Canada eTA Requirements

Updated on Nov 22, 2024 | Online Canada eTA

To ensure a smooth arrival, understanding entry requirements is crucial. Citizens of certain visa-exempt countries can obtain an eTA online. For some nationalities, a traditional visa is required for entry and in a very limited number of cases travelers can enter Canada solely with a valid passport (without a visa or eTA).

Canadian Citizens, Dual Citizens and US Citizens

Canadian citizens, including dual citizens, must enter Canada using a Canadian passport. American-Canadians can enter Canada using a valid Canadian or US passport. Dual Canadian citizens are not eligible for Canada eTA - so you cannot use your Australian or British passport to apply for Canada eTA.

Entry Requirements for Canadian Permanent Residents

It is important to note that Canadian permanent residents are not eligible to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) for entry into Canada. Permanent residents must carry either a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) or valid permanent resident card (PR card).

United States Green Card Holders

As of April 26, 2022, US Green Card holders no longer require Canada eTA. Green Card holders traveling to Canada require:

  • Passport: A valid and current Passport from their country of citizenship.
  • Green card: A valid Green card showing proof of US residency.

Certain foreign nationals are allowed by Canada to visit the country without having to go through the lengthy process of applying for the Canada Visitor Visa. Instead, these foreign nationals can travel to the country by applying for the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization or Canada eTA which works as a Visa waiver and allows international travelers coming to the country via air through commercial or chartered flights to visit the country with ease and convenience.

The Canada eTA serves the same purpose as the Canada Visa but is much faster and easier to acquire than the Visa which takes a long time and much more hassle than the Canada eTA the result of whose application is often given within minutes. Once your eTA for Canada has been approved it will be linked to your Passport and will be valid for a maximum of five years from the date of issue or a period lesser than that if your Passport expires before five years. It can be used repeatedly to visit the country for short durations of time, lasting no more than six months, although the actual duration will depend on the purpose of your visit and will be decided by the border officials and stamped on your passport.

Eligibility Requirements for Canada eTA

Since Canada allows only certain foreign nationals to visit the country without a Visa but on the Canada eTA, you will be eligible for the Canada eTA only if you are a citizen of one of the countries that are eligible for the Canada eTA. To be eligible for the Canada eTA you are required to be:

  • Citizen of any of these visa-exempt countries:
    Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See (holders of a passport or travel document issued by the Holy See), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (holders of national Israeli passport), Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania (holders of a biometric passport/e-passport issued by Lithuania), Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland (holders of a biometric passport/e-passport issued by Poland), Portugal, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (holders of the ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes their personal identification number).
  • British citizen or British overseas citizen. British overseas territories include Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena or the Turks and Caicos Islands.
  • Holder of a British National (Overseas) passport issued by the United Kingdom to persons born, naturalized or registered in Hong Kong.
  • British Subject or holder of a British Subject passport issued by the United Kingdom which gives the holder the right of abode in the United Kingdom.
  • Holder of Special Administrative Region passport issued by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.

Important information for citizens of visa-exempt countries.

  • Arriving to Canada on a plane ? You will need to apply for Canada eTA or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) whether you are visiting Canada or even transiting through a Canadian airport.
  • Entering Canada by car or arriving on a ship? Canada eTA is not required, however you must travel with a valid and current Passport.

Conditional Canada eTA

Passport holders of the following countries are eligible to apply for a Canada eTA if they satisfy the conditions listed below:

  • You held a Canada Visitor Visa in the last ten (10) years Or you currently hold a valid US nonimmigrant visa.
  • You must enter Canada by air.

If any of the above condition is not satisfied, then you must instead apply for a Canada Visitor Visa.

Canada Visitor Visa is also referred to as Canada Temporary Resident Visa or TRV.

For Conditional Canada eTA countries, since their eligibility depends upon previously issued Canada Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa) or US non-immigrant visa, passport holders must travel with old passport if it holds:

  • your expired Canadian visitor visa, or
  • your valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa.

If your country is not in the list of visa-exempt countries for Canada then you need to apply for Canada Visitor Visa instead.

Passport Requirements for Canada eTA

The Canada eTA will be linked to your passport and the type of passport you have will also determine whether you are eligible for applying for the eTA for Canada or . Following passport holders can apply for the Canadian eTA:

  • Holders of Ordinary Passports issued by countries eligible for the Canada eTA.
  • Holders of Diplomatic, Official, or Service Passports of eligible countries unless they are exempted from applying at all and can travel without the eTA.
  • Passport must be Biometric or e-Passport from an eligible country.

You cannot enter Canada even if your eTA for Canada has been approved if you are not carrying proper documentation with you. Your passport is the most important of such documents which you must carry with you when entering Canada and on which the duration of your stay in Canada will be stamped by the border officials.

Other Requirements for Application of Canada eTA

Canada eTA Requirements

When applying for the Canada eTA online you will be required to have the following:

  • Passport
  • Contact, employment, and travel details
  • A debit or credit card to pay the eTA application fees

If you meet all of these eligibility and other requirements for the Canada eTA then you will quite easily be able to obtain and the same and visit the country. However, you should keep in mind that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can deny you entry at the border even if you are an approved Canada eTA holder if at the time of entry you do not have all your documents, such as your passport, in order, which will be checked by the border officials; if you pose any health or financial risk; and if you have previous criminal/terrorist history or previous immigration issues.

If you have ready all the documents required for the Canada eTA and meet all eligibility conditions for the eTA for Canada, then you should be able to quite easily apply online for the Canada eTA whose eTA Application Form is quite simple and straightforward.