Apply for an Electronic Travel Advisory (eTA) to visit Canada
You can apply for the Canada eTA online. It takes minutes to complete.
Travel to Canada
Understand the Canada eTA
The Canada eTA is part of the Electronic Travel Authorization programme to deliver a fully digital border. It lets border service officers review traveller information in advance so journeys stay efficient while security checks remain thorough.
Once approved, the authorisation is digitally linked to the passport used in the application. Travellers only need to show that passport when boarding and when they reach the Canada border.
Most applicants receive a decision within three working days.
Having an eTA does not guarantee entry into Canada. Final admission is determined by border service officers when you arrive.
Digital pre-travel clearance
The Canada Electronic Travel Authorisation screens travellers against security databases before departure.
Once granted, it is automatically linked to your passport—no additional documents needed when you board or arrive.
Flexible short-term visits
An eTA covers tourism, business, family visits, transit, short study and permitted paid engagements.
Each stay can last up to six months, with creative workers able to use a three-month concession.
Five-year validity
Use the same eTA for multiple trips for 5 years or until the passport used to apply expires.
Frequent travellers should ensure their passport stays valid long enough to enjoy the full eTA period.
Validity and stay rules
A Canada eTA is valid for five years, or until the passport you used to apply expires. You can travel to Canada as often as you need during that window, provided the passport and eTA remain in force.
Each entry grants up to six months in Canada. Border service officers expect visits to be temporary, so repeatedly spending close to six months at a time can prompt questions.
Travellers may move freely throughout Canada during each stay. Short trips abroad do not automatically reset the clock; the decision always rests with the officer you meet on arrival.
Using successive short visits to live in Canada can result in refused entry on a future trip.
Application essentials
Gather a valid biometric passport for each traveller, including infants, plus a recent digital photograph that follows Canadian guidance. The form is completed entirely online—there is no mobile app or consulate visit involved.
The application captures core biographical details and a contact address. A Canadian phone number is not required. When you pay the fee, the request is submitted for automatic checks against security and immigration databases.
Decisions are sent by email and usually arrive within three working days. Your eTA and reference number are linked to your passport, so simply travel with that document. If you have criminal convictions or past immigration breaches, apply through official Canadian government services instead of this route.
Who needs an eTA
European Union member states
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
EFTA member states
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
Other visa-exempt countries
Andorra, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Israel, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Vatican City State
British citizens and subjects
British citizen, British National (Overseas), British overseas citizen (re-admissible to the United Kingdom), British Subject with a right of abode in the United Kingdom
Dual nationals should apply with the passport that qualifies for an eTA. Note that eTA is only required for air travel; travellers entering by land or sea do not need an eTA.
Special passport requirements: Hong Kong travellers must have a passport issued by Hong Kong SAR. Israel travellers must have a national Israeli passport. Romania travellers must have an electronic passport. Taiwan travellers must have an ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes the personal identification number. Vatican City travellers must have a passport or travel document issued by the Vatican.
Who is exempt
The following groups do not need an eTA to enter Canada:
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents
- U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents of the United States
- Travellers with a valid Canadian visa
- Diplomats and other government officials with proper documentation
- Crew members of airlines and ships
- Travellers entering by land or sea (eTA only required for air travel)
It is a criminal offence to obtain a Canada eTA by deception, and carriers may be fined for transporting travellers without valid permission.
Canada eTA at a glance
Use this quick reference when you prepare your application.
| Document type | Digital travel authorisation linked to the applicant's passport |
|---|---|
| Validity | 5 years or until passport expiry, whichever is sooner |
| Entries | Multiple entries, subject to border service officer discretion |
| Stay per visit | Up to 6 months |
| Processing time | Decision email usually within 3 working days |
| Application method | Entirely online form—no app download or embassy visit required |
| Who must apply | Visa-exempt nationals from eligible countries travelling to Canada by air (eTA not required for land or sea entry) |
| Who is exempt | Canadian citizens, permanent residents, U.S. citizens, visa holders, and travellers entering by land or sea |
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most common queries about the Canada eTA programme.
e-visa.ca operates as an independent, professional visa support agency helping travellers secure a Canada Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA). We are not affiliated with the Canadian government, do not employ solicitors, and do not provide legal advice. You can submit an eTA application yourself for CAD $7 per traveller at the official Canadian government website, but our service includes round-the-clock assistance, pre-submission document checks, and personalised guidance. Our fees cover the government charge, applicable taxes, and a service fee for our expert review and submission. If an application we have reviewed is refused—and there has been no earlier Canada eTA refusal for the traveller—we refund the full amount of your purchase.