Immigration at Pearson Toronto

[NWSRG]

Folks,

Flying into Toronto with Air Canada in October...our flight leaves Heathrow around noon, and gets into Toronto at around 3pm local. Can anyone advise on the expected immigration time and experience? I'll be travelling with a toddler who will be getting close to bedtime, so I'm just wanting to know what to expect at the far end!

Thanks in advance...

[MG23]

Last time I flew in there, the queue was about ten minutes long, but I've waited longer than that in the past. Guess it all depends on how many other flights arrive at almost the same time.

[Married a Canadian]

At 3pm you are arriving with quite afew of the European arrivals so it won't be quiet. When you arrive if you see Lufthansa, Etihad/Emirates (direct from Dubai/abu Dhabi) or Turkish..they arrive around the same time as you and will either be disembarked or in the process of. There may be afew lineups in this case.

The walk from the plane to the customs hall is quite long as the international gates are at the end of the pier. There are lots of moving walkways though to speed it up a bit...hopefully said toddler is OK with these. There is an escalator which takes you into the main customs hall.

Every time I go through customs and immigration at Pearson they do seem to have ALL the desks open and get everyone lined up as efficiently as possible. I have never been more than 15mins lined up at immigration even when busy...it is amazing what having every desk open can do (hello Heathrow!).
If you fill your customs form out on the plane (Air Canada hand them out well in advance of landing).. you are set. I have never had a Canadian customs/immigration officer be rude or appear to be impatient. They all seem to be friendly and for the most part, helpful (subject you having the right documents). Once through immigration, you keep a hold of your customs form until you pick up your baggage...once this is done you hand it in as you go into the arrival hall (a bit like the "anything to declare" line at Heathrow)

The only lottery I seem to find at YYZ is the baggage reclaim....it varies in length and I have had everything from 10 mins to 40 mins.

Hope this helps.

[Heathrow Harry]

went through last month - as MaCan says quite a long walk but very efficient when you get there - 10 minutes on weekday mid-afternoon

Damn sight more pleasant than Calgary as well

[localflighteast]

Even when landing as a permanent resident and thus requiring a trip to secondary inspection
It has never taken me more than an hour to clear immigration and customs at Pearson

Now that they have the automatic customs card reading machines for residents it should be even quicker

[NWSRG]

Thanks for the replies folks...all sounds very civilised!

[localflighteast]

Yeah just don't try flying air Canada out of terminal one if you want to remain sane :(