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How do you get an eTA for Canada?

For travelling or transit through Canada, most visitors need eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization). The eTA is mainly required by visitors from visa-exempt countries. So if you are from a visa-exempt country and want to enter Canada, you need to Apply for eTA Canada. 

An eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is a document which is an entry requirement for travellers from a visa-exempt country who want to enter Canada via Air. etas are linked to the passports of travellers electronically.

An eTA is valid for five years or up to the validity of your passport. The eTA will expire in two conditions, first after five years or if the validity of your passport expires first. Whichever condition may come first. If you renew a passport or get a new passport, then you need to apply for a new eTA. 

An eTA gives you permission to travel to Canada as many times as you want until it's valid. The maximum stay period on an eTA is up to six months. You can travel and study in a course whose duration is less than six months without needing a study permit with a valid eTA.

However, eTA is not required if you want to travel within Canada. Having An eTA doesn’t guarantee entry into Canada. You need to convince the border service officer that you are eligible to enter Canada and will fulfil all the conditions of eTA. Also, all the required documents should be presented in front of the border services officer. 

If you are planning to travel to Canada and are from a visa-exempt country then you need to Apply for eTA Canada online at least a month before your travel time. Almost all eTAs are accepted within some time after you apply, however in some cases it may take time. So it's better to get your eTA in advance.  

Travellers who need an eTA to enter Canada: 

There are many types of travellers who enter Canada for different purposes and on different visas based on their purpose of visit and duration of stay. These are divided into four categories which are:

  1. Travellers who need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization): There are two types in this category: 
  1. Travellers from Visa Exempt countries. There are many countries that are visa exempt and the people from these countries only need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) to fly in Canada or transit through a Canadian airport. The eTA is not required if the person is entering through a car, bus, train or boat or even cruise ship. 
  2. US residents also need an eTA to transit through Canada or for flying in Canada for a short term. The US permanent residents are required to present proof such as a Green Card or valid passport at the time of check-in. 

2.  Travelers who may be eligible for eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization): Foreign nationals from some countries who require a visa to enter Canada may be eligible for an eTA and may not require a visa to enter Canada while travelling by air. However, they need to get a visitor visa if they intend to visit Canada via Land or water, i.e. by bus, car, train, ship, boat or cruise ship. 

3.    Travelers who need other identification documents and can not apply for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization): There are some foreign nationals who can not apply for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization). These include Canadian citizens with dual citizenship, Canadian permanent residents and alien passport holders. They need a valid passport or permanent resident travel document. Canadian Americans can easily travel with a valid Canadian or US passport. 

4.   eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) exempt Travelers: US citizens don’t need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) and only need proper identification documents like a US passport. 

 

Apply for an eTA: An eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) can be applied through the online process. It is a simple process which only takes a few minutes to complete the application. The application for eTA can not be saved so you need to gather all the information before filling out the eTA application online.

Most of the eTAs get approved within a few minutes, while in some cases, the eTA application takes days to get approved. These applicants are often asked to submit some supporting documents. So it's best if you get your eTA before booking your flight to Canada.  

The eTA fee is $7 CAD. An eTA can be apple and paid for by a single person at a time. You need to have your passport, credit or debit card for payment and a valid email for communication while applying for an eTA online. Also, you need to answer some questions regarding your travel while completing the eTA application. 

Enter the valid and correct information that matches your passport. Wrong information can get you in trouble when you land in Canada. You will not be allowed to enter Canada. So fill out the application form according to the instructions correctly. 

eTA is issued by IRCC and can be applied through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s site online. You can apply for an eTA through the given link: 

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/eta/apply.html

For information about the new changes in Canada’s eTA, you can visit the official website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's website.

 Summary:

  1. A document issued by IRCC.
  2. It is required for people from visa-exempt countries.
  3. It is valid for five years or up to the validity of your passport.
  4. You can stay for a short term of 6 months on eTA.
  5. It can be applied online from the website of IRCC.
  6. It can be granted within a few minutes after you apply.
  7. In some cases, it requires additional documents and takes a few days to be granted.

Check out our Web Story at https://celpip.biz/web-stories/how-do-you-get-an-eta-for-canada/

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