YYZ · Canada

Toronto Pearson International — Can you leave the airport?

A layover in Toronto can be the best part of your trip — or a stressful dash back to the gate. Toronto Pearson International sits about 25 minutes from Union Station by airport rail, and there’s no sterile transit here, so plan for the border either way. Below we work out exactly how much layover time you need to leave, what a realistic plan looks like, and the visa and re-screening details that decide it.

Can you leave the airport?

Built from real transit times — buffers included.

Layover	Time in city	Verdict
3 hours	—	Stay airside
5 hours	—	Stay airside
6 hours	1h	Cutting it close
8 hours	3h	Go for it
10 hours	5h	Go for it
12 hours	7h	Go for it
24 hours	19h	Go for it

Getting to the city

25mTo the city · Airport rail UP Express

50mRound trip

every ~15 minFrequency

from ~C$10Fare from · Union Station

What to do

CN Tower

Straight up from Union Station, with a glass floor if you dare.

Wladyslaw, Correction of perspective distortion: Niabot · CC BY

St. Lawrence Market

A 200-year-old market hall and the peameal bacon sandwich.

Mark · CC BY

Royal Ontario Museum

Dinosaurs behind a crystal of angled glass on Bloor Street.

Maksim Sokolov (maxergon.com) · CC BY-SA

Airport Essentials

LoungesShowersLuggage storageSleep pods Transit hotel

Visa & transit

Canada has no general sterile transit zone: connecting through Pearson is legally entering Canada, and you need an eTA or a visa regardless of how short the stop is. Narrow airside exceptions exist only under the Transit Without Visa and China Transit programs for specific passports travelling to or from the US.

United States: Visa on arrival · eligibleUnited Kingdom: Visa on arrival · eligibleBrazil: Visa on arrival · eligibleCanada: Visa on arrival · eligibleAustralia: Visa on arrival · eligibleGermany: Visa-free entry

Updated: 2026 Rules change and depend on your exact ticket, airline and passport. Always confirm with your airline and the airport’s official immigration authority before you travel. IRCC — transiting through Canada ↗

Frequently asked questions

Can I leave Toronto Pearson International during a layover?

Usually yes, if your layover is at least 5.5 hours. You need about 160 min for immigration, 25 min each way in transit, and 90 min to get back through security — so aim to be at the gate with margin.

How long does immigration take at Toronto Pearson International?

Budget about 160 minutes as a planning estimate. It can be quicker off-peak and slower after several wide-body arrivals land together.

How do I get from Toronto Pearson International to Toronto?

The Airport rail UP Express reaches Union Station in about 25 minutes — the simplest, most predictable way to get in and back in time.

Do I need a visa to leave the airport in Toronto?

Is there sterile transit at Toronto Pearson International?

No, this airport doesn't offer sterile transit. You'll clear immigration either way, even if you stay inside the terminal.

What if I don't have enough time to leave?

Stay airside and use what the terminal already offers: showers, lounges. It's the safer call whenever the margin is tight.

Is it worth leaving on a short layover?

Only if you have at least 90 extra minutes beyond the recommended minimum. When in doubt, staying near the gate beats risking the connection.

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SMART LAYOVER PLANNER

Run your own numbers for Toronto

Change the layover length, your passport or how your bags are checked — the verdict updates instantly, right here.

SMART LAYOVER PLANNER

AIRPORT

LAYOVER DURATION

ARRIVAL TIME

NATIONALITY

BAGGAGE STATUS

It only takes 20 seconds

Your Layover Brief Great news!

You can leave the airport

Your window is comfortable — immigration, transit and re-screening buffers are already included.

TIME OUTSIDE 3h 50m

VISA / TRANSIT Visa on arrival · eligible

BAGGAGE Checked through (held) You're good to go

Airport rail UP Express · Union Station · 25m

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