September 14, 2016

Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) Required Starting 30 September 2016

*Since the posting of this blog, the leniency period for the eTA has now been extended to November 9, 2016 (previously 30 September 2016).

For more information, please click here.

The leniency period for obtaining an eTA to come to Canada ends in two weeks. Starting September 30, 2016, all travellers coming to Canada from visa-exempt countries will need an eTA in order to board their flight, except for U.S. citizens and those with Canadian visas. This requirement does not apply to travellers entering Canada by land or sea.

The eTA is a new requirement for visa-exempt travellers. There are no age exemptions to the eTA requirement. It costs $7 to apply for an eTA online which may take anywhere from several minutes to days to process. Travellers receive a decision on their application by email from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). In some cases, an in-person interview at a Canadian visa office may be required.

Once approved, the eTA is electronically linked to the traveller’s passport and is valid for five years or until the passport expires, whichever is the earliest. The purpose of the eTA is to allow the government to screen travellers coming to Canada to ensure that they are admissible to enter. Consequently, IRCC advises travellers to apply for an eTA before booking their flight to Canada.

For more information on Temporary Migration to Canada, click here.

(Sources)