The Canadian ETA was introduced by the Government of Canada in August 2015 and is a mandatory entry requirement for travel to Canada. The Canadian eTA qualifies individuals who wish to enter the country for tourism, business or transit purposes. To be able to visit Canada, foreign visitors must have a valid ETA or a valid visa. Citizens of 53 countries are exempted from applying for a temporary resident visa (TRV) at a consulate or embassy. Citizens of these visa-free countries must obtain eTA online before traveling to Canada.
Canada Online Visa is only available for certain nationalities. A citizen of a visa-free country is eligible for electronic travel approval, eTA. All other travelers must obtain a Canada Travel Visa through the Canadian Mission.
Before filling out a Canada Visa online application form, each applicant must ensure that they meet the Canadian eTA requirements. Travelers who wish to travel to Canada for tourism, business or transit purposes should apply for Canada eTA.
The process of getting a Canadian ETA is fairly simple and straightforward. Applicants can complete the online ETA questionnaire within minutes and pay the respective fee before submitting the application.
The standard processing time for an eTA is within 24 hours, but those traveling unexpectedly to Canada are now able to get an urgent Canada ETA in 1 hour through a new rush processing system.
Travel to Canada with Canadian ETA
The ETA Travel Approval for Canada has been implemented to better screen travelers from visa-free countries. Instead of obtaining a Canadian visa through the embassy or consulate, eligible travelers can fill out the online form with their personal details and passport information.
Once approved, the Canada ETA visa waiver is valid for 5 consecutive years or until the passport expires. If the passport expires before the 5-year period expires, the traveler must obtain a new Canadian ETA with their new passport. When eTA is approved by the Canadian Immigration System, it is electronically attached to the applicant’s passport.
Over a 5-year period, Canada eTA holders can travel to Canada on multiple occasions, as it is a multi-entry electronic travel authorization. ETA holders should always respect the position provided by the Immigration Department when entering the country.
The ETA for Canada must be valid upon arrival in Canada and must be accompanied by the electronic passport used in the application.
The eTA Canada visa application takes time to complete
It usually takes 10-30 minutes to complete the ETA application. Once all your information is ready, it may take up to 10 minutes to complete the form and make your payment Since eTA Canada Visa is a 100% online process, the results of most Canada eTA applications are sent to your email address within 24 hours. If you do not have all the information ready, it may take up to an hour to complete the application.
