Canada eTA application: how to apply
The Canada eTA application is completed online, one traveller at a time. Before starting, prepare the passport you will use for your flight to Canada, a working email address and an accepted payment card. The online form cannot be saved, so it is sensible to have the required details ready before you begin.
- Use the passport you will travel with: the eTA is electronically linked to this passport. Enter the passport number from the top of the passport information page, not a number from another part of the document.
- Complete the online form: provide the requested passport, personal and contact details, then answer the questions in the application.
- Review every answer carefully: check spelling, dates, passport country and passport number before moving to payment. An incorrect passport number can prevent you from boarding your flight.
- Pay the official fee: payment is made immediately after completing the form.
- Watch for emails about the application: you should receive a confirmation or instructions about the next step. Keep the application number from the confirmation email.
An application confirmation is not the same as an approved eTA. Do not travel to Canada until a decision has been made and you hold an eTA that is valid for the passport you will present to the airline.
What you need for a Canada eTA form
- Valid passport: use the same passport for the application and for travel to Canada.
- Email address: decision notices and any request for further action are sent by email, so use an address you can access.
- Payment card: accepted methods include major credit cards, certain prepaid cards, Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard, UnionPay and JCB.
- Application information: prepare the passport, personal, contact and other details requested in the online form before starting, because the form cannot be saved for later.
The form itself is available in English and French. Official field-by-field guidance is available in additional languages, but applicants should ensure that every answer submitted is accurate and consistent with their passport and travel situation.
Canada eTA cost: the official government fee
The official Canada eTA fee is CAD 7 per application. It is non-refundable, and each traveller must have an individual application and payment; there is no group eTA application.
This is the government fee only. A traveller who chooses to use a private assistance service may be charged a separate service fee. That additional charge is not the official eTA fee and should be clearly distinguished from it before payment.
Canada eTA processing time: how long does it take?
Most eTA applications are approved within minutes, but this is not a guaranteed processing time. Some applications need further review and can take several days.
If more information is needed, the authorities normally send instructions by email within 72 hours of the application. They may request additional information, supporting documents or, in some cases, an interview at a Canadian visa office. Check your inbox and junk or spam folder regularly.
Apply well before travel rather than at the airport or shortly before check-in. If your eTA is not approved in time to board, you may need to change your flight.
How long is a Canada eTA valid?
An approved Canada eTA is normally valid for up to five years, or until the passport used in the application expires, whichever happens first. It can generally be used for multiple trips while it remains valid.
eTA validity is not the same as the length of time you may stay in Canada. For short visits, travellers are normally allowed to stay for up to six months at a time, but the border services officer makes the final decision on admission and the period authorized at entry.
- eTA validity: the period during which the authorization can normally be used to travel to Canada by air.
- Length of stay: the period you may be allowed to remain in Canada after examination at the border.
Passport changes: when you need a new Canada eTA
Your eTA is tied electronically to the passport entered in the application. If you receive a new passport, you must apply for a new eTA before travelling, even if the previous eTA would otherwise still be within its five-year maximum period.
- Passport expires: the eTA expires when that passport expires, even if five years have not passed.
- New, replaced, lost or stolen passport: obtain a new eTA for the new passport before flying to Canada, if an eTA applies to your travel.
- Incorrect passport or email information: the official guidance states that you need to apply again with the correct information.
- More than one passport or nationality: use particular care to apply with the passport you intend to use for travel. Your nationality, status and travel document can affect the entry requirements, so verify your own situation if there is any uncertainty.
Practical examples
- Your passport expires in eight months: an approved eTA may be valid only until that passport expires, not automatically for five years. If you renew the passport, apply for a new eTA linked to the new document before your next flight.
- You apply two days before departure and receive no immediate approval: check the confirmation email and spam folder. Some applications require further review or documents, so do not assume submission alone allows you to board.
- You spot a wrong passport number after applying: apply again using the correct passport information. An eTA with a mismatched passport number may cause a boarding problem.
- You obtained an eTA for a previous trip: use the eTA status service to check its status and expiry date. It may still be usable if it remains valid and you are travelling with the same passport.
After applying: confirmation, decision and status checks
After submission, look for an email confirming that the application was received. Keep the application number, which starts with the letter V. If you receive confirmation, you can use the official eTA Check Status service to follow a pending application and to see the status or expiry date of an existing eTA.
To use the status service, you generally need the eTA application number and details from the passport used for the application, including its number, issuing country, issue date and expiry date.
If you have not received an email confirmation with an application number within 72 hours, or if the status service gives an error after that period, use the official enquiry process and provide as much information as possible. Responses to an enquiry can take several days.
Common Canada eTA problems and the appropriate next step
- No immediate decision: most applications are decided quickly, but some require additional processing. Check email and spam folders for instructions, and do not travel until a decision is made.
- Request for documents: submit the requested material by the deadline in the instructions. Supporting documents not in English or French may need a certified translation.
- Payment failure or technical error: try again only where appropriate and use the official enquiry route if the problem continues. Do not rely on an unfinished application for travel.
- Wrong passport number, personal data or email address: submit a new application with correct information. The correct email address is essential for receiving the decision, and the passport number must match the document used to fly.
- Old eTA but uncertain validity: check the status and expiry date before departure. The authorization must be linked to the passport you will present at airline check-in.
Canada eTA renewal: is it a renewal or a new application?
Canada does not treat an expired eTA as an authorization that can simply be extended. When an eTA expires, or when a new passport makes the existing eTA unusable, submit a new online eTA application and pay the official fee again.
The same approach applies when incorrect information was entered in the original application: the official instruction is to apply again with the correct details. An approved eTA is still not a guarantee of admission; a border services officer decides whether you may enter Canada when you arrive.
Check your own travel details before departure
This guide explains how the eTA works once it is relevant to your trip. Your passport and personal circumstances can affect your eTA application and its validity. Check with Go2entry which steps may apply to your application and your trip to Canada.