Canada ETA for Filipino Citizens
Before a tourist from Philippines is allowed into the borders of Canada, they need a Canada eTA or a regular Canada Visa. A Canada eTA or Electronic Travel Authorization is a document in online form that is authorized by the Canadian government that approves the Filipino Citizens for travel inside the borders of the country.
eTA Eligibility for Filipino Citizens
- All citizens Philippines are eligible to apply for Canadian eTA.
- Filipino citizens must have U.S. nonimmigrant visa to be eligible for eTA OR held a Canada Visitor Visa in the last ten (10) years
- The Canadian eTA is valid only for air travel.
Other Requirements for Canada eTA
- Citizens Philippines are allowed to apply for Canadian eTA online.
- Tourists must provide a soft copy of their passport which is readable by machine.
- All applicants must be over the age of 18 or have a parent/guardian.
- Canadian eTA is available for tourists, business purposes, transit, and medical visits.
What is a Canada eTA for Citizens Philippines?
A Canadian eTA is a travel document that is linked directly to the passport of the tourist and all the tourist is required to do after the approval of their Canadian eTA is to show their passport to the immigration officer before entering Canada proper.
Is a Canada eTA Even Necessary?
The short answer to this question is yes. For every tourist from Philippines, looking to stay for a long period in Canada, it is necessary to obtain a Canada eTA prior to visit so that they are able to legally travel within Canadian borders. This applies to citizens who are transiting from Canada via air travel.
Transiting means that a citizen is only arriving in Canada to travel to a different country. Tourists transiting via buses, ships, and trains do not require a Canada eTA.
To apply for a Canadian eTA, you will have to search online for the application form for Canada eTA. Here, you or your eTA service provider will be required to fill out an online application form that will be sent to the government for scrutiny after which your Canadian eTA is granted.
This application form asks basic questions regarding personal details, background, employment details, and criminal records. You are also required to attach all necessary documents supporting the information you provide in the application. If you were astute, you may have noticed that the Canadian eTA asks for your employment details, which is not commonly asked in tourist eTA.
Your employment details are crucial to the Canadian government as this helps to support your reasons for visiting and your connections to your home country. These strict policies are the result of the increase in global terrorist activities in 2016, to prevent such individuals from entering Canada.
Can a Citizen Philippines Stay in Canada for More Than 90 Days?
Every tourist of Canada is allowed to stay in Canada for 6 months or 180 days during one visit while their eTA is still valid. The Canadian eTA allows for multiple visits until it is valid which makes it a multiple-visit permit for a citizen Philippines. Check the Canadian government's official website if you wish to learn more.
Is it Possible to Extend My Stay in Canada?
A Canadian eTA allows you to stay in Canada for 6 months during one visit, you cannot extend it. But, if you want to extend your stay in Canada for longer than that, you will need to use the Visitor's Record and apply for an extended date before the expiry period.
The Visitor's Record is a database that contains the expiry dates of every Canada eTA before the holder is required to leave the country.
By applying for an extension, the Visitor's Record will modify the existing date of expiry into a new one, allowing for a new date before which you must leave Canada. Remember that this application must be submitted and approved before the existing date of expiry of your visit.
When Should a Filipino Citizen Apply for a Canadian eTA?
For every Filipino Citizen, the correct time to start applying for a Canadian eTa may vary. The biggest determinant of the correct time is the necessary documents that you need to submit along with the application.
In particular, to get a Canadian eTA, citizens Philippines need a valid passport that does not expire at least for the next 6 months from the date of the planned visit. So, if any of these documents need to be renewed, then that will increase the time you will need to apply for the Canadian eTA.
If these issues don't apply to you, then it is recommended that you start applying for Canadian eTA at least 72 hours or 3 days before your date of visit.
How Long Does the Application Process Take?
The answer to this question depends on how fast you can answer all the questions asked in the application form. This is dependent on several factors like your typing speed and whether additional information is required of you. Additional information is asked in several cases when you have a criminal background or your earnings are less than what is considered adequate.
It takes around 30 minutes for the Canadian government to scrutinize your application. So, in cases where you or your eTA service provider are well prepared with all necessary documents ready to submit and fast typing speed, the processing time should not take more than 1 or 2 hours for your Canadian eTA to be approved.
What Questions Are Asked by the Canadian eTA Application Process?
When it comes to the questions asked by the Canadian eTA application process, you will asked the following questions:
Basic Details: This includes questions like your name, age, gender, address, and contact details. The information provided here must match your valid passport.
Medical and Criminal Background: You will be asked questions regarding your medical and criminal history. If you don't have any noteworthy information to show here then no further questions are asked, otherwise you will have to provide additional details regarding any diseases or charges you have suffered from in the past.
Employment Details: Questions asking your occupation, job, designation, and details of employment are asked in this section. Applicants who classify as housewives, retired, or students can mostly skip this part of the application but, students must provide details regarding the school or university they are studying in.
Once you are done filling up the form, you will be asked to submit a fee which at this time is 7 Canadian Dollars. Attach all the necessary documents to support the information you provided above and wait for the results of the scrutiny.
Can I Correct Mistakes in My Canada eTA Application Form?
If you discover any mistakes in your Canada eTA application after your application is approved or during the scrutiny of your application, unfortunately, your only option to correct such misinformation is to re-apply through a fresh Canada eTA application form. Applicants are not allowed to amend their approved Canada eTAs or the application form after submission.
So, make sure to check your Canada eTA before visiting Canada as you will be required to show your passport to the immigration officer at the airport where if any discrepancies are found, you will not be allowed to enter Canada properly.
Benefits of Obtaining Canada eTA
- Canada's eTA remains valid for 5 Years.
- Canada's eTA allows multiple trips to Canada and a maximum stay of 6 months.
So, if you wish to apply for a Canada eTA, consider applying online for quick and easy approval of eTA application.
Canadian Embassy in Philippines
Tower 2, RCBC Plaza,
6819 Ayala Avenue,
Makati City,
Manila, Philippines 1200
Check your eligibility for eTA Canada Visa and apply for eTA Canada Visa 72 hours in advance of your flight. In addition to Filipino citizens, British citizens, Australian citizens, Polish citizens, Romanian citizens and Thai citizens can apply online for eTA Canada Visa.