Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

At Victoria, we would suggest the following:

For a domestic flight, you should arrive at the airport no later than 1.5 to 2 hours before departure time.

For a transborder flight, you should arrive at the airport no later than 2 hours before departure time.

For an International flight, you should arrive at the airport no later than 2 hours before departure time.

Due to security regulations set in place by Transport Canada, Victoria International Airport (VIA) does not have storage facilities at this time. Also, for liability purposes the Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) does not hold items for passengers at the airport.

Flights within Canada, a passenger must present:

Two (2) pieces of government issued non-photo identification with matching names as long as at least one piece also includes the date of birth and gender; or

One (1) piece of government issued identification with photo showing the name, date of birth and gender.

For all flights outside of Canada, passengers must carry a valid passport.

Victoria International Airport is open from 04:00am to 01:00 am – subject to airline departure and arrival schedules.

For safety and security reasons. overnight stays in the terminal are not permitted.

Currently, CATSA, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, is responsible for passenger pre-board screening at the Victoria International Airport and airports across Canada. For information about prohibited items we recommend that you browse the CATSA website.

You will need to let your airline know at the time of booking that you will require wheelchair assistance. The airlines have wheelchairs readily accessible just inside the Departures doors upon entering the terminal building for your convenience.

To contact us with any accessibility questions or concerns, please reach us at Accessibility and we will reply promptly.

Curbside Assistance

New to YYJ is the ability for a traveller with a disability, or reduced mobility, for assistance from the curbside to the airline check-in counter, and from the baggage claim area upon receiving their luggage with the airline agent to the curbside. Our goal is to provide exceptional service and to assist you with your airport curbside assistance needs. Please note that if you do require assistance for your entire travel journey, please ensure you book those services with your airline.

Curbside Assistance Reservation Form

Victoria International Airport (YYJ) does not currently have a U.S. Pre-Clearance Facility. If travelling non-stop to the United States from YYJ, travellers will clear both U.S. Customs and Immigration upon arrival into the U.S. If travel to the United States is via Vancouver or, another major Canadian airport, they will have U.S. Pre-Clearance facilities.

Unfortunately the Victoria Airport Authority (VAA) is unable to access this type of information on your behalf due to confidentiality. This is an inquiry that needs to go directly through the Airline you were flying with.

Contact YYJ Airport Lost and Found.

Please note that any items lost on board an aircraft are the responsibility of the airline. In these cases, please contact the Airline directly.

Current employment opportunities with the Victoria Airport Authority can found in the Careers section of our website.

The Airport Authority is not the hiring agency for the airlines, air terminal building tenants or land tenants. We recommend that you contact those companies directly for job opportunities.

If you are interested in employment in the security field as either a Pre-Board Screener or Security Officer:

Allied Universal Security Services
Working at Allied Universal Canada (ausecurity.ca)

Paladin Security
Victoria International Airport
201-1640 Electra Blvd.
Sidney, BC V8L 5V4
Attention: Client Service Manager, Victoria Branch

For a listing of the airport phone numbers, please visit our airlines information page and our contact directory.

Our Red Coat Volunteer Information Desk is open from 0830-1630 daily, you can call their desk at (250) 953-7533 or, for after hours, please call the Airport Security Office at (250) 953-7511.

The telephone number for Environment Canada Weather Office in Victoria is (250) 363-0410.

Yes. Duty Free services are provided by LS Retail North America and they can be reached at (250) 656-0817.

Please note: Duty Free items must be purchased at least 30 minutes before boarding time, and is only available at the post-security location.

Yes. BC Transit significantly increased service to and from the terminal building at Victoria International Airport in June 2011. Please visit the Public Transportation section of our website for details.

Service animals, animals travelling with their owners and animals/pets are permitted inside the Airport Terminal Building. Animals shall not be left at large on land which is not owned by the owner of the animal, permitted to cry or bark in a manner which disturbs peace or, confined in an enclosed space or vehicle without adequate ventilation. Owners of animals shall also be responsible for clean-up and removal of feces/urine.

Smoking is only permitted at the sheltered area in the Short Term parking lot located at the Arrivals end of the air terminal building.