Canada - Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

Updated July 16, 2016

The Government of Canada has recently introduced a new entry requirement, known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), that applies to visa-exempt foreign nationals* traveling to or transiting Canada by air.

Effective March 15, 2016, visa-exempt foreign nationals must obtain an eTA before they can board a flight to Canada. To complete an application for an eTA, a passport, credit card and an email address is required. An eTA costs $7 CAD and is valid for up to five years.

Among those exempted from this new requirement are U.S. citizens and travelers with a valid visa.

As well, entry requirements for travelers arriving by land or sea level have not changed.

To see if the citizens of a country need an eTA or to apply for one or for additional information, visit the Government of Canada’s Electronic Travel Authorization website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp

*A visa-exempt foreign national is a person who is not a citizen of Canada and is not required to obtain a visa for the purpose of travel based on their country of nationality.

SOURCE: The Government of Canada