Canada Visitor Visa

Are you planning to travel to Canada for sightseeing or recreation? When visiting Canada, it is important for you to ensure that have identification and proper travel documents for yourself. If you children travelling with you, they need to have their own identification and travel documents.

What is Canada eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization)?

Canada eTA is an authorised travel document that allows foreign nationals to enter Canada for tourism purposes like 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.

Canada eTA allows foreign national of visa exempt countries to travel to Canada without having to obtain a Visa from the Canadian Embassy or Consulate. The Canada eTA is linked electronically to your passport and is valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

Do I need Canada eTA or a Visa for travelling to Canada for tourism?

You could travel to Canada for tourism on a traditional Canada Visitor Visa or Canada eTA depending on your nationality. If your passport nationality is one of Visa Exempt country listed below then you do not need to visit Canadian embassy or consulate to obtain Canada Visitor Visa and simply apply for Canada eTA online.

To be eligible for the Canada eTA you are required to be:

  • Citizen of any of these visa-exempt countries:
    Andorra, Australia, Ireland, Bahamas, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Malta, Brunei, Chile, Cyprus, Papua New Guinea, Norway, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See, Estonia, Mexico, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Croatia, Lithuania, Portugal, Luxembourg, Netherlands, ItalyMonaco, New Zealand, Samoa, Poland, Singapore, Taiwan, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden.
  • Citizen of following countries who have either visited Canada in the last 10 years on Visitor Visa or currently hold a valid US visa:Antigua And Barbuda, Uruguay, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Thailand, Brazil, Costa Rica, St. Vincent, Seychelles, Morocco, Panama, Saint Lucia, Philippines and Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Which all activities are permitted for tourists on eTA Canada Visa?

The eTA Canada Visitor Visa can be used for the following purposes:

  • 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
  • Attending a short course of study that does not award any credits

How long can I stay in Canada as a visitor?

Most tourists are allowed for a duration of six months from their date of entry into Canada. However the Immigration officer at Canadian port of entry (POE) has ultimate say in determining how long you are allowed to stay in the country. If the Border Services Officer only authorizes a shorter period, let's say 3 months, the date that you must leave Canada by will be indicated in your passport.

What are essential requirements for applying Canada eTA for tourism?

When applying for the Canada eTA online you will be required to have the following:

  • Passport
  • Contact, employment, and travel details
  • A debit or credit card to pay the eTA application fees

Your passport is the most important of such documents which you must carry with you when entering Canada and on which the duration of your stay in Canada will be stamped by the border officials.

Canada Border Security

What can make my entry into Canada inadmissibile as a visitor?

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.
Some of the top reasons for inadmissibility are

  • you do not have all your documents, such as your passport, in order, which will be checked by the border officials
  • you pose any health or financial risk
  • criminal/terrorist history
  • human rights violations
  • participation in organized crime
  • previous immigration issues
  • finanical reasons like no proof of means to support yourself


Please apply for a Canada eTA application 3 days before your flight to Canada.