travel. Smaller airports like Montreal usually have faster customs (under 15 minutes), but this can increase to 45 minutes on peak holiday travel days. Toronto Pearson Airport involves a lot of walking, but it has a separate security checkpoint for connecting passengers, so you are not competing with other passengers.

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