Updated and fact-checked: 2026-09-18
Before flying to Canada, treat permission to board, admission to Canada, a connection and airline service as four separate checks. For a Taiwan passport holder, IRCC’s eTA eligibility for air travel specifies an ordinary passport issued by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs that includes a personal identification number. A different travel document, nationality, refusal history or special status needs a fresh result from the official checker; departure city alone does not decide it. IRCC entry-document requirements, IRCC visa and eTA checker.
Separate Canadian entry, a U.S. connection and the baggage route
An eTA is electronically linked to the passport used in the application. It may be valid for up to five years or until that passport expires, whichever comes first; a new passport requires a new eTA. It is for visa-exempt travellers flying to, or transiting through, Canada. Do not apply the same conclusion automatically to arrival by land or sea. Approval permits travel to the border and does not guarantee admission, and an eTA cannot replace a visa when a visa is required. IRCC eTA facts, IRCC transit guidance.
| Itinerary point | Check separately | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Direct flight or Canadian connection | Passport and the visa/eTA rule for that mode of travel | Use IRCC’s checker for your passport and route; confirm the passport number linked to the eTA. |
| Connection in the United States | U.S. ESTA or visa rules are separate from Canada’s eTA | Check whether you may use the VWP and need ESTA, or need a visa. A Canadian eTA is not a substitute. |
| Checked baggage on a connection | Transfer depends on airport, carrier, ticket, customs and the operating procedure | Ask at check-in, read the destination on the bag tag, then follow airport and arrival-day instructions. |
A U.S. connection must satisfy U.S. rules even when the stop is only a transit. Eligible Visa Waiver Program travellers generally need valid ESTA authorization; someone who is not eligible may need a transit or another applicable visa. Nationality, passport, travel history and individual facts matter. Canadian eTA does not answer the U.S. question. Baggage also cannot be assumed to transfer merely because flights appear on one booking: airport and direction-specific procedures can differ even within one airline. U.S. Department of State transit-visa guidance, U.S. Visa Waiver Program, one Air Canada Vancouver connection procedure.
For delays, cancellations and baggage, record the reason and arrival difference
The Air Passenger Protection Regulations (APPR) do not create automatic compensation for every disruption. First identify whether the event was within the airline’s control and not required for safety, within its control but required for safety, or outside its control. Standards of treatment, rebooking, refunds and inconvenience compensation differ. A weather, technical or “safety” label alone does not settle the claim. Keep the airline’s specific reason, scheduled and actual arrival times, boarding pass, receipts and baggage report. Canadian Transportation Agency delay, cancellation, rebooking and compensation guidance.
| Delay at final destination | Large airline | Small airline |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to under 6 hours | CAD 400 | CAD 125 |
| 6 to under 9 hours | CAD 700 | CAD 250 |
| 9 hours or more | CAD 1,000 | CAD 500 |
The table is inconvenience compensation only when the event was fully within airline control, was not required for safety, notice timing and final-arrival delay meet APPR conditions, and the other eligibility rules apply. It is not an automatic amount for any delay. A written claim must reach the airline within one year of the event; the airline then has 30 days to pay or explain why it refuses. Airlines also have continuing communication duties during a disruption and should provide new information as soon as it is available. Canadian Transportation Agency claim deadlines.
Baggage uses separate deadlines. A written delayed-baggage claim is generally due within 21 days after receiving the bag; lost and damaged baggage have different proof and timing rules. Liability for international carriage may fall under the Montreal Convention and applicable limits. Do not use the flight-inconvenience table as a baggage-compensation table. Canadian Transportation Agency baggage-claim guidance, passenger and baggage liability limits.
Pack spare lithium batteries and power banks in carry-on baggage and protect their terminals from short circuit. Remove them before a carry-on is gate-checked. Batteries above 100 Wh require review of airline approval and quantity conditions, and personal-electronics batteries above 160 Wh are generally prohibited as passenger baggage. Installed batteries and spares are different categories, so also check the carrier. For security screening, each liquid, aerosol or gel container must be 100 mL or less and fit in one clear resealable 1 L bag. Transport Canada spare-battery safety guidance, CATSA battery guidance, CATSA container and one-litre-bag rule.
Fares, baggage allowance, seat fees and check-in cutoffs vary by airline, fare, route and purchase date. Airport advice to arrive early is operational buffer rather than one universal legal duration. Before purchase, read the rules for the exact fare and carrier; before departure, check the connection airport and official flight status again. For a wider city-to-city plan, return to our Canada travel guide.