Canada eTA
Everything you need for your Canada eTA: requirements, processing times and answers to the most common questions.
Official Canada government portal- Validity
- 5 years
- Maximum stay
- 6 months per entry
- Entry type
- Multiple
Overview
The eTA, or electronic travel authorisation, is Canada's online entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals who arrive by air. It is not a visa: it is a screening that links to your passport before you fly and lets the airline board you and a border officer consider your admission. An approved eTA is valid for up to five years, or until your passport expires if that comes first, and allows multiple trips in that period.
Each visit is normally up to six months, set by the border services officer when you land. Travellers from the many visa-exempt countries, including the United Kingdom, the European Union, Australia and Japan, need an eTA to fly to Canada, as do lawful permanent residents of the United States. US citizens are exempt and travel on their passport alone.
An eTA does not authorise paid work, a study programme longer than six months, or settling in Canada, which need the corresponding permit. It links to the passport you apply with, so you must travel on that same document, and it is the airline's first check before you board. If you arrive by land or sea, or already hold a valid Canadian visa, the eTA does not apply to that trip.
Your Canada eTA is prepared in your own language and every answer is checked against the current rules before it is sent to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
Canada eTA questions
How quickly does Canada issue an eTA?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issues most eTAs within minutes; some go to manual review and take up to 72 hours. Our Rush tier reviews within 24 hours of payment; Super Rush ships same-day so the IRCC clock starts without delay.
Do I need an eTA if I'm driving from the US?
No. The eTA is required only when you fly into Canada. If you cross by land or sea, for example by car, bus, train or ferry, you do not apply for an eTA, though you still carry a valid passport and meet the usual border requirements. The wizard confirms what you need from your nationality and how you plan to arrive.
Do US citizens need a Canada eTA?
No. US citizens are exempt and do not need an eTA. The eTA is required for visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to Canada (such as UK, EU, Australian and Japanese passport holders) and for US lawful permanent residents (green-card holders) arriving by air. The wizard confirms based on your passport and residence.
What if my Canadian eTA is refused?
A refused eTA usually means applying for a Temporary Resident Visa at a Canadian Visa Application Centre. Our service fee is refundable in most denial scenarios outside your control. The government fee is paid directly to IRCC and is non-refundable.
How much is an eTA for Canada?
You pay one all-inclusive price. It covers the government fee, the fixed amount IRCC charges and paid directly to the authority, and our service running the specialist review of your form before it reaches IRCC; the government portion is itemised on your receipt. The government fee is non-refundable; our service fee is refundable in most denial scenarios outside your control.
How long is the Canada eTA valid?
The eTA is valid for five years from approval, or until your passport expires if that is sooner, and allows multiple entries. The five years are not a length of stay: each visit is normally up to six months, and a border services officer sets the exact period when you land. Once your passport expires you apply for a new eTA.
What do I need to apply for a Canada eTA?
A valid passport from a visa-exempt country, an email address where the decision is sent, and a payment card. There is no photograph to upload, unlike a visa. US citizens are exempt and do not need an eTA. We check your details against the current rules and confirm your name and passport number before the application is submitted to IRCC.
Is the Canada eTA only for arriving by air?
Yes. The eTA requirement applies to visa-exempt foreign nationals flying into Canada, including those who connect through a Canadian airport. If you arrive by land or by sea, for example by car, bus, train or cruise ship, you do not need an eTA, though you still need a valid passport and may face other requirements at the border.
Do I need to print my Canada eTA before I travel?
No. An approved eTA is linked electronically to your passport, so the airline and border services see it automatically when you check in and there is nothing to print. We still suggest saving the approval email or your application number so you can check the status before you fly if you want to.
How long can I stay in Canada, and can I extend my visit?
A border services officer normally admits eTA holders for up to six months per visit. The five-year validity is not a continuous stay: it lets you make multiple trips within that period. If you want to stay longer than the period stamped on entry, you apply to extend your status from within Canada before it expires.
Do I need an eTA for a layover or connection in Canada?
Usually yes. Most travellers who change planes at a Canadian airport pass through Canadian immigration and need an approved eTA, even without leaving the airport. A limited transit programme exists for certain nationalities and routes. Apply for the eTA before you travel and let the airline confirm your specific connection.
Can I work or study on a Canada eTA?
No. The eTA covers tourism, visiting family or friends, business meetings and transit. Paid work or a study programme longer than six months requires the corresponding work or study permit, which you apply for separately through IRCC. The eTA does not by itself grant the right to work or enrol in long courses.
Why are some Canada eTA applications refused, and how do I avoid it?
Most problems come from small data errors: a name or passport number that does not match the passport, the wrong country of issue, or an inconsistent background answer. We read your details back against your passport before submission and flag anything that looks off. Honest answers and an in-date passport give your application the best footing with IRCC.
Will I be asked to show proof of funds or ties to my home country?
The eTA form does not ask for bank statements. At the airport, a border officer may still ask how you will fund your visit and what brings you home, so carry a return or onward ticket, accommodation details and a rough idea of your spending. These confirm a genuine short visit, and the officer weighs them when deciding how long to admit you.
I am flying into Canada and then driving on into the US. Do I need an eTA?
Yes. Because you arrive in Canada by air, you need an approved eTA before you board, even if you leave again by car, bus or train. The requirement follows how you enter, not how you exit. Crossing back into the United States is a separate matter under US rules. Our wizard confirms what your trip needs from your nationality and arrival.
I hold dual citizenship, or I have a past record. Can I still use a Canada eTA?
It depends on the detail. Canadian citizens, including dual nationals, cannot use an eTA and must travel on a Canadian passport. A past criminal matter can affect admissibility and may call for separate paperwork before you fly. The eTA lets you board and request entry; an officer decides on admission. Tell us your situation and we confirm whether the eTA fits.
When should I apply for the Canada eTA?
It is best to apply once your trip is booked, because the airline checks your authorisation at the boarding gate and the requirement is tied to the flight you take into Canada. IRCC decides most eTAs within minutes, and within 1 to 72 hours when an application goes to manual review, so applying early leaves room for those cases. Rush and Super Rush tiers exist for short-notice travel.
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Have questions about your eTA? Email the Canada desk and we reply within 24 hours.
canada@visitpass-online.com