How Much Time Does Canada’s ETA Application Process Take?
Like many other developed nations, Canada has a unique online system for approving tourist travel within Canada. This is known as the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization which is a visa in online form to allow travelers to visit Canada for their chosen purpose.
Canada is one of the premier destinations for tourists worldwide. The amazing light show of the Northern Lights, the longest coastline in the world, and Niagara Falls are only some of the amazing places that Canada boasts for all its visitors to enjoy. However, to explore all of what Canada has to offer, you have to get a Canada ETA from the Canadian Government.
To plan a proper Canada trip, the time necessary to complete a Canada ETA application form must be taken into account. So, let's take a look at how much time Canada's ETA application process takes.
What Is the Standard Time to Complete a Canada ETA Application Form?
Filling out a Canada ETA application form is a very straightforward process that can be completed entirely in online mode. The average time it takes to fill out the Canada ETA application form is mere minutes with it not taking more than an hour.
Keep in mind that this is only the case when you don't have to present additional documents and answer more questions.
Personal Factors Affecting the Time Needed to Complete Canada ETA Application
Depending on what answers you give to the application form, it may ask additional questions to verify whether you should be granted travel authorization or not. Examples of scenarios where you might be asked additional questions are:
A History of Visa Denials
A history of visa denials with either Canada or any country that has an agreement to share data with Canada is going to cause delays for your ETA to be approved. If you have such a history, then the Canadian government is forced to do additional checks to ensure that you are trustworthy and are willing to return to your country, once your stay in Canada ends.
Criminal Record
If you are someone who has a criminal record in either your home country or any other country, this drastically decreases your chances of getting your Canada ETA approved.
However, it is not impossible to do so, but not without answering many additional questions, along with a lengthy list of documents that you need to submit, to prove that you will not commit any such offenses in Canada.
Having Citizenships in Multiple Countries
Tourists who are in possession of citizenship in multiple countries will have a tough time getting their visas approved due to them needing multiple documents from all the countries they have citizenship in to assure the Canadian government of their purpose of visiting Canada.
Medical History that Contains Contagious Diseases
One of the key objectives during approving Canada ETAs is to prevent tourists who are infected with contagious diseases not prevalent in Canada from entering the country. If you have a medical history of suffering from any such diseases, you will have to provide additional certificates of check-ups, vaccinations, and other documents to prove that you are healthy.
Filling the Form on Behalf of a Minor
Canada's ETA program does allow tourists to fill out the Canada ETA application form on behalf of other people including minors. However, this requires you to fill in additional details regarding the guarding/parent of the minor and then the personal information regarding the minor's identity which adds on to the main questions of the Canada ETA application.
Incorrect Information in the Canada ETA Application
This is the most common factor that results in delays in Canada's ETA approval. Generally, people tend to fill in the wrong details of their passports or biometrics which causes their application to get rejected. If your Canada ETA application is rejected, you will have to apply with a fresh application to receive your Canada ETA.
So, remember to take your time and double-check each information that you provide to the Canadian government.
Bad Employment History
Canada ETA application is unique from other countries e-visa applications because Canada ETA application asks for your employment details. These questions are asked by the Canadian government to ascertain certain aspects such as:
- Your capability to support your trip to Canada
- Your Relations with your home country
- Your purpose behind the visit
- Your willingness to return to your country once your trip to Canada ends
To assure the Canadian government of your employment history, you must have a long history of working with the same company, earning a high enough salary to support your journey, and not changing jobs constantly. If you lack any of these features in your employment history, additional background checks need to be performed by the Canadian government.
Canadian Government Factors Affecting the Time Needed to Complete Canada ETA Application
It is not just the potential factors regarding the tourists that can cause a delay in their Canadian ETA application form approval. Sometimes, the issues can arise from the side of the Canadian government itself. These issues can arise either due to:
High Number of Canada ETA application for Approvals
If you applied for your Canada ETA during a time when Canada receives a lot of tourists like the holiday season, it can result in the approval being delayed due to the burden of excess workload on the Canadian government. So, always remember to start applying for your Canada ETA as soon as possible.
Requests for Answers to Additional Questions
Depending on what type of answers you fill in the Canadian ETA application form, the Canadian government may need to perform additional background checks which will require you to answer additional questions before your ETA is approved. How you respond to these questions can result in additional delays in your Canada ETA being approved.
How Can I Speed up the Process of my Canada ETA Being Approved?
While unexpected issues can occur at any time during the Canada ETA application being approved, there are several things that you can do to ensure that your Canada ETA gets approved as soon as possible. Doing the following will help lower the time needed to approve your Canada ETA:
Prepare all Necessary Documents: Make sure that you come prepared with all the necessary documents like police reports, employment certificates, medical certificates, and any other document that might be required to prove your claims in the Canada ETA application form.
Fill out the Canada ETA Application Form In Advance: Submitting your Canada ETA application form at the very end is going to leave you vulnerable to potential delays that can result in your trip plans being affected.
By applying early, you get enough time to resolve such issues early on which makes the later stages of the process much quicker.
Regularly Check Your Emails: If any issues arise with your Canada ETA application, you will receive an email on the mail ID you provided on the application form informing you of the same. Make sure you are regularly checking your mail to ensure you address all such issues as soon as possible.
Canada is one of the best tourist destinations in the world. Through proper preparation, you can easily get your Canada ETA approved and explore all the wonders Canada has to offer. So, if you wish to visit Canada, start applying for the Canada tourist ETA as soon as possible and book all the reservations in advance.
Canada is very popular among tourists all over the world which makes getting reservations very hard, especially during holiday seasons.
Entry into Canada requires either the Canada Visitor Visa or a Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), which only a few countries are eligible. It is important that you should check your eligibility for Canada eTA and apply for Canada eTA at least 72 hours in advance of your flight. Citizens of many countries including Greek citizens, Australian citizens, Polish citizens, Belgian citizens and Croatian citizens can apply online for eTA Canada Visa.