Canada · Travel authorisation
Electronic travel authorization (eTA)
Electronic travel authorization (eTA) (eTA) is issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. VisaAI tracks 17 official requirements for it, each traced to the government page that states it.
Last verified against the official source on .
VisaAI is not a government body and does not issue visas. It cannot decide, predict or guarantee the outcome of an application, and this page is not legal or immigration advice.
Requirements change. Confirm every item on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s own page before you apply.
Each requirement below is written in plain English by VisaAI. The indented text beneath it is quoted from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s own page, so you can check what we say against what they say. Where a quotation shows “ ... ”, text has been left out.
Conditions you must meet
- You need either an eTA or a visitor visa, not both
You either need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. You only need one or the other, not both.
- Be a citizen of an eTA-required country or territory and be travelling to Canada by airIRCC also states that citizens of select visa-required countries may be eligible to apply for an eTA instead of a visitor visa when travelling to Canada by air, but that they still need a visitor visa when arriving by car, bus, train or boat including a cruise ship. Neither country list has been extracted, so this condition carries no rule.
You need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) and a valid passport to board your flight to Canada if you’re a citizen of any of the eTA-required countries or territories. You don’t need a visitor visa.
- Have a valid travel document, such as a passport
To visit Canada, you’ll need to meet some basic requirements, such as: have a valid travel document, such as a passport
- Be in good health
be in good health
- Have no criminal or immigration-related convictionsIRCC lists separate grounds of inadmissibility, including criminal activity, human rights violations, organized crime, and security, health or financial reasons.
have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
- Convince a border services officer that you have ties to your home country or territoryIRCC names a job, a home, financial assets or family as examples of ties.
convince a border services officer that you have ties—such as a job, home, financial assets or family—that will take you back to your home country or territory
- Convince a border services officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
convince a border services officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
- Have enough money for your stayIRCC publishes no fixed threshold: the amount depends on how long you stay and whether you stay in a hotel or with friends or relatives.
have enough money for your stay. (The amount of money you will need can vary. It depends on things such as how long you will stay, and whether you will stay in a hotel, or with friends or relatives.)
- An eTA does not guarantee entry to CanadaOn arrival a border services officer asks to see your passport and other documents, and you must satisfy the officer that you are eligible to enter.
An eTA doesn’t guarantee entry to Canada. When you arrive, a border services officer will ask to see your passport and other documents. You must convince the officer that you’re eligible for entry to Canada.
- A dual Canadian citizen must travel with a valid Canadian passportIRCC states American-Canadians can travel with a valid Canadian or U.S. passport.
If you’re a dual Canadian citizen, you must travel with a valid Canadian passport. American-Canadians can travel with a valid Canadian or U.S. passport.
Documents you must provide
- A valid passport from a visa-exempt country or territory
You will need a valid passport from a visa-exempt country or territory
- A valid email addressIRCC sends the decision on the eTA application by email.
a valid email address, and
- An accepted credit or debit card to pay the eTA feeIRCC accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, pre-paid Visa, Mastercard or American Express, Visa Debit or Debit Mastercard, UnionPay and JCB. It states the fee is non-refundable.
one of the following acceptable methods of payment to pay the $7 CAD fee (non-refundable): Visa ®, Mastercard ®, American Express ®, a pre-paid Visa ®, Mastercard ® or American Express ®, Visa Debit, or Debit Mastercard, UnionPay ®, or JCB Card ®.
Steps in the process
- Complete the online eTA form in one sittingIRCC warns the form cannot be saved. It is available in English and French only, though field descriptions are published in other languages.
Use the online form to apply. The form cannot be saved. So have your information ready.
- Pay the eTA fee immediately after completing the form
Pay $7 CAD for your eTA right after you complete the form.
- Submit further documents if IRCC asks for themIRCC states most applications are approved within minutes, but that some applicants must submit documents before approval, and that instructions arrive by email within 72 hours if so.
You may need to submit documents before your application can be approved. If this happens to you, an email will be sent with instructions within 72 hours.
Government fees
- Electronic travel authorization feeCAD 7CAD 7.00. The apply page states the same amount and adds that it is non-refundable.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) Fees $CAN Electronic Travel Authorization 7.00
Official sources
- Eligibility — Eligibility, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Fees — Fees, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- How to apply — How to apply, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- Official page — Official page, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada