Canada Expands eTA Eligibility for Travellers From Indonesia and Malaysia…
Canada has expanded electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) eligibility to include travellers from Indonesia and Malaysia who hold valid United States non-immigrant visas or have held a Canadian visa within the past 10 years. The change, announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), takes effect immediately and applies to visitors entering Canada by air for tourism, business, or transit purposes.
Previously, Indonesian and Malaysian nationals required a temporary resident visa to visit Canada, regardless of their travel history or visa status in other countries. This expansion aligns Indonesia and Malaysia with 13 other countries already eligible for the eTA program under similar conditions, including the Philippines, Thailand, and several Caribbean and South American nations.
To qualify, applicants from Indonesia or Malaysia must hold either a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa or have been issued a Canadian temporary resident visa in the last decade and be travelling to Canada by air. The eTA costs CAD $7, is valid for up to five years or until the passport expires, and allows multiple entries with stays of up to six months per visit. Travellers entering Canada by land or sea still require a visitor visa. The eTA does not guarantee entry; border officers retain the authority to deny admission based on admissibility criteria.
The change primarily benefits Indonesian and Malaysian nationals who already meet U.S. visa requirements or who have previously visited Canada. Business travellers attending conferences, tourists visiting family, and transit passengers connecting through Canadian airports will see reduced processing times and lower costs compared to the standard visitor visa application. Applicants who do not meet the eTA criteria—those without a qualifying U.S. visa or recent Canadian visa—must still apply for a temporary resident visa through the standard process.
Eligible travellers should apply for an eTA online through the official IRCC website before booking flights to Canada. Processing typically takes minutes, though some applications may require additional documentation and take several days. Applicants need a valid passport, a credit or debit card for the $7 fee, and an email address to receive the eTA confirmation.