What is an eTA?
An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a mandatory requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals traveling to or transiting through Canada by air. This requirement is outlined in subsection 11(1.01) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and subsection 7.1(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).
Exemptions
Foreign nationals traveling to or transiting through Canada by land, sea, or rail do not need an eTA.
Validity
An eTA is valid for five years or until the applicant’s passport expires, whichever comes first. It can be canceled by a designated officer, rendering it invalid.
Who Needs an eTA?
All visa-exempt foreign nationals, except United States (U.S.) citizens and certain other groups, need an eTA. Lawful permanent residents of the U.S. no longer need an eTA to fly to or transit through a Canadian airport as of April 26, 2022. However, they must present their passport and proof of their valid lawful permanent resident status in the U.S.
Countries Whose Nationals Require an eTA
Nationals of the following countries need an eTA to travel to Canada:
- Andorra
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- British overseas territories (e.g., Anguilla, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, etc.)
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Korea (Republic of)
- 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
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom (including British overseas citizens re-admissible to the UK)
Documents Requiring an eTA
Foreign nationals with the following documents also need an eTA:
- Passport or travel document issued by the Holy See
- National Israeli passport
- Passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China
- British national (overseas) passport
- British subject passport with the right of abode in the UK
- Ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan with a personal identification number
eTA Expansion Eligibility
Certain foreign nationals who meet specific conditions can also apply for an eTA. This includes those who:
- Have held a Canadian temporary resident visa (TRV) in the past 10 years
- Hold a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa (NIV)
If these individuals are traveling to Canada by means other than air, they must have a valid TRV.
eTA Processing Fee
The processing fee for an eTA is CAN $7. Foreign nationals approved for a work or study permit will receive their eTA at the same time, without needing to pay the processing fee.
For more information or assistance with your eTA application, feel free to contact us. Our team is here to help!