To apply For an eTA and tourist visa to Canada, you must have a valid passport from a visa-exempt country, a valid credit or debit card, and an email address. If you have all these, then you are good to go. Now is the time to apply for eTA Canada. An eTA costs $7 CAD and only takes a few minutes to apply for.
Vote that eTAs that have been approved are valid for up to five years.
There are people from countries with good relations with Canada who do not need a visa to enter Canada. These people may not require a visa, but they will require proof that they are approved and admissible to Canada.
If you are visa-required and eligible for an eTA, but already have a valid Canadian visa, you do not need to apply for an eTA. You can travel with your visa until it expires.
What is the Canadian Electronic Travel Authority (eTA)?
Electronic Travel Authorization is a travel document for people who do not require a visa to enter Canada. It is a quick entry permit into Canada that allows you to board a flight or other mode of transportation. It replaces the Canada Visitor Visa and serves the same purpose.
READ: Ways To Make Friends While Traveling Alone
With the eTA, you can enter Canada and visit family or friends, or simply travel around. You may stay for a maximum of six months. You are not permitted to attempt to stay permanently or to apply for Canadian citizenship. Also, you are not permitted to apply for any Canadian-issued documents or claim Canadian benefits such as health benefits.
The eTA is a much faster version of the visa and requires fewer documents than a visa. As a result, if you qualify for the eTA, you cannot apply for a visa if you are only traveling. If you want to work, study, or live permanently in Canada, you will need a visa.
About the Process
If you are visa-required and eligible for an eTA, but already have a valid Canadian visa, you do not need to apply for an eTA. You can travel with your visa until it expires.
The eTA application process
Applying for an eTA is a straightforward online process. Before you book your flight, you should apply for an eTA.
- Get your passport, credit card, or debit card, and read the application help document, which is available in a variety of languages.
- To apply, fill out the online form.
- After completing the form, pay $7 CAD for your eTA.
- Receive an email regarding your eTA application
- The majority of applications are approved in minutes, but some may take longer.
- Before your application can be approved, you may be required to submit additional documents.
- If this happens to you, you will receive an email with instructions within 72 hours.
How Long Does it Take to Get an ETA
It is best to obtain an eTA before booking your flight to Canada.
- The majority of applicants receive their eTA approval (via email) within minutes.
- However, if you are required to submit supporting documents, some requests may take several days to process.
Confirm That Your Passport Number is Correct
Check that the passport number in your eTA approval email matches the number in your passport once it has been approved. If they do not correspond, you must apply for a new eTA.
What to bring to the Airport
When your eTA is approved, it will be linked to the passport you used to apply. You must present this passport when checking in for your flight to Canada. There is no need to print any special documents.
READ ALSO: Live & Work In Canada | Work In Canada For Foreigners
The airline personnel will scan your passport to ensure you have a valid eTA. You will not be able to board your flight if you do not have one.
Who Can Apply For eTA
Who is eligible to travel to Canada with an eTA?
To fly to or transit through a Canadian airport, you must have either a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). You only require one of them, not both.
However, if you are traveling by car, train, bus, or ship, you must check with the Canadian Consulate to see if you need a visa or an eTA. This is because the Canadian government may have different rules depending on the mode of transportation and the country from which you are traveling.
Eligibility – Apply For eTA And Tourist Visa to Canada
To fly to or transit through a Canadian airport, you must have either a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). You only require one of them, not both.
Who needs an eTA to travel to Canada?
You need an eTA if:
- You are a visa-exempt foreign national flying to or through a Canadian airport.
- When arriving by car, bus, train, or boat as a visa-exempt foreign national, you do not need an eTA (or a visitor visa) (including a cruise ship).
More so, you may be able to apply for an eTA (rather than a visitor visa) if you are a:
- You are a citizen of a visa-required country and you are flying to Canada.
- However, when arriving by car, bus, train, or boat, including a cruise ship, you will still require a visitor visa (not an eTA).
Canadian citizens
If you are a dual Canadian citizen, you must travel with a valid Canadian passport.
American Canadians can travel with a valid Canadian or US passport.
Canadian permanent residents
If you are a permanent resident of Canada, you do not need an eTA or a visitor visa. You must, however, travel with a valid permanent resident card or travel document.
Important information for former Canadian residents: The status of a permanent resident (PR) does not expire. Even if you lived in Canada many years ago, you may still be eligible for PR status. Learn more about how to avoid travel delays.
Visa-required travelers
If you are a visa-required individual, including alien passport holders and stateless individuals, you do not need an eTA. A visitor visa is required for your trip.
Travelers Who are Exempt from the eTA Requirement
Citizens of the United States are exempt from the eTA requirement but must carry proper identification, such as a valid U.S. passport.
Lawful permanent residents of the United States are also exempt from the eTA requirement as of April 26, 2022, and must show these documents for all modes of travel to Canada:
- a valid passport from their country of origin (or another acceptable travel document) and
- a valid green card (or equivalent valid proof of status in the United States)
Basic Requirements to Enter Canada – Apply For eTA And Tourist Visa to Canada
To visit Canada, you must first meet some basic requirements, such as:
- possess a valid travel document, such as a passport, and
- havea valid eTA or visitor visa
- be in good physical and mental health, and
- have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
- convince a border services officer that you have ties to your home country, such as a job, a home, financial assets, or family.
- convince a border services officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
- and have enough money to cover your expenses. (The amount of money required may vary. It depends on how long you intend to stay and whether you intend to stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives.)
Inadmissibility
Note! An eTA does not guarantee admission to Canada. A border services officer will ask to see your passport and other documents when you arrive. You must convince the officer that you are eligible to enter Canada.
Involvement in criminal activity, human rights violations or organized crime can all render you inadmissible.
You may also be denied entry for security, health, or financial reasons.
How to Apply For eTA And Tourist Visa Canada
You will need to fill out the form and pay for your eTA.
To apply for eTA and tourist visa, you will need the following:
- a valid passport from a visa-exempt country
- As of April 26, 2022, lawful permanent residents of the United States are exempt from the eTA requirement. Find out what documents you’ll need to travel to Canada.
- a valid email address, AND
- To pay the $7 CAD fee (non-refundable), choose one of the following methods of payment:
- Visa®, Mastercard®, American Express®,
- Visa Debit, or Debit Mastercard,
- a pre-paid Visa®, Mastercard® or American Express®,
- UnionPay®, or
- JCB Card®.
Overview of the eTA and Tourist Visa Application Process
- Get your passport, credit or debit card ready, and read the help document.
- To apply, complete the online form. The form cannot be saved. So have your information prepared.
- Pay $7 CAD (non-refundable) for your eTA right after you complete the form.
- Receive an email about your eTA application. Most applications are approved within minutes, or
- Before your application can be approved, you may be required to submit documents. If this happens to you, you will receive an email with instructions within 72 hours.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): After you apply
In most cases, you will receive an email within minutes. However, some requests may take several days to process. If this is the case for your application, you should receive an email within 72 hours of submitting it. This email will inform you of the next steps.
Examine the junk mail folder at the email address you provided on your eTA application form. Some spam filters may reject automated emails.
You receive your eTA
When your eTA is approved, you will be notified via email. Your eTA number is included in the approval email.
- Keep this number handy in case you ever need to contact us or check the status of your eTA.
If your email address changes after you apply for an eTA, you must update it online. You can do so using this web form.
When you board your flight – Apply For eTA And Tourist Visa to Canada
The passport you used to apply for your eTA is linked to it. You must present this passport when checking in for your flight to Canada. There is no need to print any special documents.
The airline personnel will scan your passport to ensure you have a valid eTA. You will not be able to board your flight if you do not have one.
Situations in which you may require additional documents upon arrival
If any of the following situations apply to you or someone you’ll be traveling with, make sure you have the necessary documentation.
You have a child under the age of eighteen (a minor child)
A child under the age of 18 is considered a minor in Canada.
You may be required to show
- a letter from one or both parents or a legal guardian authorizing the minor child to travel to Canada, as well as
- other documents, such as adoption papers or a custody decree, depending on whether or not the minor child travels alone.
You were invited to visit Canada
If you received a letter from someone or a company inviting you to Canada, bring it with you. A border patrol officer may request to see it.
What is the Canada eTA Fee? Apply For eTA And Tourist Visa to Canada
When you submit the application with the required information, you will be directed to a site where you can pay the eTA. Each eTA costs CAD$7, so you must pay this fee before submitting your application. If you refuse to pay the fee, the Canadian Consulate will not process your application.
After you pay the fee, you will receive an email confirming that your application has been received and is being processed.
How long does it take to process an eTA?
eTA applications are processed within a few minutes of submission. You will only receive an email stating that you have been approved for the eTA.
However, there are times when processing your eTA will take a few days, but not more than a week. After receiving the approval email, you can make travel plans to Canada.
When visiting Canada, you will only need to bring your passport and no other documents. The eTA is embedded in your passport, and officials will scan it to determine whether or not you have been approved. That is why it is critical to provide accurate passport information on the eTA application. If the eTA and the information on your passport do not match, you will be unable to travel to Canada.
How long is the eTA Valid? Apply For eTA And Tourist Visa to Canada
After receiving the eTA, you will be able to travel to Canada and stay for no more than six months. However, the eTA may be valid for a longer period. Most eTAs are approved for up to 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. That means you can visit Canada as many times as you want during that period, but you can’t stay longer than six months.
Because eTAs cannot be transferred from one passport to the next, if you get a new one, you must apply for a new one.
Can I Bring my Dependents to Canada on an eTA?
The eTA visa in Canada is a one-time use travel document that cannot be shared. It is automatically linked to the person’s passport, which is why each member of the family must have their own eTA.
As a result, your spouse or common-law partner must apply for their own eTA, while either of the parents or guardians can apply for the children’s eTA. The application process and application fee are the same.
Was this page useful to you? Drop your comment in the box below.
