International visitors traveling to Canada need to carry proper documentation in order to be able to enter the country.
Canada exempts certain foreign nationals from carrying a Visitor Visa when visiting the country via air through commercial or chartered flights.
These foreign nationals can apply instead for the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization or the Canada eTA.
The Canada eTA allows you travel to Canada without a Visa but it is available only for citizens of a select few countries.
If you are eligible for the Canada eTA once your application for it is approved it will be linked to your passport and be
valid for five years or lesser if your passport expires before five years. Although the Canada eTA has the same function
as the Canada Visa the difference lies in the fact that the eTA for Canada is easier to obtain than the Standard Visa for
Canada whose application and approval take a longer time than the Canadian eTA for foreign nationals which can be approved
within minutes usually.
Once your application for Canada eTA has been approved you can stay in the country for a short span of time lasting up to
six months although the exact duration would depend on your purpose of visit and would be stamped on your passport by the
border officials.
Foreign nationals can apply for the eTA for Canada for different and varying purposes, such as for a layover or transit, or for tourism and sightseeing, or for business purposes, or for medical treatment . The Canada eTA would serve as the Travel Authorization Document for the visitor to Canada in all of these cases.
The four types of Canada eTA are detailed below:
As one of the most important countries in the global market, Canada opens its doors to many business visitors all round the year. Any foreign nationals from those countries that are eligible for a Canadian eTA can come to Canada for the purpose of business by obtaining the eTA for Canada. These business purposes can include business, professional, scientific, or educational conferences or conventions, business meetings or consultation with business associates, looking for job vacancies, research activities related to your business, negotiation of a contract, or settling the affairs of an estate . The Canada eTA makes visiting the country easy and convenient for all business visitors to Canada.
Canada is one of the most popular countries in the world among tourists. From beautiful landscapes to cultural diversity, it’s got it all. There are some internationally famous places in Canada such as Niagara Falls, the Rocky Mountains, and such cities as Vancouver, Toronto, etc., that bring tourists to the country from all over the world. International tourists who are citizens of any of the countries eligible for the Canada eTA and who are traveling to Canada for the purposes of tourism, that is, spending the holidays or vacationing in any Canadian city, sightseeing, visiting family or friends, coming as part of a school group on a school trip or for some other social activity, or attending a short course of study that does not award any credits , they can apply for the eTA for Canada as the Travel Authorization Document to allow them entry into the country.
READ MORE:
Learn more about coming to Canada as a tourist or visitor.
Because Canadian airports offer connecting flights to a large number of cities in the world, often foreign nationals may find themselves in a Canadian airport or a Canadian city for layover or transit purposes on the way to their final destination. While waiting for their connecting flight to another country or destination, international travelers who would have to very briefly stay in Canada can use the Canada eTA for Transit to do so. If you are a citizen of a country eligible for the Canadian eTA and you have to wait at any Canadian airport for a few hours to transit to a flight into another country or have to wait in any Canadian city for a few days till the next flight into the country of your destination, then the Canadian eTA for Transit is the Travel Authorization Document that you would need.
If you are a foreign national with citizenship of any of the countries that are eligible for the eTA for Canada then you can come to Canada for a planned medical treatment by applying for the Canada eTA. Apart from the general requirements for the Canadian eTA you would also need to provide proof of the scheduled medical treatment. Any documentation that proves your medical diagnosis and why you need to be treated in Canada would work as evidence for your planned medical treatment in Canada. If you are visiting Canada on the eTA for a non-medical purpose and happen to require unplanned medical treatment or assistance, you would be treated by local medical staff and you or your insurance company would have to cover the costs for the same.
READ MORE:
We have extensively covered Canada Visa for Medical patients here.
All four of these Canada eTA types have made it quite easy and convenient for citizens of Canada eTA eligible countries to visit Canada for a short duration of time lasting up to six months. However, you should keep in mind that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can deny you entry at the border even if you are an approved Canada eTA holder if you do not have all your documents, such as your passport, in order , which will be checked by the border officials; if you pose any health or financial risk; and if you have previous criminal/terrorist history or previous immigration issues.
If you have ready all the documents required for the Canada eTA and meet all eligibility conditions for the eTA for Canada, then you should be able to quite easily apply online for the Canada eTA whose application form is quite simple and straightforward. If you require any clarifications you should contact our helpdesk for support and guidance.
Check your eligibility for eTA Canada Visa and apply for eTA Canada Visa 72 hours in advance of your flight. British citizens, Italian citizens, Spanish citizens, and Israeli citizens can apply online for eTA Canada Visa.