Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): Who Needs It and How to Apply

TL;DR — An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a digital entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to or transiting through a Canadian airport. It costs CAD $7, is valid for up to five years (or until the passport expires, whichever comes first), and is electronically linked to the traveller's passport. U.S. citizens do not need an eTA. Citizens of approximately 57 countries — including the UK, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and the UAE — must have a valid eTA before boarding a flight to Canada.

What an eTA is

Introduced in 2016, the eTA is Canada's pre-travel screening tool for visa-exempt travellers. It works similarly to the United States ESTA. Before a visa-exempt foreign national boards a flight to Canada, the airline checks their passport against IRCC's eTA database; if no valid eTA is linked, the airline cannot board the passenger.

An eTA is not a visa. It is also not a guarantee of admission — the final decision is made by a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer at the port of entry.

Who needs an eTA

Required

An eTA is required for citizens of visa-exempt countries flying to or transiting through Canada. The full list of visa-exempt eTA-eligible countries (as of 2026) includes:

• Europe: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom (British citizens), Vatican City.
• Asia-Pacific: Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong SAR (HKSAR passport holders), Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Korea, Taiwan (with personal identification number), Israel (national passport).
• Americas: Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Chile.
• Middle East / Africa: United Arab Emirates.
• Other: British National (Overseas) passport holders.

eTA-conditional countries

Thirteen otherwise visa-required countries have access to a conditional eTA: citizens may apply for an eTA instead of a visitor visa if they hold a valid United States nonimmigrant visa OR have held a Canadian visa within the past 10 years AND travel to Canada by air. The eTA-conditional countries are: Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico (post-February 29, 2024 changes), Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.

Mexican citizens lost broad eTA eligibility on February 29, 2024 — see the Mexico-specific guide for full details.

Not required

• U.S. citizens: do not need an eTA. A valid U.S. passport is sufficient.
• U.S. lawful permanent residents (green-card holders): as of April 26, 2022, must have a valid eTA or a U.S. green card to fly to Canada (different process from a regular eTA).
• Visa-required country citizens (without conditional eTA eligibility): need a visitor visa, not an eTA.
• French citizens flying directly from Saint Pierre and Miquelon: exempt from the eTA requirement.
• Travellers arriving by car, bus, train, or boat (including cruise ships): do not need an eTA — the eTA is only for air travel.

How to apply

Apply directly on the official Government of Canada website: canada.ca/eta. Beware of third-party sites that charge inflated fees.

Steps

1. Have a valid passport, an email address, and a credit/debit card ready.
2. Complete the online form (about 10 minutes). Information collected: passport, contact info, employment, history of refused entries, criminal-record questions.
3. Pay the CAD $7 fee.
4. Receive a confirmation email — usually within minutes.
5. Most eTAs are approved automatically. Some are referred to an officer for review and may take several days. If extra documents are needed, IRCC will email a request.

Approval and validity

• Validity: up to 5 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.
• The eTA is electronically linked to the passport — there is no document to print.
• A new eTA is required when the passport is renewed.
• A traveller can have only one valid eTA at a time per passport.

When the eTA may be refused or referred

Common reasons:

• A criminal record (DUI, theft, fraud).
• A previous refusal of a Canadian visa or entry.
• Suspicious responses on the application.
• Inadmissibility under medical, security, human-rights, or financial-sufficiency grounds.

Applicants can be invited to apply for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) or rehabilitation if they are deemed inadmissible.

Linked work or study permits

When IRCC approves a work or study permit for a visa-exempt national, an eTA is automatically issued and electronically linked to the same passport. Workers and students do not need to apply separately for an eTA — but the eTA expires when the work or study permit ends or the passport expires.

Common pitfalls

• Booking flights without checking eTA status: travellers without a valid eTA cannot board.
• Using a different passport: the eTA is passport-specific. Travelling with a different passport requires a new eTA.
• Third-party fee scams: official IRCC site charges CAD $7. Some third-party sites charge $20–$80 for the same service with no added value.
• Confusing eTA with a visitor visa: an eTA does not replace a visa for visa-required nationals.

Key facts at a glance

• Cost: CAD $7 (apply only at canada.ca).
• Validity: up to 5 years or passport expiry.
• Required for: visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to or transiting Canada.
• Not required for: U.S. citizens; air travel by Canadians (Canadians use Canadian passports); land/sea entries.
• Where to apply: canada.ca/eta only.
• Processing time: usually within minutes; sometimes days if referred.

Source attribution

This article rewrites public information published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta.html. The original Government of Canada content is licensed under the Open Government Licence — Canada.

Verify on canada.ca

The authoritative country-by-country list and current rules are at: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta.html. eTA eligibility lists change — verify before booking.

IRCC.com is an independent news and information aggregator. We are not affiliated with the Government of Canada and do not provide immigration services or advice. For personalized help, contact a CICC-licensed RCIC or a Canadian immigration lawyer.