Is It possible to renew an eTA?

Updated: Jan 04, 2024 | Tags: Renew Canada eTA, Canada eTA Application Form

If you have checked your Canada eTA and it has expired due to obtaining a new passport or because five years have passed since your eTA was issued, you may wonder if you can renew your eTA. Directions for renewing travel documents are not always clear, and the proper way to keep your status up-to-date is can be confusing. Everything you need to know about renewing or replacing your eTA is described in this article.

Is It possible to renew an eTA?

An approved Canada eTA cannot be renewed

Contrary to what some might hope, it is not possible to renew an existing Canadian eTA. Once your eTA reaches its five-year limit or your passport expires, you must reapply for a new eTA. This is because the eTA is electronically linked to your specific passport number.

An eTA is electronic rather than physical, and it is not designed to carry over to new passports or to be extended.

Key points on eTA validity

Again, it is not possible to renew a Canada eTA. Canadian eTAs do not have an extension or renewal feature.

If your passport expires before the eTA’s five-year duration, the eTA expires as well.

How do you keep your eTA status up to date after expiration?

Even if you have gone through the entire process before, you will have to start a fresh eTA application. Although you cannot renew your eTA, you can receive a new one without much difficulty. While this might seem annoying and inconvenient, the good news is that you have already done this before, so you know exactly what is expected. Make sure you have all your travel documents on hand before you begin—including your new passport, if you have recently replaced it.

How can I avoid frequent reapplication?

Canadian eTAs are designed to last for a full five years. However, if your passport expires before this time, your eTA will also expire. In order to avoid having to reapply for an eTA before five years has finished, be sure your passport is up to date and valid for at least five years. You may need to renew your passport early. In some cases, it will not be worth it to renew your passport before it expires. After all, passport fees are high and processing times are long, while eTA applications often take only a few minutes to process. However, if you have a reason to avoid reapplying for your Canadian eTA before the five-year validity limit, you may want to prioritize your eTA status over the convenience of keeping your current passport until it expires. For example, you may have trouble with long eTA processing times if you have a criminal record, or if you have a major health concern.

Reapplying for your eTA

Start Fresh: Initiate a new eTA application, ensuring all your travel documents, including a new passport, are ready.

Familiar Process: Having previously applied for an eTA, you are already familiar with the eTA requirements and procedure.

Passport validity

Long-Term Passport Validity: Ensure your passport is valid for at least five years to align with the eTA's lifespan.

Early Passport Renewal Considerations: Weigh the costs and benefits of renewing your passport early. While passport fees and processing times are factors, aligning its expiry with the eTA can be advantageous.

Conclusion

Navigating the renewal process for a Canadian Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) can be perplexing, especially when your current eTA expires due to passport renewal or the lapse of the five-year validity period. This article provides clarity on how to manage your eTA status effectively.