From curb to gate and back again, you’re our top priority. We want to help make your experience smoother and help you understand how travel has changed.
Policies in effect
Vaccinated travellers
Departing
If you are 12 years and four months of age or older, you will need to be fully vaccinated to board a domestic or international flight departing from an airport in Canada.
Arriving
If you are arriving into Canada from an international destination, are fully vaccinated and meet specific conditions, you will not need to quarantine provided you:
Are eligible to enter Canada
Are asymptomatic
Meet the Government of Canada requirements of fully vaccinated travellers
Meet all other entry requirements, including entering your information in the ArriveCAN mobile app before arrival. Ensure you have the latest version to ensure a smooth process.
If you’re fully vaccinated you may be selected for mandatory randomized arrival testing. After your test, you will be required to quarantine in a suitable place until you receive a negative test result.
If you are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, learn if you qualify to depart Canada on an airplane by visiting the Government of Canada’s webpage.
Airport policies
The following airport policies are currently in place for all passengers and employees, regardless of vaccination status:
To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, all passengers and airport employees must wear a mask at all times. This includes the pre- and post-security screening areas of the terminals, parking facilities, inter-terminal train, sidewalks/curbs outside the terminals and other outdoor public areas. Please note when sitting at a dining establishment while not eating or drinking, you must still wear your mask at all times.
Terminal access is restricted to passengers who are travelling on the same day, passengers on layover for more than a day and airport employees on duty. Meeters and greeters or those dropping friends and loved ones off at the airport are not permitted to enter the terminals.
Hand sanitizer stations are located throughout the airport. Please sanitize or wash your hands regularly.
Baggage carts and kiosks are cleaned regularly throughout the day and plexiglass barriers are installed throughout the airport for a safer airport experience.
As always, follow in-terminal signage and maintain a safe physical distance whenever possible.
There are exceptions to these airport policies. You will not be required to wear a mask if:
You are under the age of two
You are unable to remove a mask without assistance
You have a medical condition that prevents you from wearing a mask. In this case, you are exempt from the rule provided you have a note from a licensed medical professional that certifies that you are unable to wear a mask for medical reasons. If asked by GTAA Public Safety Officer, Peel Regional Police or a CATSA screening officer, we suggest letting them know that you have a medical condition.
You are in the act of consuming food or beverages at one of our food and beverage locations. Please note when sitting at a food and beverage location while not eating or drinking, you must still wear your mask at all times.
If you are not travelling, you may still enter the public areas of the terminal buildings if:
You are a friend or family member of someone who requires mobility assistance
You are accompanying a minor who is travelling alone
What’s your travel journey?
If you’re planning on travelling through Pearson, here’s what you can expect along each of the major touchpoints of your airport journey:
Give yourself extra time and arrive at the airport early. For domestic departures, we recommend 90 minutes prior to departure and for international departing passengers, we recommend three hours prior to departure.
To make your experience easier, touchless self-serve check-in kiosks and automated baggage drops are available in both terminals, which allow you to move quickly and seamlessly from the curb to security.
You can check-in online from home to speed up the process, then use one of our touchless kiosks in the check-in lobby if you have bags to drop-off.
Touchless Priority lines will enable Priority passengers to quickly scan their documents and proceed through check-in without meeting with an airline representative for document verification.
At the time of check-in, you should be prepared for extra questions and document requirements from their airline. Be sure to confirm with your airline what the specific requirements are for your destination.
Health declaration, which is dependent on your end-destination’s requirements.
Proof of negative COVID-19 test result. Many countries require a negative test result to enter. You can schedule a test on-site at the airport or find a provider closer to home. Confirm what kind of test you need, as PCR and antigen test results are not interchangeable, and tests must be taken with a set period of time.
Your travel destination may have requirements that are specific to the local government. Be sure to research this in advance of getting to the airport and come prepared, as some documentation may take time to collect.
Masks are mandatory while moving through the security process.
Bins are wiped down and disinfected by CATSA staff.
Hand sanitizer stations are located immediately after the screening process. Please sanitize your hands regularly.
Whether you’re travelling within Canada or internationally, you’ll find food options that suit your needs. We have grab and go, coffee, quick serve and dine-in available within a short walk of each gate. Find the option closest to your gate.
You can shop the airport’s retail and dining options using various touchless alternatives, including Uber Eats food ordering from in-terminal restaurants and Reserve & Collect shopping from duty free and other retail outlets.
To make your experience easier, you can order and pay from your own device where available, using QR code menus and mobile phone payments.
At all restaurants and retail locations, payment pin-pads are wiped after each customer transaction.
If you are arriving from an International destination, you may experience longer than average wait times if you arrive during peak periods in the afternoon and evening. The arrivals process can take up to 2 hours, depending on your specific set of circumstances.
Download the Canada Border Service Agency’s ArriveCAN app before departing to make your return trip easier. Ahead of your arrival in Canada, you must use ArriveCAN to submit a quarantine plan, proof of vaccination, COVID-19 test information (if applicable), as well as contact information and travel history.
If you are fully vaccinated, you may be selected for mandatory randomized arrival testing. After your test, you will be required to quarantine in a suitable place until you receive a negative test result.
If you are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, you must undergo Day 1 and Day 8 COVID-19 molecular tests, and complete a mandatory 14 day quarantine, subject to limited exceptions. Learn more.
In your ArriveCAN proof of vaccine submission, you must provide the following information. Also bring a paper or digital copy of your proof of vaccination.
NEXUS kiosks help to make your travel journey faster, by allowing you to scan documents and verify your identity automatically before proceeding onward.
Should you require an arrivals COVID-19 test, you can register for your test in advance of travelling. At Toronto Pearson, mandatory arrivals testing is available at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, administered by Switch Health.
For your safety, masks are mandatory for all passengers and airport employees in all terminal spaces, as well as in taxis, limousines and ride app cars.
You are not permitted to enter the terminals, except under specific circumstances:
You are a friend or family member of someone who requires mobility assistance
You are accompanying a minor who is travelling alone
While waiting for your friend or loved one, use our convenient cell phone waiting areas or book a free Express Pass, which allows up to 18 minutes of free parking in the Terminal 1 and 3 covered garages for picking up or dropping off passengers. If you choose the Express Pass option, please ensure you communicate your parking level and parking space to your arriving party.
Passengers arriving from an international destination may take up to 2 hours to complete the customs process. Please plan to pick your friend or family member up 1 to 2 hours after their flight is scheduled to land.
