Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) — Canada

You apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) online through IRCC. The process involves filling out a digital form, paying the fee, and submitting your application electronically.

Canada Electronic Travel Authorization: Application Steps

You must submit your eTA application using the online form available through IRCC.

Before you begin, download the current eTA form and review the official instructions from IRCC. Read the help document carefully, especially if you’re unsure about your eligibility category.

Follow these steps:

1. Confirm you need an Electronic Travel Authorization, not a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa) or a Super Visa (Parents and Grandparents).

2. Access the online application form through IRCC.

3. Complete all required sections accurately.

4. Review your answers carefully before submission.

5. Electronically sign and submit the form.

Every mandatory question must be answered. Incomplete applications can delay processing or prevent submission.

If you need a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa) or Super Visa (Parents and Grandparents), you must apply under those programs instead. IRCC processes each document type separately.

Payment and submission

You must pay the application fee right after completing the eTA form.

The fee is:

You’ll need a valid credit or debit card to pay online. The system prompts you to enter payment details after confirming your application.

Submit your application only after successful payment. IRCC won’t process an eTA without the required fee.

Don’t confuse eTA fees with other immigration fees. For example:

Work permit fees and group maximum fees are for different categories and don’t apply to eTA applicants.

Prepare before you start

Prepare all required items before opening the online form. This helps avoid timeouts and errors during submission.

You’ll need:

• A valid passport
• A credit or debit card to pay the CA$7 fee
• Access to IRCC instructions
• A stable internet connection

Review your eligibility category before applying. If you require a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa) instead of an Electronic Travel Authorization, you must stop and apply under the correct program.

Applying under the wrong category can lead to refusal or travel delays. IRCC handles visa and permit applications, so follow its instructions closely.

A Canada Electronic Travel Authorization lets you travel to Canada, but a border services officer makes the final call on your entry. You must present the correct documents and answer questions clearly and truthfully.

What to expect at arrival

When you arrive in Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reviews your entry.

An officer confirms your identity using your passport from a visa-exempt country and checks that you hold a valid Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) linked to that passport. The eTA is issued by IRCC, but CBSA decides whether you may enter.

You may complete primary inspection at a kiosk or directly with an officer, depending on the airport or port of entry. If the officer needs more information, they may refer you to secondary inspection for extra review.

Your eTA doesn’t guarantee admission. CBSA checks if you meet the conditions of temporary entry at the time you arrive.

If you require a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa) or a Super Visa (Parents and Grandparents) instead of an eTA, you must hold the correct document before travel.

Documents to carry

You must travel with the same passport you used when you applied for your eTA. If you renew or replace your passport, you’ll need a new eTA linked to the new passport.

Carry:

• Valid passport from a visa-exempt country
• Confirmation of your Electronic Travel Authorization
• Access to the email address you used for your application

Airlines verify your eTA electronically before boarding. At the border, CBSA officers access your eTA through your passport details.

If you hold a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa) or Super Visa (Parents and Grandparents) instead of an eTA, bring the valid visa placed in your passport.

Keep documents accessible in your carry-on bag. Don’t pack them in checked luggage.

Questions officers commonly ask

CBSA officers ask direct questions to confirm the purpose and length of your stay.

Expect questions like:

1. Why are you coming to Canada?

2. How long do you plan to stay?

3. Which passport did you use to apply for your eTA?

4. What is the email address associated with your application?

Answer clearly and be consistent with the information linked to your Electronic Travel Authorization. Officers compare your responses with your passport record and the eTA issued by IRCC.

If your answers don’t match your application details, the officer may conduct further examination. Always provide accurate information and present the same passport connected to your approved eTA.

You qualify for an Electronic Travel Authorization if you travel to Canada by air with the correct passport and status.

Your nationality, passport type, and U.S. immigration status determine whether you need an eTA, a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa), or no authorization at all.

Eligible nationalities and passport types

A valid passport from a visa‑exempt country is required to apply for a Canada eTA.

The eTA links electronically to that passport and allows you to board a flight to Canada.

If you don’t hold a passport from a visa‑exempt country, you must apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa) through IRCC.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Always travel with the same passport you use for your eTA application. If you renew or replace your passport, you’ll need to get a new eTA.

For confirmation of your country’s visa exemption, refer to IRCC’s country list.

Specific country updates

Starting November 25, 2025, citizens of Qatar no longer need a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa) for air travel to Canada.

You now apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization instead.

This change applies only to air travel.

If you already hold a valid visitor visa, you can continue to use it until it expires. You don’t need to switch to an eTA unless your visa is no longer valid.

IRCC manages these authorization rules.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) makes the final admissibility decision at the port of entry.

Exemptions

You do not need an eTA if you’re a lawful permanent resident of the United States. This exemption has applied since April 26, 2022.

Your exemption is based on U.S. permanent resident status—not your nationality.

Even if your country would otherwise require an eTA, your U.S. lawful permanent resident status removes that requirement for air travel.

You may still need other documents, depending on your circumstances.

• If you are not visa‑exempt and don’t qualify for an exemption, you must apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa).
• If you plan an extended stay to visit your child or grandchild in Canada, you may need a Super Visa (Parents and Grandparents) instead of an eTA.

The eTA only authorizes you to travel to Canada by air. It doesn’t guarantee entry.

CBSA officers assess your admissibility when you arrive.

Border officers review your documents and immigration history against Canadian requirements.

Problems with past compliance, your passport, or the stated purpose of travel can stop your trip before or at arrival.

Prior overstays and inadmissibility grounds

IRCC reviews your Electronic Travel Authorization application.

CBSA decides admissibility when you arrive at the port of entry.

If you previously failed to comply with Canadian immigration rules or left issues unresolved in your record, officers will examine that history closely.

You need to make sure your past entries, exits, and applications align with the information you submit now.

Review your prior applications for:

• Accuracy and consistency in biographical details
• Clear explanations for any past refusals
• Complete disclosure of previous stays in Canada

Inconsistencies between what you declare and what appears in your file can delay or stop travel.

You remain responsible for the accuracy of every answer you provide.

Passport and travel-document problems

Your passport must be valid and issued by a visa-exempt country to qualify for an Electronic Travel Authorization.

If you don’t hold a valid passport from a visa-exempt country, IRCC will refuse your application.

Check these points before you apply:

Errors in passport number, country of issuance, or expiry date can result in refusal.

If you hold a passport from a country that requires a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa) instead, apply for that visa rather than an eTA.

Parents and grandparents seeking extended stays should review the Super Visa (Parents and Grandparents) requirements before making travel plans.

Purpose-of-travel mismatches

You must state your purpose of travel clearly and make sure it aligns with the document you use.

Officers check whether your declared activities match the authorization you obtained.

Discrepancies between your stated reason for travel and your supporting documents raise concerns.

Presenting documents that suggest a different intent than what you declared can lead officers to question your eligibility.

Keep your travel plans, supporting documents, and application answers consistent.

Accurate information reduces the risk of refusal or denial at the border.

Most Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) applications receive a decision within minutes, but some take up to 72 hours if officers need to review additional details.

Processing begins when IRCC receives your complete application and ends when it makes a decision.

Typical decision times

IRCC issues most eTA approvals within minutes of submission.

You apply online, and the system automatically checks your information.

If there are no issues, you usually receive a decision quickly by email.

IRCC measures processing time from the day it receives your complete application to the day it makes a decision.

For an eTA, this period is often very short compared to applications such as a Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa) or a Super Visa (Parents and Grandparents).

Apply before booking travel.

Even though most decisions are fast, IRCC does not guarantee instant approval.

When additional checks are needed

Some eTA applications require manual review.

In these cases, IRCC may take up to 72 hours to issue a decision.

This happens when the system flags information for an officer to examine more closely.

Processing time starts when IRCC receives your complete application. It ends only when IRCC makes a final decision.

You cannot speed up this review.

If IRCC needs more time, you must wait for the decision before travelling to Canada by air.

If you expect complex screening or have concerns about admissibility, apply well in advance of your departure date.

CBSA officers make final admissibility decisions at the port of entry, not IRCC.

Special processing notes

IRCC calculates processing times based on when it receives a complete application.

For applications submitted outside Canada and the United States, longer timelines may apply to other immigration categories because of mailing or regional factors.

This does not usually affect eTA applications, which are submitted online.

If IRCC receives more applications than it can process within a given period, timelines may shift.

The published processing time reflects IRCC’s estimate for applications received at that time.

Key points:

• Processing starts when IRCC receives your complete application.
• Processing ends when IRCC makes a decision.
• Most eTA decisions arrive within minutes.
• Some applications take up to 72 hours if additional checks are required.