Canada will drop the visa requirement for some Indonesian and Malaysian citizens starting May 26 at 5:30 a.m. EDT, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced May 25. Qualifying travelers from both countries will be able to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) instead of a temporary resident visa when flying to Canada.
Until now, all Indonesian and Malaysian nationals needed a visa to enter Canada — a process that typically takes several weeks or months and requires biometrics and supporting documents. The change affects travelers who have either held a Canadian temporary resident visa at any point in the last 10 years or currently hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa. IRCC considers these applicants "known" travelers because Canadian or U.S. immigration services have already vetted them.
Indonesian and Malaysian citizens qualify for an eTA only if they are traveling to or transiting through Canada by air and meet one of two conditions at the time of application: they held a Canadian TRV — including work or study visas — within the past decade, or they currently hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa. Those arriving by car, bus, train, or boat still need a visitor visa regardless of whether they meet the eTA criteria. Nationals who already hold a valid Canadian TRV can continue using it until it expires or until their passport expires, whichever comes first.
"IRCC considers this group 'known' travellers because Canadian or U.S immigration services have already vetted them," the announcement notes.