Toronto Pearson Airport Arrivals Guide
Toronto Pearson Arrivals: The 4-Step Exit Process
Once your plane touches the gate at Toronto Pearson (YYZ), you can get from your seat to the exit in about 30 to 60 minutes by following these four steps:
Step 1: Deplane & Follow Signs: Follow the overhead “Arrivals” and “Baggage” signs toward the main terminal area.
Step 2: Clear Customs (CBSA): Use the primary inspection kiosks to scan your travel documents, take your photo, and complete your declaration.
Step 3: Collect Luggage: Check the digital screens just past customs to find your flight’s designated baggage carousel.
Step 4: Exit to Arrivals Hall: Pass through the final customs checkpoint and walk through the sliding doors into the public arrivals area to meet your ride or find ground transit.
Which Terminal Are You In? > * Terminal 1: Serves Air Canada, United, and Star Alliance airlines.
Terminal 3: Serves WestJet, Delta, KLM, British Airways, and most other international carriers. (Note: There is no Terminal 2).
Table of Contents
Terminal 1 vs Terminal 3: Which One Are You Landing At?
Toronto Pearson has only two active terminals: Terminal 1 and Terminal 3. If you see references online to “Terminal 2,” disregard them—it was demolished years ago, so you won’t be landing there.
To find your terminal, check your boarding pass or flight status. Airlines are strictly assigned to specific terminals:
Airline Terminal Lookup
How to Move Between Terminals
If you land at the wrong terminal or need to meet someone at the other one, use the Terminal Link Train.
Cost: 100% free.
Frequency: Runs 24/7, every 4 to 8 minutes.
Travel Time: 2 minutes between terminals.
Where to find it: * Terminal 1: Level 5 of the parking garage.
Terminal 3: Level 3 of the pedestrian walkway (near the Sheraton Gateway Hotel).
Step-by-Step: From Landing to Exit Doors
Once your plane touches down at Toronto Pearson (YYZ), you will follow a specific flow to get from the gate to the public arrivals hall. Navigating this sequence efficiently keeps you from getting stuck in bottleneck lines.
Step 1: Deplane and Follow “All Arrivals” Signage
Follow the overhead signs toward Arrivals / Baggage Claim. If you are landing at Terminal 1, be prepared for a longer walk; the gates are spread out, but moving walkways are available. Terminal 3 is more compact, meaning a shorter walk to the customs and baggage areas.
International Connecting Flight Note: If you are transit passenger connecting from an international flight to another Canadian destination, you must clear customs (CBSA) and immigration here at Pearson first. After clearing, check the monitor: depending on your airline, you may need to retrieve your checked bags from the carousel and recheck them at the domestic transfer desk before proceeding to your connecting gate.
Step 2: Clear Customs (CBSA) & eGate Kiosks
All passengers arriving on international or US flights must clear the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) checkpoint.
Primary Inspection Kiosks (PIK) & eGates: Scan your passport, take your photo at the prompt, and answer the standard declaration questions on the screen.
ArriveCAN App Tip: You can submit your customs declaration up to 72 hours before landing using the ArriveCAN app. This allows you to bypass the standard kiosk lines and use the dedicated Express / ArriveCAN lanes.
In-Person Processing: If you are traveling with a non-machine-readable passport, are an unaccompanied minor under 16, or require special immigration processing (like finalizing a study permit or landing as a new Permanent Resident), bypass the kiosks and join the queue for a CBSA officer.
Step 3: Retrieve Checked Bags (Baggage Claim)
Once through customs, check the flight status screens in the baggage hall to find the designated carousel number for your flight.
Terminal 1: Carousels are located on Level 1.
Terminal 3: Carousels are located on the Arrivals Level.
Baggage Carts: Complimentary baggage carts (sponsored by CIBC) are lined up throughout the baggage hall. Grab one for free to carry heavy luggage.
Step 4: Final Customs Declaration & Exit
With your bags in hand, head toward the arrivals exit. Pearson operates a “Goods to Declare” lane system at both terminals.
Once past the final officer checkpoint, the doors will slide open, leading you directly into the public Arrivals Hall.
Where to Meet Your Pickup (Exact Doors & Pillar Numbers)
To meet your ride quickly, you need to know exactly which door and pillar to stand by. Toronto Pearson uses a numbered pillar system along the outer curbs of both terminals so drivers can spot you instantly.
Terminal 1: Head to the arrivals level and exit through Door A, B, or C. Walk across the first roadway to the second curb (the inner lane is for public transit). You will find the passenger pickup area between Pillars 1 through 10.
Terminal 3: Exit through Doors 3D, 3E, or 3F on the arrivals level. Walk to the outer curb where you will find numbered pillars.
💡 Insider Tip: If Terminal 1 or 3 is packed, tell your driver to meet you at Zone F (located at the far end of the arrivals curb). It is almost always the least congested pickup zone.
The #1 Mistake to Avoid
Never tell your driver to meet you on the “Departures” level unless the arrivals curb is completely gridlocked. If you do switch to the departures level to escape the crowd, make sure you explicitly tell your driver to head upstairs—otherwise, they will waste 20 minutes looping around the airport’s one-way road system.
Picking Someone Up? Where to Wait for Free
Do not circle the terminal curbs or park on the shoulder of the airport roads. Peel Regional Police actively ticket and tow vehicles idling on the shoulders of Highway 409 and Airport Road. Instead, use these two options:
1. The Free Cell Phone Waiting Lots
Pearson has two free Cell Phone Waiting Lots where you can park and wait in your vehicle until your passenger messages you that they have cleared customs and have their bags.
Location 1 (Network Road): Best if you are approaching from the west.
Location 2 (Silver Dart Drive): Best if you are approaching from the east or north.
The Rule: You must remain with your vehicle at all times. Once your passenger is at the curb with their pillar number, it takes exactly 5 minutes to drive from these lots to the terminals.
2. The Express Parking Garages (Paid)
If you want to walk into the terminal to meet your passenger at the arrivals gate, use the Express Park garages.
Terminal 1 Express Park: The entrance is on the left side of the departures level roadway.
Terminal 3 Express Park: Located directly across from the terminal building.
Note: Keep left as you approach the airport to enter these garages; if you miss the exit lanes, the one-way system forces you onto a lengthy loop back around the airport.
Ground Transportation Options (Comparison Table
| Transport Option | Average Time | Approx. Cost (CAD) | Comfort & Convenience | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UP Express Train | 25 mins | $12.35 cash ($9.25 with PRESTO) | High (Free Wi-Fi, power outlets, highly reliable, bypassing highway traffic) | Solo travelers, business trips, bypassing rush hour |
| TTC Bus (900 Airport Express) | 45–60 mins (to Kipling Station) | $3.30 | Low (Standard city transit bus, can get crowded with luggage) | Budget travelers |
| Uber / Lyft | 30–60 mins (traffic dependent) | $60 – $80 | Medium (Standard rideshare, requires walking to app pickup zone) | Tech-savvy travelers, small groups |
| Pre-Arranged VIP Limo | 30–50 mins | $90 – $110 (Flat rate) | Premium (High-end sedan/SUV, professional driver at curbside) | Families, business VIPs, zero hassle |
| Licensed Airport Taxi | 30–50 mins | $72 – $90 (Flat rate) | Medium-High (On-demand curbside pickup, no pre-booking) | Quick, on-the-spot private transport |
| Car Rental | Variable | Varies by provider | High (Freedom of driving, but requires navigating local traffic) | Road-tripping outside Greater Toronto Area |
UP Express Train
| Avg. Time | 25 mins |
| Cost (CAD) | $12.35 cash ($9.25 with PRESTO) |
| Comfort Level | High (Free Wi-Fi, power outlets, highly reliable) |
| Best For | Solo travelers, business trips, bypassing rush hour |
TTC Bus (900 Airport Express)
| Avg. Time | 45–60 mins (to Kipling Station) |
| Cost (CAD) | $3.30 |
| Comfort Level | Low (Standard city transit bus, can get crowded) |
| Best For | Budget travelers |
Uber / Lyft
| Avg. Time | 30–60 mins (traffic dependent) |
| Cost (CAD) | $60 – $80 |
| Comfort Level | Medium (Standard rideshare, pickup zone walk) |
| Best For | Tech-savvy travelers, small groups |
Pre-Arranged VIP Limo
| Avg. Time | 30–50 mins |
| Cost (CAD) | $90 – $110 (Flat rate) |
| Comfort Level | Premium (High-end sedan/SUV, driver waiting) |
| Best For | Families, VIPs, zero hassle |
Licensed Airport Taxi
| Avg. Time | 30–50 mins |
| Cost (CAD) | $72 – $90 (Flat rate) |
| Comfort Level | Medium-High (On-demand curbside, no booking) |
| Best For | Quick, on-the-spot private transport |
Car Rental
| Avg. Time | Variable |
| Cost (CAD) | Varies by provider |
| Comfort Level | High (Freedom of driving, navigate traffic) |
| Best For | Road-tripping outside GTA |
Pro Tip: While on-demand airport taxis are convenient, booking a pre-arranged airport limo or a premium VIP Airport Limo service offers a flat-rate guarantee and a much higher standard of comfort for only a minor price difference. It eliminates waiting in the standard taxi queues during peak landing hours.
Insider Tips for Busy Times
If you are arriving during peak travel hours (typically weekday mornings or late afternoon/evening rush hours), use these tried-and-tested strategies to save time.
The Departures-Level Pickup Trick
When the Arrivals curb is backed up with bumper-to-bumper traffic, do not waste time waiting in the crowd. Have your ride pick you up on the Departures level (one floor up) instead. Traffic moves much faster here because travelers are quickly dropping off bags and leaving, rather than waiting around. Just take the elevator up to Departures, head out the doors, and meet your ride at an open zone.
The Text-and-Pillar Coordination Method
Never tell your ride “I’m outside Terminal 1.” The curbs are massive and highly regulated. Instead, wait inside the terminal until you have your bags in hand. Once you step outside, find the nearest concrete support pillar and look for the large, printed letter or number on it. Text your driver your exact terminal and pillar number (for example, “Terminal 1, Arrivals, Pillar 3D”). This allows your driver to wait comfortably in the free Cell Phone Waiting Lot until you are fully ready, then pull up directly to your exact spot within minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Terminal 1 is the larger, newer facility that primarily handles Air Canada, United Airlines, Emirates, and all other Star Alliance members. Terminal 3 is more compact and serves WestJet, Delta, British Airways, KLM, and carriers from the Oneworld and SkyTeam alliances.
For most domestic arrivals, you can exit the terminal within 15 to 30 minutes of deplaning. International arrivals typically take 30 to 60 minutes to clear Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) customs, though this wait time can be cut down significantly if you complete your Advance Declaration via the ArriveCAN app before landing.
The official Cell Phone Waiting Lots, located just off Viscount Road, are the best spots to wait for free for up to 45 minutes. Drivers must remain inside their vehicles at all times while waiting in these lots, providing an easy staging area until passengers are curbside and ready to be picked up.
A pre-arranged airport limo operates on a regulated flat-rate system based on your destination zone, averaging between $75 and $110 CAD for a trip to downtown Toronto. This price remains highly predictable compared to rideshare options that fluctuate heavily during peak rush hours or bad weather.
Your security screening requirements depend entirely on your airline and where your flight originated. If you are arriving from an international destination or the United States and connecting to a Canadian domestic flight, you must clear customs, collect your bags, and pass through CATSA security screening again before boarding your next flight.