Canada Extends eTA Eligible Countries to 13 New Nationalities
As of 7th June 2023, the Canadian government extended the list of countries that can enjoy visa-free travel to Canada.
13 new countries can now visit the country simply using the Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) system.
The eTA system significantly facilitates entry to the country since travelers no longer need to apply for a visitor visa.
The application for eTA Canada is a matter of hours, or sometimes even minutes, while applications for a visitor visa most often involve long weeks of waiting.
Canada Electronic Travel Authorisation: How it works
eTA Canada is the travel authorization obtainable entirely online that can be used to travel to Canada for the purpose of tourism, business, or transit.
A holder of a valid eTA is allowed numerous stays in Canada, each of them can last up to 6 months. The permit remains valid for 5 years from the date of issue.
Currently, citizens of 57 countries that are visa-exempt and 10 British overseas territories must apply for an eTA before arriving in Canada by air.
eTA is not required when a person arrives by land or sea, i.e., by bus, car, boat, or train.
Among the eligible countries, there are all EU passport holders as well as nationals of Monaco, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, and Vatican City State.
Until now, Brazilian citizens were the only ones who could apply for eTA Canada under special conditions - they need to have held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years or a valid US nonimmigrant visa.
Now, 13 new countries have been added to the list and must follow the same requirements as Brazil.
13 new countries eligible for eTA Canada
The 13 previously visa-required countries that can now enjoy the eTA program, along with Brazil, include the following:
- 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
Benefits of online application for Canadian eTA
The Canadian government's decision was aimed at facilitating air travel for the number of international travelers who, until now, had to go through a complicated and time-consuming visa application process.
The visitor visa application requirements are way more complicated than the requirements for eTA Canada.
The visitor visa requires uploading numerous documents, including the applicant's fingerprints and photograph.
Moreover, when the result is positive, the applicant's passport must be sent for stamping. In total, the entire process may take even up to a few weeks.
When applying for eTA, an applicant simply needs to provide their personal information, passport data, and some essential travel details and cover the processing fee.
The approved eTA is next delivered straight to their email inbox.
