Beginning in August 2015, Canada eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is required for travelers coming to Canada for business, transit, or tourist visits. There are about 57 countries that allow travel to Canada without a paper visa, called visa-free or visa-free. Citizens of these countries can travel/visit Canada for a period of up to 6 months in an eTA.These countries include the United Kingdom, all European Union member states, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and Singapore.
All citizens of these 57 countries will now need to approve Canada’s electronic travel. In other words, citizens of 57 visa-free countries are required to obtain a Canada eTA online before traveling to Canada. Canadian citizens or permanent residents and citizens of the United States are exempt from eTA requirements.
Citizens of other nationalities are eligible for Canada eTA if they have the valid United States, green card. Canada is a country in the North American continent located just above the United States and is known as a highly developed country. The demand for people to travel to Canada has been steadily increasing over the last few years, but most people are wondering how they can get to Canada.
What is a Canada Visa?
A Canada visa is a stamp on your passport that allows you to enter Canada.
It allows you to travel in the country and stay legally temporary or permanent. Getting a Canadian visa means that the Canadian consulate or embassy in your country has decided that you are eligible and meet the entry requirements. However, once you arrive at the Canadian border and customs, it is up to the border officers to assess whether you are eligible for entry.
Applying for Canada ETA
Eligible foreign nationals wishing to travel to Canada must apply online for eTA for Canada. The entire process, from application, payment, and submission to notification of application results, is web-based. Applicants must complete the Canada visa online application with contact details, previous travel details, passport details, and other background information such as health and criminal records. All persons traveling to Canada, regardless of their age, must complete this form. Once completed, the applicant must pay the eTA application using a credit or debit card and then submit the application. Most decisions are reached within 24 hours and the applicant is notified via email but in some cases processing may take days or weeks. It is best to apply for an eTA for Canada as soon as you have finalized your travel plans and 72 hours before your scheduled entry into Canada. You will be notified by email of the final decision and if your application is not approved you may try to apply for a Canada Visa.
How long does it take to process the Canada eTA application?
You are advised to apply for Canada eTA at least 72 hours before you plan to enter the country.
Validity of Canada eTA
The Canadian eTA is valid for 5 years or less from the date of issue if the electronically attached passport expires 5 years ago. The ETA allows you to stay in Canada for a maximum of 6 months at a time, but you can use it to visit the country repeatedly during its validity period. However, the length of time you will be allowed to stay at a time will be decided by border officials depending on the purpose of your visit and your passport will be stamped.
Entered Canada
Canada requires eTA so that you can board a flight to Canada because without it you would not be able to board any flight to Canada. However, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or Canadian border officials may refuse to allow you to enter the airport even if you are a Canada-approved ETA holder at the time of entry:
You do not have all the documents like your passport, which will be checked by the border officials
If you take any health or financial risk
And if you have a previous criminal/terrorist history or previous immigration issues if you have all the documents required for Canada eTA and meet all the eligibility requirements for eTA for Canada, then you are ready to apply for Canada Visa Online whose application is quite simple and straightforward. If you need any clarification you need to contact our helpdesk for help and guidance. You can contact Canada Visa Online Customer Support for any issues while applying for a Canada Visa.
