Canada has identified 17 countries whose citizens may be eligible to travel to the country by air with an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) instead of applying for a visitor visa.
The arrangement applies only to travellers who meet specific eligibility requirements set by the Canadian government.
Who can qualify for Canada eTA?
Citizens of the eligible countries must meet additional conditions before they can use an eTA.
The traveller must also be visiting Canada temporarily, generally for a stay of up to six months, and must be arriving in or transiting through a Canadian airport by air using a valid passport from an eligible country.
Anyone who does not satisfy all of these conditions must apply for a Canadian visitor visa.
17 countries on Canada’s eTA-eligible list
The countries whose citizens may qualify for the visa alternative are:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Costa Rica
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Panama
- Philippines
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Seychelles
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uruguay
Indonesia and Malaysia are the latest countries to be added to the list.
Canada eTA is only for air travel
The eTA option does not cover every form of travel to Canada.
Eligible travellers must be flying to Canada or transiting through a Canadian airport.
Those travelling by car, bus, train or boat must still obtain a valid Canadian visitor visa. This also applies to travellers crossing into Canada from the United States by road and those arriving by cruise ship.
Travellers who already hold a valid Canadian visitor visa do not need to obtain an eTA simply because they are flying to Canada.
They can continue using their visitor visa until it expires, provided they otherwise meet Canada’s entry requirements.
Travellers must use the passport linked to their eTA
An eTA is linked to the passport used during the application process.
If a traveller obtains a new passport after receiving an eTA, they must apply for a new eTA using the new passport.
Canadian authorities also recommend that travellers carry an old passport if it contains an expired Canadian visitor visa or a valid US non-immigrant visa.
The US visa must have been valid when the traveller applied for the eTA, although it does not necessarily have to remain valid on the date of travel to Canada.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents
Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, cannot apply for an eTA. Canadian citizens travelling to Canada by air must use a valid Canadian passport.
Permanent residents are also not eligible to use an eTA. They must travel with a valid permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document.
The eTA therefore provides a simplified travel option only for qualifying citizens of the listed countries who meet Canada’s specific requirements.
