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CANADA: New Electronic Travel Authorisation
September 8, 2015
The Canadian government has followed the lead of the US and Australia in implementing a new requirement for citizens of countries that are visa exempt. The new program, called eTA, is an online registration system that travelers access through the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website. The etA process went into effect in August 2015 but will not be mandatory until March, 2016.
The eTA requirement applies to travelers who do not need a visa to enter Canada and who are planning to arrive by air. Visa exempt countries include the UK, Japan, Australia, Korea, countries in the European Union and more. The eTA requirement does not apply to citizens of the US and it is not required if a person is entering at a land or sea port of entry.
The eTA process involves entering a traveler”s personal details and passport information into an online portal and paying a fee of $7CAD. Every traveler must obtain an eTA – including children. In most cases, CIC will approve the eTA within minutes of applying. The validity period of the approval is for five years or to the expiry of the applicant”s passport. In situations where an immediate decision is not rendered, CIC will follow up with applicants with requests to obtain more information.
If you require any advice or support with Canadian visa applications, please contact us.
