Do you want to know if you can travel to Canada without a visa and are eligible for the eTA scheme? Find out which countries are members of the system and what other conditions must be met to qualify.
The eTA scheme allows you to travel to Canada without a visa and is available under certain conditions, the most important of which is that you must be a resident of one of the member countries of the scheme. It is therefore essential to check that you are a member before starting your online application. In this page, we propose you to discover the complete list of these countries as well as the other conditions to respect and the procedure to follow to obtain an eTA for Canada.
Travellers who live in and hold a passport issued by one of the following countries can travel to Canada without a visa and can benefit from the eTA for that country. However, it should be noted here that this scheme is limited to travellers entering the country by air and is not available to travellers arriving by boat or train. The list of eTA member countries is as follows
Certain nationals of certain countries and meeting certain conditions are both visa and eTA exempt. These include:
In addition to being a national of one of the countries listed above, travellers who are eligible to travel to Canada without a visa and benefit from the eTA must meet certain additional conditions including
To obtain an eTA for Canada from any of the countries on the visa-free list that are eligible for the scheme, simply go online to the official website or to a website with an application form like the one we recommend here.
You will simply need to fill in the application form with your personal details, enter your passport number and a valid email address and pay the processing and transfer fee.
You will receive an answer to your request within a maximum of 72 hours and this authorisation will then be valid for a period of 5 years.
Travelling to Canada without a visa waiver or eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) eligibility can be a complex process, as most travellers need to obtain one of these documents to enter the country legally. However, in certain exceptional cases, there are special procedures for entering Canada without one of these documents.
The first option is to apply for a visitor's visa (or tourist visa) from the Canadian embassy or consulate in your country of residence. This type of visa allows you to travel to Canada for tourism, to visit relatives or to take part in specific events. The visitor visa application generally requires the submission of documents proving the intention of your trip, your ties to your country of origin, and your ability to support yourself during your stay in Canada. Processing times and requirements vary according to the applicant's nationality.
Another option is to apply for a work or study permit if you are eligible to work or study in Canada. Work and study permits are issued for specific reasons and require documents proving your eligibility. For example, if you have a job offer in Canada or have been accepted at a Canadian educational institution, you may be eligible for a work or study permit. However, obtaining one of these permits is a complex process, and it is essential to comply with the specific requirements.
Finally, for some travellers, such as US citizens, there are bilateral agreements that allow temporary entry without a visa or eTA. US citizens can generally enter Canada for tourism or business purposes for a limited time without needing a visa or eTA. However, it is important to check the latest information on entry requirements in Canada, as these may change.
If you are not eligible for the eTA for Canada, you can still apply for a regular visa to stay in Canada. The visa application process can be done online in most cases but may also require travel to an embassy or consulate for specific applications.
If you are lucky enough to live in one of the countries that is part of the eTA scheme for Canada, you will be able to apply online in just a few minutes and without sending any documents. The processing time for these paperless applications is extremely fast as your application will be processed within a maximum of 72 hours and the response to your application will be sent to you directly by email.
It is of course essential to have an official residence permit in order to be able to travel legally to Canada, even for a simple tourist visit. Indeed, you will need to present a visa or eTA both when boarding the plane to Canada and when you arrive in the country.
