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 VISA FOR TOURISTS 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 Tourist 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, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See (holders of a passport or travel document issued by the Holy See), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (holders of national Israeli passport), Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania (holders of a biometric passport/e-passport issued by Lithuania), Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland (holders of a biometric passport/e-passport issued by Poland), Portugal, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (holders of the ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes their personal identification number). - British citizen or British overseas CANADA SUPER VISA. British overseas territories include Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena or the Turks and Caicos Islands.
- Citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States with a Green card or any other proof of permanent residence.
Which all activities are permitted for tourists on eTA Canada Visa?
The eTA Canada Tourist 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 (or a PayPal account) 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.
What can make my entry into Canada inadmissibile as a tourist?
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.