Canada electronic travel authorization (eTA)

Who needs an eTA

Section 7.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations says a foreign national who is exempt from the temporary resident visa requirement and seeks to enter Canada by air to stay temporarily must obtain an eTA before entering. It does not apply to people who hold a temporary resident visa ³.

The IRCC page says the eTA is for travellers who fly to, or transit through, a Canadian airport ¹.

Who is exempt

Section 7.1(3) lists the exempt groups ³.

• US nationals and US permanent residents ³. IRCC says US lawful permanent residents have been exempt since 26 April 2022 ².
• Certain crew members, and people transiting after crew work ³.
• French citizens resident in St. Pierre and Miquelon entering directly from there ³.
• Travellers on vessels with overnight accommodation for at least 100 people, not counting crew ³.
• Members of the Royal Family and certain other listed foreign nationals ³.

Conditional eligibility for 17 countries

Section 7.01 covers citizens of 17 countries who enter by air. They need a temporary resident visa or an eTA ⁴. They may apply for an eTA only if they held a temporary resident visa in the 10 years before applying, or hold a valid United States nonimmigrant visa on the day they apply ⁴.

Cost and how to apply

Section 294.1 sets a processing fee of $7 ⁷. People whose work or study permit application counts as an eTA application do not pay it ⁷.

IRCC says its official site is the Government of Canada's own place to apply and that it costs CAN$7 ². Applicants need a valid passport from a visa-exempt country or territory, a valid email address and a way to pay the non-refundable fee ². IRCC says most applications are approved within minutes. If documents are needed, an email with instructions is sent within 72 hours ².

Validity and loss of eligibility

Section 12.05 says an eTA is valid for five years from the day it is issued. It ends earlier if the passport expires, the eTA is cancelled, or a new eTA is issued for the same passport ⁵. It ends too if the passport country is removed from the visa-exempt list ⁵. Section 12.05(1.1) ended eTAs issued on the basis of US permanent residence at 08:00 Eastern daylight time on 26 April 2022 ⁵.

Section 12.06 says a holder becomes ineligible after issue in listed cases. These include a removal order, a withdrawn application to enter Canada, refusal of a visa or permit on certain grounds, and an officer having reasonable grounds to believe the person will not leave Canada at the end of the authorised stay ⁶.