Canada Visa-Exempt Countries and eTA Requirements

Citizens of roughly 60 countries can visit Canada without a traditional visa. That group of Canada visa-exempt countries includes most European Union members, Japan, South Korea, Chile, and several British overseas territories, along with a handful of others on a list Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updates from time to time. Being visa-exempt is not the same as being paperwork-free: most travelers from these countries still need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) before they board a flight to Canada. The eTA costs $7 CAD, is filed online, and stays valid for up to five years.

Which Countries Are on the Visa-Exempt List

Section 190 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations grants the exemption to citizens of countries listed in Schedule 1.1 of those same regulations.¹ Most EU member nations qualify, including France, Germany, and Italy. In Asia and South America, Japan, South Korea, and Chile are among the countries whose citizens hold the same status.

Citizens of several British overseas territories are also visa-exempt: Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, and Montserrat. The exemption applies only where citizenship traces to one of those territories by birth, descent, or naturalization.¹

The full list changes as Canada updates its immigration agreements, so confirm your country’s current status on IRCC’s eligibility page before booking travel.²

Visa-Exempt Still Usually Means eTA Required

Holding a passport from a visa-exempt country does not mean you can simply show up at the airport. If you are flying to Canada or connecting through a Canadian airport, you need an approved eTA before you board.² Airlines check eTA status at the gate, and without one you will not be allowed on the plane.

The transit requirement catches many travelers off guard. Even if Canada is not your final destination, passing through a Canadian airport still triggers the eTA rule. The exceptions are certain participants in the China Transit Program, the Transit Without Visa Program, and travelers whose planes only refuel in Canada while flying to or from the United States.³

Arriving by car, bus, train, or boat (including a cruise ship) is different. In those cases, no eTA is required. A valid passport from your visa-exempt country is enough to present at the land or sea border.²

U.S. Citizens and Green Card Holders

U.S. citizens sit outside both requirements. A valid U.S. passport is all you need, whether you are flying, driving, or arriving by boat.⁴

U.S. lawful permanent residents (Green Card holders) also skip the visa and eTA process, but the document requirements are stricter. Since April 26, 2022, Green Card holders traveling to Canada by any method must carry both a valid passport from their country of nationality and a valid Green Card (Form I-551) or equivalent proof of U.S. permanent resident status. Acceptable alternatives include a foreign passport with an unexpired temporary I-551 stamp, or an expired Green Card paired with Form I-797 showing a pending renewal or petition.⁵

Dual Canadian Citizens

If you hold Canadian citizenship along with citizenship of a visa-exempt country, you generally must present a valid Canadian passport to board a flight to Canada. An eTA applied for on your non-Canadian passport will not work, and the same rule applies to transit flights.⁶

Canadian-American dual citizens are the exception. You can fly to Canada using either your valid Canadian passport or your valid U.S. passport. If you travel with only the U.S. passport, carry some form of identification that proves your Canadian citizenship, because you may otherwise be directed through additional immigration screening. Traveling with both passports is the simplest approach.⁶

Other dual citizens who don’t have a valid Canadian passport and whose flight departs within 10 days may be eligible for a special authorization valid for four days. It’s a stopgap, and it requires meeting specific criteria including holding a valid passport from a visa-exempt country.

How To Apply for an eTA

The application is entirely online through IRCC’s official website. Have three things ready before you start: your passport, a credit or debit card, and an email address where you can receive confirmation.⁷ Accepted payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, UnionPay, JCB, and debit cards from Visa or Mastercard.⁸

The form asks for personal details from your passport’s biographical page: full name, date of birth, passport number, and expiration date. It also asks about your employment and travel history. The $7 CAD fee is non-refundable and is paid when you submit the form.⁸

One warning: apply only through the Government of Canada website on the canada.ca domain. Third-party sites sometimes charge inflated fees for what is the same $7 application.

The approved eTA links electronically to your passport number, so there is nothing to print or carry. Airline staff and border officers verify it automatically.⁹ If you get a new passport after your eTA is approved, you need to apply again against the new passport number.

How Long the eTA Lasts and How Long You Can Stay

An eTA is valid for up to five years from the date of approval or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.¹⁰ Within that window you can enter Canada multiple times without reapplying.

Each visit is limited to six months unless a border services officer stamps your passport with a different date. If no stamp appears, you can stay for six months from the day you entered or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner.¹¹ You can ask the officer for a stamp if you want one for your records.

To stay longer, apply for an extension from inside Canada at least 30 days before your status expires.¹² Overstaying without an extension can jeopardize future travel to Canada.

If Your eTA Is Delayed or Refused

Most eTAs are approved within minutes, but some applications go into a more detailed review that can take several days. IRCC may email you asking for additional documents or request an in-person interview at the nearest Canadian visa office.¹³ Applying the night before your flight usually works out, but when it does not, there is no recourse at the airport.

If your eTA is refused outright, do not attempt to travel. Airlines will prevent you from boarding, and IRCC advises applicants to address whatever caused the refusal before reapplying.¹⁴ In some cases the better path is a standard visitor visa, which involves more documentation but allows an officer to weigh your circumstances in greater detail.

A Criminal Record Can Override the Exemption

A valid eTA or visa exemption does not guarantee entry. Canada can turn you away if you have a criminal record, including for offenses that seem minor elsewhere. Impaired driving is the most common surprise. Since December 18, 2018, a DUI conviction can make you inadmissible on grounds of serious criminality, because the maximum sentence for impaired driving under Canadian law increased significantly on that date.¹⁵

Other offenses that commonly trigger inadmissibility include theft, assault, drug possession, and drug trafficking. Depending on when your conviction occurred and how much time has passed since you completed your sentence, you may qualify for deemed rehabilitation or need to apply for individual rehabilitation.¹⁶ If you have a record, sort out rehabilitation before filing your eTA; submitting the eTA first will likely produce a refusal based on whatever IRCC has on file.

Traveling With Minor Children

Children under 18 follow the same visa and eTA rules as adults, but border officers look closely at whether a child’s trip has been authorized by their parents or legal guardians. Missing paperwork can result in the child being refused entry.¹⁷

The core documents are the child’s passport, a copy of their birth certificate, and a signed letter of authorization from any parent or legal guardian who is not present on the trip. The letter should include the parents’ contact details and, where the child is traveling with a non-parent, the name and address of the responsible adult in Canada. Separated or divorced parents with shared custody should carry copies of the custody order; a sole custodian can sign the authorization themselves and carry the custody decree, or a death certificate if the other parent is deceased. Notarization is not required, but keeping letters in English or French reduces the chance of confusion at the border.¹⁷

1
Justice Laws Website. Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations – Section 190
2
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) – Who Can Apply
3
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Help Centre – I Will Transit by Air Through Canada. Do I Need an eTA?
4
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. What You Need to Enter Canada
5
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Help Centre – I Am a Lawful Permanent Resident of the U.S. (Green Card Holder)
6
Government of Canada. Dual Canadian Citizens Need a Valid Canadian Passport
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Help Centre – How Do I Apply for an eTA for Travel to Canada?
8
Government of Canada. Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) – How to Apply
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Help Centre – Is the eTA Linked to a Client’s Passport Number?
10
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Find Out About Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
11
Government of Canada. Visitor Visa – About the Document
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Help Centre – I Do Not Need a Visa, but I Want To Stay in Canada as a Visitor for Longer Than Six Months
13
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Help Centre – What Do I Do if My Application for an eTA Is Not Approved Right Away?
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Help Centre – My Application for an eTA Was Refused. Can I Still Travel to Canada?
15
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Convicted of Driving While Impaired
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Overcome Criminal Convictions
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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Minor Children Travelling to Canada