Canada is expanding its list of countries where eligible travellers can visit the country without a visa.
DYK: Travelers from 13 countries may be eligible to apply for an eTA?
— IRCC (@CitImmCanada) June 7, 2023
Find out if you qualify and apply for yours today: https://t.co/ChvRNrci0h
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On Tuesday, the government announced the addition of 13 countries to the electronic travel authorization (eTa) program.
Effective today, eligible travellers coming from these countries can visit Canada without a travel visa.
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Costa Rica
- Morocco
- Panama
- Philippines
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Seychelles
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uruguay
An eTA is a $7 digital travel document that most visa-exempt travellers need in order to travel to Canada by air. It is electronically linked to a traveller’s passport for up to five years or until the passport expires. The eTa allows travellers to visit the country as often as they would like for short stays of up to six months at a time.
The federal government says most eTa applications are automatically approved within minutes.
According to a release by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada travellers from these countries must either possess a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or currently have a valid United States non-immigrant visa to be able to apply for an eTA, instead of a visa when travelling to Canada by air.
This means travellers can visit the country for up to six months visa-free for either business or leisure. This move comes in an effort to grow Canada’s economy through travel, tourism and international business.
Additionally, the decision will also divert thousands of applications from Canada’s visa caseload, allowing the government to expedite the process of visa applications which usually takes several months.
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“This exciting development means that more individuals from around the world can now embark on unforgettable adventures, explore our diverse landscapes, reunite with family and friends, and immerse themselves in our vibrant culture without the hurdle of visa requirements. This expansion not only enhances convenience for travellers, it will also increase travel, tourism and economic benefits, as well as strengthen global bonds with these 13 countries,” Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said in a written statement Tuesday.
In the release, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly says expanding the eTA program to include countries, such as the Philippines, is also part of the federal government’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.
As a result of this expansion, Canada is expecting to receive 200,000 or 20 per cent more visitors from these 13 countries which could bring nearly $160 million in tourism revenue within the next decade.
So far, almost 20.9 million eTAs have been issued since the program was introduced on Aug. 1, 2015.
Individuals who currently hold a valid visa may still continue to use it and those not eligible for an eTa or travelling to Canada by means other than air will still need a visitor visa.
Travellers can visit Canada.ca/eTA to find out whether they’re eligible for an eTA and how to apply for one. For those looking to apply, travellers will need a valid passport, a credit card, and an email address.
