Do You Need a Visitor Visa or eTA for Canada?

Canada entry requirements: visa, eTA or exemption?

Most foreign nationals need either a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. You normally need one or the other, not both. The document that applies is determined mainly by the passport or travel document you will use, your status and how you will enter Canada.

A visitor visa is a travel document placed in a passport for travellers who are visa-required. An eTA is a digital travel authorization generally used by visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to or transiting through Canada by air. Neither document is a guarantee of admission at the Canadian border.

Your mode of arrival can change the answer. A traveller who needs an eTA to board a flight may not need one when arriving by car, train, bus or cruise ship, while some travellers from visa-required countries still need a visitor visa for those modes of travel.

When might you need an eTA?

An eTA may apply if you hold a passport from an eTA-required country or territory and are flying to Canada or transiting through a Canadian airport. In that situation, you generally need an eTA and a valid passport to board your flight rather than a visitor visa.

For most visa-exempt travellers, the eTA requirement is tied to air travel. If they arrive by car, bus, train or boat, including a cruise ship, they generally do not need an eTA, but they still need an appropriate valid passport or travel document. A limited exception can apply to certain travellers coming by sea directly from Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.

When might you need a visitor visa?

You may need a visitor visa if the passport or travel document you are using is visa-required. This can apply whether you are visiting Canada or travelling through it, although transit rules have specific exceptions and alternatives.

Some citizens of selected visa-required countries may qualify to use an eTA instead of a visitor visa only for air travel, provided they meet the applicable conditions, such as having held a Canadian visitor visa within the previous 10 years or holding a valid US non-immigrant visa when applying. If they travel to Canada by land or sea, they generally still need a visitor visa.

Practical examples: which Canada travel document may apply?

• Australian passport holder flying from Sydney to Vancouver for tourism: Australia is generally visa-exempt, so the traveller normally needs an eTA to board the flight, rather than a visitor visa.
• British passport holder driving from the United States to Canada: a visa-exempt traveller arriving by land generally does not need an eTA, but must carry the required valid travel document and meet border-entry conditions.
• Indian passport holder flying to Toronto for a holiday: a traveller using a visa-required passport will normally need a visitor visa unless they qualify for a specific alternative eTA regime for selected visa-required nationals travelling by air.
• Mexican passport holder flying to Canada: the traveller may need a visitor visa, but may be eligible for an eTA if the relevant conditions for selected visa-required nationals are met, including a qualifying Canadian visitor-visa history or a valid US non-immigrant visa at the time of the eTA application.
• US lawful permanent resident flying to Montreal: an eTA is not required if the traveller has official proof of US lawful permanent resident status, such as a valid green card, together with the required travel document.

These examples illustrate common situations, not every possible rule. The result can change with the passport, travel document, immigration status, travel route and purpose of travel.

What entry requirements should you check before travelling to Canada?

Before departure, check the full set of Canada entry requirements that applies to your own trip—not only whether you need a visa or eTA.

• Passport or travel document: you must travel with a valid, unexpired passport or other travel document accepted by Canada. Canada does not apply one universal “six-month passport validity” rule to every visitor, but a permit or visitor record cannot be issued beyond the passport’s expiry date.
• Travel authorization: confirm whether you need a visitor visa, eTA, transit visa or no visa/eTA because of an exemption or a particular status.
• Mode of arrival: distinguish between flying to a Canadian airport and arriving by car, bus, train, ferry, private boat or cruise ship. The difference is especially important for eTA eligibility.
• Transit itinerary: a connection through Canada can require an eTA, transit visa or visitor visa depending on your passport, route, length of transit and whether you qualify for a transit exemption.
• Status documents: Canadian citizens, Canadian permanent residents, US citizens and US lawful permanent residents follow special rules and should travel with the documents that prove that status.
• Border assessment: be ready to show your travel documents and answer questions about your visit. Officers may assess whether you are admissible, will leave at the end of your authorized stay and have enough funds for the trip.

Children under 18 follow the same visa or eTA rules as other visitors. When a minor travels alone, with one parent or with an adult who is not a parent or legal guardian, additional identification, custody documents or a letter of authorization may be important to avoid delays.

Special situations that can change the usual requirement

Canadian citizens and dual citizens

Canadian citizens cannot use an eTA. Dual Canadian citizens normally need to travel with a valid Canadian passport. An American-Canadian may travel with either a valid Canadian passport or a valid US passport.

Canadian permanent residents

Canadian permanent residents do not need a visitor visa or eTA, but they must travel with a valid permanent resident card or a permanent resident travel document. This can also affect people who previously lived in Canada: permanent resident status does not simply expire with time.

US citizens and US lawful permanent residents

US citizens are exempt from the eTA requirement and should carry proper identification, such as a valid US passport. Lawful permanent residents of the United States are also exempt from the eTA requirement when they carry official proof of that status and the required travel document. Their documentation can differ between air travel and direct land or water arrival from the United States or Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.

Transit through a Canadian airport

Do not assume that a short airport connection is document-free. A traveller from an eTA-required country generally needs an eTA to transit through Canada by air. A traveller from a visa-required country may need a transit visa for an air connection of 48 hours or less if they do not hold a visitor visa and are not eligible for an eTA. Certain travellers may qualify for a transit-without-a-visa program, but the conditions are specific.

Study and work plans

A study permit or work permit is not the same as a visitor visa or eTA. Depending on your circumstances, you may need a permit for the activity you intend to undertake and a separate entry document to travel to Canada. Check both requirements before booking travel.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Assuming an eTA is needed for every arrival: for many visa-exempt travellers, it is primarily an air-travel requirement, not a land or sea requirement.
• Using the wrong passport details: the applicable rule is tied to the passport or travel document actually used for the trip. If you hold more than one nationality, check the requirements for the document you intend to present.
• Treating an eTA or visa as entry approval: airline boarding checks and border admission are different stages. A border services officer makes the final decision on whether a traveller may enter Canada.

• Overlooking a child’s travel documents: each child needs the documents required for their own situation, and a consent letter can be important when parents or legal guardians are not travelling together.

Check your own Canada travel requirements

Canada’s rules cannot be reduced to one answer for every traveller. Your passport, immigration status, flight or land itinerary, transit plans and reason for travel can all affect which document is required.

Use Go2entry to check the entry requirements that may apply to the passport and trip you will actually use. If your result indicates that an eTA may be relevant, consult the dedicated Canada eTA guide for application-related information.