Get the right visa or eTA for Canada

Updated: Jan 04, 2024 | Tags: Canada Visa, Canada eTA Eligibility, Canada eTA Requirements

Since the introduction of the eTA in 2016, visitors that previously travelled visa-free to Canada are now required to obtain an approved eTA or visa prior to boarding a Canada-bound flight. Getting the right visa or eTA for Canada for your travel purposes, will depend on factors such as the passport or travel document you are using to travel, your country of citizenship or nationality, as well as your mode of transport into Canada. A visitor to Canada does not need both an eTA and a visitor or transit visa, but just one of the three depending on their travel purpose. If the traveller has an existing visitor visa, then they will not need an eTA to visit Canada for short tourism or business purposes of less than six months. Before applying for an eTA, check your passport for any existing Canadian visitor or transit visas. Alternatively, if you think you may have applied or eTA in the past, you can check the status of any existing eTA online.

Get the right visa or eTA for Canada

eTA eligible travellers

Transit travel requirements

Visitors to Canada can review the eTA requirements to determine if they hold a passport from a visa-exempt country. These travellers will not need an eTA if they are transiting through Canada by train, bus, boat or cruise ship. An approved Canada eTA will be required if transiting through Canada by airplane.

Tourism or business travel requirements

An approved eTA will be required if a traveller holding a passport from a visa-exempt country is planning to visit Canada for tourism or business visits of up to six months.

Brazilian citizens who hold a U.S. non-immigrant visa or who previously held a Canadian visa within the past 10 years, are also eligible to apply for eTA when arriving by air.

eTA exempt travellers

Transit, tourism and business travel requirements

Permanent residents and citizens of Canada, citizens and nationals of the United States, French citizens who reside in Saint Pierre and Miquelon, as well as Canadian visa holders, crew members, and visiting members of armed forces do not need an eTA or visa for entering Canada. Non-Canadian citizens or permanent residents may require a visa to perform non-tourism or other business related activities that do not fit within the scope of permitted activities for eTA exempt travellers. For more information on Canada visa requirements, please visit https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html

Visa-required travellers

Transit, tourism and business travel requirements

All other travellers wishing to visit Canada that are not from an eTA-exempt or visa-exempt country will need to apply for the relevant Canadian visa.

Visitor visa

Non eTA-eligible and non eTA-exempt travellers will need a Canadian visitor visa should they be in Canada for more than 48 hours, or even less than 48 hours if they are transiting through Canada by airplane. These travellers will also need a Canadian visitor visa if they are crossing into Canada by bus, car, train, boat or cruise ship.

Transit visa

A Canadian transit visa will be required if a non eTA-exempt or non eTA-eligible traveller does not have a valid visitor visa, and is on a flight that is either stopping in Canada for 48 hours or less or stops at a Canadian airport en-route to another country.

Conclusion

The type of Canada visa or eTA you will need depends on your mode of transport into Canada as well as on your citizenship to visa-exempt or eTA-exempt countries. When travelling to Canada, ensure your have the correct authorization prior to the start of your journey. You can check if you are from an visa-exempt or eTA-eligible country by reviewing the Canada eTA requirements.