Which countries don't need a visa to visit Canada? Visa-exempt list + eTA (2026)
Whether you need a visa to visit Canada depends almost entirely on the passport you hold. Travellers fall into three groups: those who can enter with no visitor visa (but usually an eTA to fly), those who can apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA) instead of a visa under a special program, and everyone else, who needs a visitor visa (temporary resident visa, or TRV).
Here is who falls where in 2026.
Countries whose citizens don't need a visitor visa
Citizens of about 54 countries and territories are visa-exempt — they can visit Canada for up to six months without applying for a visitor visa. They include:
European Union (all member states): Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Other European countries and microstates: Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Vatican City (Holy See).
Asia-Pacific: Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong (HKSAR passport holders), Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea and Taiwan (ordinary passport holders with a personal ID number).
Americas and Middle East: Bahamas, Barbados, Chile, Israel (national passport holders), Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the United States.
Qatar is the newest addition — Canada lifted its visa requirement on 25 November 2025.
Most visa-exempt travellers still need an eTA to fly
Being visa-exempt is not quite the same as needing nothing. Since 10 November 2016, most visa-exempt travellers must hold an eTA when they arrive in Canada by air. An eTA is applied for online in minutes, costs CA$7, is electronically linked to your passport, and is valid for up to five years (or until the passport expires).
Two groups are exempt from the eTA entirely: United States citizens and lawful permanent residents, and French citizens who live in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and fly to Canada directly from the territory.
Important: the eTA requirement applies to air travel only. If you are visa-exempt and you enter Canada by car, bus, train or boat (including a cruise ship), you generally do not need an eTA — though you still need a valid passport and proper documents.
The expanded eTA program: an eTA instead of a visa
Canada also lets citizens of several countries that would normally need a visa apply for an eTA instead, as long as they either held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years or currently hold a valid U.S. non-immigrant visa. As of 2026 this applies to:
Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
If you are from one of these countries but do not meet either condition, you still need a visitor visa.
Everyone else needs a visitor visa
If your country is not on either list, you must apply for a visitor visa (TRV) before travelling — an online application with biometrics and supporting documents that takes longer than an eTA.
How to check your own situation
Requirements change, and some countries have conditions attached. Always confirm with the Government of Canada's official tool, "Find out if you need a visa", before you book: canada.ca — visit Canada. You can also read our plain-language guide on the difference between an eTA and a visitor visa.
IRCC.com is an independent news and information website. We are not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Government of Canada, and we do not provide immigration services or legal advice. Entry requirements can change — always verify with official sources before you travel.