An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is an electronic visa waiver that allows visa-exempt foreign nationals to fly to Canada. It is a requirement for all visa-exempt foreign nationals who wish to travel to Canada by air, including those who are transiting through Canada.
An eTA is linked to your passport and is valid for up to five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. You can apply for an eTA online and it typically takes just a few minutes to process.
What is eTA – How to Apply
The Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is an online travel authorization that most visa-exempt travelers need to fly to Canada.
The eTA application allows Canadian officials to check travelers’ eligibility to enter Canada before they arrive. It costs $7 CAD to apply, and most applications are approved within minutes. To apply for an eTA, you will need your passport, a credit card, an email address, and internet access.
Here are the steps on how to apply for an eTA:
- Go to the official Government of Canada website to apply for an eTA.
- Enter your passport information, contact information, and travel plans.
- Pay the $7 CAD application fee.
- Your eTA will be processed and you will receive an email notification with the decision.
Here are some things to keep in mind when applying for an eTA:
- You must apply for an eTA before you travel to Canada.
- You can apply for an eTA up to 3 months before your travel date.
- Your eTA is valid for up to 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
- You can travel to Canada as many times as you want as long as your eTA is valid.
Canada eTA Eligibility
- You must be a citizen of a visa-exempt country. Check eligible countries below.
- You must have a valid passport that is not expired for at least six months after your intended arrival in Canada.
- You must have a valid email address and credit or debit card.
- You must not have any criminal convictions that would make you inadmissible to Canada.
- You must not be a security risk to Canada.
Canada eTA Eligible Countries – Visa-Free Travel program
Here are the countries whose citizens are eligible to apply for an eTA to travel to Canada:
- Albania
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bolivia (Plurinational State of)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Brazil
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- European Union
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macao (Special Administrative Region of China)
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mexico
- Micronesia (Federated States of)
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Palau
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Spain
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Suriname
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan (Province of China)
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turkey
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City State
- Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)
Please note that this list is subject to change.
The Growth of eTA Program
Canada first expanded its eTA program in April 2017 to include eligible travelers from Brazil, Bulgaria, and Romania.
At the time, visa requirements were still in place for Bulgarians and Romanians, but these were lifted in 2023. Brazilians who meet the eligibility criteria can still travel to Canada visa-free.
The eTA program has since been expanded to include 13 more countries. As of August 2023, eligible travelers from the following countries can apply for an eTA to fly to Canada:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Costa Rica
- Morocco
- Panama
- the Philippines
- Seychelles
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uruguay
To be eligible for an eTA, travelers must have a valid passport from one of the eligible countries and meet other requirements, such as having a clean criminal record. The eTA application process is simple and can be completed online.
Here are some additional things to keep in mind about the eTA program:
- An eTA is valid for up to five years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
- Travelers with an eTA can stay in Canada for up to six months at a time.
- Travelers who need to stay in Canada for longer than six months must apply for a visa.
How do I check if my eTA is valid?
There are two ways to check if your eTA is valid:
- Use the Canadian government’s eTA status checker: This is the official way to check your eTA status. To use the status checker, you will need your passport number and your eTA number. You can find your eTA number on the email confirmation that you received when you applied for your eTA.
- Contact the Canadian government: You can also contact the Canadian government to check your eTA status. You can do this by phone, email, or mail.
Steps to Check Canada eTA Status
Here are the steps on how to check your eTA status using the Canadian government’s eTA status checker:
- Go to the Canadian government’s eTA status checker website.
- Enter your passport number and your eTA number.
- Click on the “Check Status” button.
- The status checker will display the status of your eTA.
If your eTA is valid, the status checker will display the following message:
“Your eTA is valid. You are authorized to travel to Canada.”
If your eTA is not valid, the status checker will display one of the following messages:
If eTA has expired
“Your eTA is expired. You must apply for a new eTA.”
If your eTA has been revoked
“Your eTA has been revoked. You cannot travel to Canada.”
If your eTA is pending
“Your eTA is pending. You will be notified of the decision by email.”
Impact of eTA on Tourism
Canada expects a 20% increase in tourism from 13 countries within a year, thanks to the expansion of the eTA program.
The additional 200,000 visitors could generate almost $160 million in additional revenue over ten years.
The expansion of the eTA program to 13 more countries will make it easier for travelers from these countries to visit Canada. This is expected to lead to a significant increase in tourism from these countries.
The additional tourism could boost the Canadian economy in a number of ways. It could create jobs, generate tax revenue, and boost spending in other sectors of the economy.
The eTA program is a win-win for both Canada and the travelers who use it. It makes it easier for travelers to visit Canada, and it generates economic benefits for Canada.
Canada has announced a significant expansion of its visa-free travel program, adding 13 new countries from Asia, Africa, and the Americas. The move is expected to boost tourism and business by making it easier for people from these countries to travel to Canada.
The new countries that are now eligible for visa-free travel to Canada are:
- Morocco (Africa)
- Seychelles (Africa)
- Antigua and Barbuda (America)
- St Lucia (America)
- Trinidad and Tobago (America)
- St Kitts-Nevis (America)
- Panama (America)
- Argentina (America)
- Costa Rica (America)
- Uruguay (America)
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines (America)
- Thailand (Asia)
- Philippines (Asia)
To be eligible for visa-free travel, citizens of these countries must have a valid passport and must be travelling to Canada by air. They must also meet certain other requirements, such as having a confirmed onward travel arrangement and having sufficient funds to support themselves during their stay in Canada.
The expansion of Canada’s visa-free travel program is a major win for tourism and business. It is expected to attract millions of new visitors to Canada each year, and it will also make it easier for Canadian businesses to do business with companies in these countries.