Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)

The only major eligibility requirement to obtain Canada’s eTA is to have a valid passport from a country on the visa-exempt list.

In addition, you will need an email address and a payment method – credit or debit card – in order to pay the application fee of CAN$7.

When Do I Need an eTA?

Citizens of visa-exempt countries only need an eTA if they fly to, or transit through, Canada by air.

If you’re visa-exempt and travelling into Canada by any other method of transport such as car, bus or boat, you will not need to apply for an eTA or any other valid visa to cross the border into Canada.

Note that an eTA alone doesn’t guarantee entry. You will still have to comply with some basic entry requirements to be eligible to enter Canada. For example, you must:

• Have a valid travel document, such as a passport
• Be in good health
• Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
• Convince a border services officer that you have ties (such as a job, home, financial assets or family) that will take you back to your home country
• Convince a border services officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
• Have enough money for your stay

You must apply for an eTA online.

The steps to apply for an eTA are as follows:

1. Get your passport and credit or debit card ready
2. Fill in the online form
3. Pay the processing fee
4. Once the fee is paid and the form is submitted, you will receive an email with your eTA number enclosed

In some cases, you may need to submit additional documents before your application can be approved. If this happens to you, an email will be sent to you with instructions within 72 hours.

As part of the eTA application process, you will be asked to provide personal details such as your:

• Name
• Date and place of birth
• Gender
• Marital status
• Address
• Nationality
• Passport number
• Current job/occupation

You must ensure that you enter your passport number correctly, as your eTA will be linked to your passport. If it is entered incorrectly, you may not be able to board your flight to Canada and you will have to reapply for another eTA.

Note that only one person can be included in a single eTA application at a time. If you wish to apply on behalf of someone else, such as a dependent or a child, you must fill in a separate application for them, making a note that you are doing so on the form.

If your application for an eTA was refused, you will not be eligible to travel to Canada.

You will be able to re-apply for another eTA any time after you receive your refusal. However, you should ensure that you have addressed the reason or reasons for your refusal when re-submitting your application.

You will not be refunded the CAN$7 processing fee if your application is refused.

If you wish to appeal the refusal, you may ask the Federal Court of Canada to review the decision. In order to do so, a lawyer must apply for judicial review on your behalf.

If your application for an eTA has been refused and you’re unsure of how to proceed, get in contact with one of our legal advisers today for expert advice. Call us on +1 844 290 6312, or contact us online.

After you receive your confirmation email with your eTA number, you will be eligible to travel to Canada.

It’s recommended that you keep a note of your eTA number in case you need to contact Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or you want to check the validity of your eTA in the future.

It’s also advised that you double check that the passport number in your confirmation email is identical to the number in your own passport. If the numbers don’t match, you must apply for another eTA with the correct number in order to be eligible to enter Canada.

You will also have to use the ArriveCAN mobile app to upload important travel information such as your travel and contact information, and proof of vaccination status.

Before you board your flight, your passport will be scanned at check-in and airline staff will confirm that you have a valid eTA.

If you don’t have a valid eTA linked to your passport, you won’t be able to board your flight.

You may also need to have additional documents to have for your flight if you either have a child under the age of 18 (a minor) or if you were invited to come to Canada.

If you have a child under the age of 18, you may need to show:

• A letter from one or both parents, or a legal guardian, that authorizes the minor child to travel to Canada
• Other documents, such as adoption papers or a custody decree, depending on if the minor child travels alone or not

If you were invited to come to Canada, you should bring your letter of invitation with you.

When you arrive at the Canadian border, a border services officer will ask to see your passport and documents. They will use these documents to confirm that you are the same person who was approved to travel to Canada and will contribute to proving you meet the entry rules.

You must convince the officer that:

• You’re eligible for entry into Canada
• You’ll leave Canada at the end of your approved stay

You will also undergo a brief health assessment to check for signs of COVID-19.

If you pass the identity check, health assessment, and meet the entry requirements, the border services officer may stamp your passport or let you know how long you can stay in Canada. This will normally be a period of six months, though this may vary depending on the purpose of your visit.

You will then be allowed to enter Canada.