Wondering if you need a visa to visit Canada? Read this post to find all the details about Canadian visas and ETA (electronic travel authorization).
Do I need a visa for Canada?
In order to fly to Canada for a short-term trip, visitors must first apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which is an alternative to a visa, necessary for air travel to Canada.
An ETA is linked to the traveler’s passport and is required for certain visa-exempt foreign nationals visiting Canada via air travel on a short-term basis. An ETA is not required for travel to the country via car, bus, train, or boat, but a visa may be required for these methods of transportation.
Some travelers are not eligible for an ETA, and so must apply for a visitor visa before traveling to Canada.
For those wanting to spend a prolonged time in Canada, such as for work or study, a dedicated study or work permit will be required.
Who needs an ETA for Canada?
Short-term travelers from a collection of visa-exempt countries do not need a visa in order to fly to Canada but will need to apply for an ETA. Visitors from these countries do not need an ETA when traveling to Canada visa car, bus, train, or boat, but a visitor visa may be required.
According to the official website of the Government of Canada, travelers from the following countries will need to apply for an ETA:
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Britain (including British Overseas Nationals, British overseas citizens, and British Subject with a right of abode in the United Kingdom)
- British overseas territory citizens from:
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- The British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
- Gibraltar
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn Island
- Saint Helena
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (must have a passport issued by Hong Kong SAR)
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel (must have a national Israeli passport)
- Italy
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Papua New Guinea
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania (electronic passport holders only)
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan (must have an ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes the personal identification number)
- United Arab Emirates
- United States (lawful permanent residents)
- Vatican City State (must have a passport or travel document issued by the Vatican)
Other eligibilities for an ETA include:
- Permanent US residents flying to or through a Canadian airport like Montreal Airport are eligible for an ETA. US residents must also present a valid Green Card and the passport used to apply for your ETA at check-in.
- Citizens from select visa-required countries that are traveling via air may be able to apply for an ETA instead of a visitor visa. This does not apply to other modes of transport, and a visa is still required when traveling to Canada via car, bus, train, or boat.
A full list of travelers that are eligible for an ETA is available on the Canadian government website. If you’re unsure of your eligibility, you can find out by filling out this online form.
Who isn’t eligible for an ETA?
When traveling to Canada, either a visa or an ETA is required. Some travelers are not eligible for an ETA, while others do not require one:
- Foreign nationals with a valid Canadian visa and travelers in possession of a student or work visa do not need to apply for an ETA.
- Travelers from this list of countries are not able to apply for an ETA and will need to make a Canada visa application before visiting the country via any mode of travel.
- Stateless persons and those traveling with an alien’s passport will also need a visitor visa, regardless of travel mode.
- US citizens are exempt from the ETA requirement, and only require a valid US passport in order to travel to Canada.
- Canadian citizens and dual Canadian citizens are not eligible for an ETA and must travel with a valid Canadian or US passport.
- Canadian permanent residents cannot apply for an ETA and will need a valid permanent resident card or travel document.
A visitor visa is a sticker that is put inside your passport and shows that you meet the requirements needed to enter Canada. With a visitor visa, most travelers are permitted to stay in Canada for up to 6 months, and the date by which you’ll need to leave the country will be stamped inside your passport.
A visitor visa costs $100 CAD and most travelers can apply online, with the exception of stateless persons, who must apply on paper. In most cases, applicants will need to give biometric data (such as fingerprint and photo) when applying for a visitor visa.
How do I apply for an ETA?
Travelers who are eligible are encouraged to get an ETA before visiting Canada in order to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Visitors can apply for an ETA online, and requests can take anywhere between a few minutes and several days to be approved via email.
Some applicants may need to supply additional documents in order for their application to be approved, so this should be done in good time before you travel.
It costs $7 CAD to apply for an ETA, and applicants will need their passport, a credit or debit card, and an email address in order to complete the application form. It is especially important to double-check that the passport number entered in your application form is correct, otherwise, you may need to apply for a new eTA.
When it is time for you to travel, you will need to bring your passport with you. This will be scanned at the airport to confirm that it is linked to a valid eTA. An eTA is valid for 5 years (or until the linked passport expires), and subsequent travel to Canada is permitted while the eTA is still valid. More information on applying for an ETA is available on the Canadian government website.
