How to get your Canada e-Travel Authorization
One of the struggles of a holder of a not-so-strong passport is having to apply for visas for a lot of the travel destinations you’d want to go to. All the paperwork and the application fees can be daunting!
But did you know that you might not need a visa to travel to Canada? Instead, you might easily get an e-Travel Authorization (eTA) online in just a matter of minutes! Let’s talk about it!
Vancouver, Canada during the winter
What is the Canada eTA?
In lieu of a visa, the e-Travel Authorization is a requirement as an entry document for qualified foreigners to enter Canada by air.
The last part is very important, as it is quite common to drive to and from the US through the land borders. Unfortunately, if you are a foreigner who is normally required to have a Canadian visa, then you cannot enter Canada through that route with an eTA. You’ll need a visitor visa.
Who is qualified for a Canada eTA?
The following are the requirements for one to be qualified for a Canada eTA. Please take note that all requirements must be met.
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The citizens of the following countries are eligible for an eTA:
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Brazil
Costa Rica
Mexico
Morocco
Panama
Philippines
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Seychelles
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Uruguay
If you already have a Canada visitor visa, you will not need to apply for an eTA.
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Holders of a Canada visa in the last 10 years, or
Holder of a valid US non-immigrant visa, at the time of application.
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You must be entering Canadian soil via air. If you are driving to or arriving to Canada as a part of a cruise, you'll need to apply for a visitor visa.
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Only those who will be traveling to Canada as a visitor or tourist are eligible for an e-TA. You cannot use your e-TA to work or study in Canada.
What you’ll need to apply for a Canada eTA
Before filling in your eTA online application form, please ensure that you already have these on-hand:
a valid passport
Your passport must be valid until the time of your travel. If the passport you attached to your e-TA has expired, you’ll need to apply for a new Canada e-TA.
a valid email address
a means to pay the $7 CAD processing fee, which can either be:
VISA, Mastercard, or American Express credit card;
VISA, Mastercard, or American Express debit card;
UnionPay; or
JCB Card
How much time will it take to receive the eTA?
I fall under the category of someone who has a valid US visa. Per my experience, it only took about 5-10 minutes after I paid for my eTA for the confirmation email to arrive in my inbox. I have read online that several applicants also had a similar experience. It will just be a simple email that looks like this:
Sample of an approved Canada eTA
Best of luck, and see you in Canada soon!
