France & Germany Fans: Your eTA Guide for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada
If you're a football fan from France or Germany planning to fly to Canada for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Toronto or Vancouver, you'll need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to board your flight. While citizens of both countries don't need a traditional visa for short visits, this exemption has a specific requirement for air travel. Learning about the eTA process now can make your journey to cheer on your team much smoother.
Flying to Canada: Do French and German citizens need a visa?
Many nationalities, including France and Germany, don't need a traditional visitor visa for short tourist trips to Canada. This often confuses people planning international travel. However, Canada brought in the eTA program to pre-screen air travellers from these visa-exempt countries. So, while French and German passport holders skip the full visitor visa, they absolutely need an eTA if they're flying into Canada.
This rule holds true whether you're flying straight from Europe or connecting through somewhere else, like the United States. Without an approved eTA, airlines simply won't let you board. For fans from countries that do require a visitor visa, the process is much more extensive. For instance, supporters from nations like Colombia or Ecuador will need to apply for a [Canada visitor visa for 2026 World Cup](/news/colombia-ecuador-fans-canada-visitor-visa-