Updated on December 10, 2025 by canadian immigration experts
Mark Your Calendar!
As of September 30, 2016, visa-exempt foreign travelers will no longer be able to board their flight without an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
On March 15, 2016, Canada introduced a new entry requirement, an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), for visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to or transiting through Canada. Exceptions include U.S. citizens and travelers with a valid Canadian visa. An eTA allows the Government of Canada to check that travelers are admissible to enter Canada before they travel.
A six-month leniency period was put in place so that travelers caught unaware of the eTA requirement could still board their flight to Canada. This leniency period ends on September 29, 2016.
Although an eTA is a new step for travelers, applying for one is a simple online process that costs CAN$7. In most cases, an eTA is granted within minutes of applying.
Some applications can take several days to process, so travelers are advised to apply as soon as they start planning their trip. Find out if you need an eTA and apply before booking a flight to Canada.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/enewsletter/index.asp#conversation
