Electronic travel authorization (eTA): who needs one
Visa-exempt travellers flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport, and eligible travellers from some visa-required countries who meet the eTA conditions.
Steps, in order
- Check the official list for your citizenship: visa-required, eTA-required, or passport-only.
- If you need an eTA, apply online with a valid passport, an email address, and a payment card.
- Link the eTA to the passport you will travel with; if you get a new passport, check whether you need a new eTA.
Who is eligible — the essentials
- eTA-required citizens flying to Canada need a valid passport and an approved eTA to board the flight; a visitor visa is not needed in that case.
- Some visa-required-country citizens may use an eTA for air travel only if they held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years or hold a valid US non-immigrant visa at application time, and are coming for a temporary stay.
- Travelling by car, bus, train or boat still requires a visitor visa for visa-required travellers, even if they qualify for an eTA by air.
Documents you will usually need
- Valid passport from an eligible country
- Email address
- Payment card for the online application
Common mistakes
- Assuming an eTA works for land or sea arrival — it is an air-travel document.
- Applying with a different passport than the one used for travel.
- Assuming an eTA is a visa or a guarantee of entry.
General information only — not legal advice. Immigration rules change. Always check the official source above before applying.