What to Know When Applying for Canada ETA for Families
Traveling to Canada with your family is an excellent way to enjoy everything the country has to offer, however in order to enter Canada, you will need an ETA which is provided by the Canadian government to legally travel within the country. The same is true for every family member that you wish to travel with on your journey.
Canada is the second largest country in the world, filled with many cultures, natural scenery, and destinations for fun activities. Highlights of Canada's adventure include the Aurora Borealis natural light show, Niagara Falls, and the long coastline that provides an excellent view of the ocean.
So, keep reading to learn what to know when applying for Canada ETA for families.
What is the Canada ETA Program?
Just like many other countries around the world, Canada also has its own online method for approving foreign visitors for traveling within Canada without the need for a physical visa. This method is known as the Canada Electronic Travel Authorisation. However, keep in mind that this web-based travel authorization system is only available to citizens of certain countries.
A list of all these countries can be found on the official portal of the Canadian government.
Basics of a Canadian ETA
A Canada ETA is a visa in electronic form that you need to show at the airport to your immigration officer in order to enter Canada legally. A Canada ETA allows you to visit Canada as many times as you want for 5 years from the date of issue or until the passport expires.
When an ETA is used to enter Canada, you can only stay in Canada for six months from the date on which you enter Canada. You are not required to reapply for a Canadian ETA as you can travel to Canada as many times as you want till your ETA expires or your passport expires.
Different Types of Canada ETA
A Canada eTA can be applied for different reasons depending on the purpose of your visit. You need to make sure that you are filling in the right type of Canada ETA. In total there are 4 types of major reasons that you can apply for:
Tourism or Recreation
This ETA type is the most common and allows visitors to engage in activities that are related to tourism like sightseeing, trips, and visiting family that lives in Canada. You can even attend short study sessions in Canada with Tourist ETA as long as they are short and do not award any credits.
Business Visit
A business ETA is for those visitors who are visiting Canada for business meetings, conferences, scientific meetings, and educational conventions.
Medical Visit
If a Canadian hospital requires your presence in Canada for treatment, you will have to apply for a medical ETA.
Transiting through Canada
Tourists, who are visiting Canada to reach another country, must apply for a Canada transit ETA before they are allowed to transit through the Canadian borders.
Remember that you cannot perform any other activity within Canada that is not covered by your ETA. So, make sure you are aware of which ETA you are applying for to visit Canada before you start filling out the application.
Do I Need to Apply for an ETA for Each Member of My Family Separately?
Each tourist who wishes to enter Canada must have a Canada ETA of their own. This rule applies to minors as well. For minors to have their ETA applications approved, they require a guardian and the details of their Canada ETA. So, if you are traveling with a minor, make sure you start by getting your Canada ETA first. Because of this reason, it is advised that you start applying for your Canada ETAs in advance as the rejection of any family member's ETA can cause issues in the planning of your trip.
How Can I Apply for a Canadian ETA?
Applying for a Canadian ETA is a very simple process and you can complete it in under an hour or 2 if you are well-prepared with all the necessary documents that you need to submit and don't need to give additional information. One thing that distinguishes the Canada ETA application form from other countries is that it asks for your employment details.
The Canadian government has to make sure that every foreign visitor to its nation has good relations with their country of origin and is likely to return to their home country, once their trip is over. The basic overview of the Canada ETA application process looks something like this:
Fill in all the Details
The Canada ETA application form can be found on the Canadian government's official portal which is created specifically for this process. Here, the application will ask you basic questions regarding your:
- Personal Information
- Passport Details
- Contact Information
- Information Regarding Your Trip (hotel reservation, duration of visit, purpose)
- Employment Details
Once you submit all this information you will be required to attach all relevant documents to prove all the claims that you made in the Canada ETA application.
Pay the Requested Fees and Submit the Application
Once you have filled in all the necessary details, you will be asked to pay a fee before your application is submitted. Pay the requested fee and then you can submit your application for scrutiny. Make sure to check your application again for any mistakes as these can result in rejection of your application.
Result of Scrutiny
After you submit the Canada ETA application form, the government will review your application. If your Canada ETA is approved, you will receive your ETA on the email ID that you provided on the application. If it gets rejected, you will be provided with the reasons for the decision and you will have to re-apply for the Canadian ETA.
Can I Fill out the Canada ETA Application Form on Behalf of My Family?
ETA application form for Canada ETA does allow tourists to fill the form on behalf of their family. To do this, the applicant must mention that they are filling out the form on behalf of their family member. After you start applying the application will ask you whether the person on whose behalf you are filling the form is under the age of 18 or not.
Answer depending on the family member's age. If you answered yes, then you will be directed to a section called the parent/guardian where you will be asked questions regarding yourself. Here, make sure that you correctly fill in all the details of your family members including their passport details, email address, and their name correctly.
Canada is a very large country filled with a lot of beautiful sights, rich culture, and natural scenery for all the tourists to enjoy. The many activities you can do in Canada are also suitable for tourists of all ages, making Canada a premier location for family tours.
ETA needs to be applied for each family member separately so if you wish to visit Canada with your family, start applying for your Canada ETA as soon as possible. Also book all your reservations in advance as Canada receives a lot of tourists each year, making getting reservations very hard.
Check your eligibility for eTA Canada Visa and apply for eTA Canada Visa 72 hours in advance of your flight. In addition to Spanish citizens, British citizens, Finnish citizens, Swiss citizens, Taiwanese citizens and Mexican citizens can apply online for Canada eTA.