Whether you need a travel document to visit Canada, and which one, depends mainly on your citizenship and partly on how you arrive. The framework is straightforward once you know the categories. Most travellers need either a visitor visa (also called a temporary resident visa, or TRV) or an electronic travel authorization (eTA), and you only need one or the other, not both. Visa-required nationals need a TRV. Visa-exempt nationals who fly to or transit through a Canadian airport need an eTA, which costs CAD $7 and is normally valid for up to 5 years. US citizens need neither a visa nor an eTA, though they still need acceptable travel documents. US lawful permanent residents (green-card holders) need either a valid green card and an eTA to fly, or a visa. Because the rules change and an officer makes the final decision at the border, this guide explains how to find your own status rather than listing every country. Use ClearToEnter's Visa Check tool and the official IRCC entry-requirements page to confirm what applies to your passport before you book.
Visitor visa or eTA: which one applies to you
Almost every foreign national who wants to visit Canada needs one of two documents: a visitor visa (temporary resident visa, or TRV) or an electronic travel authorization (eTA). The deciding factor is your country of citizenship. Citizens of visa-required countries need a visitor visa, which is a sticker placed in your passport after you apply online and, in many cases, give biometrics. Citizens of visa-exempt countries do not need a visa, but if they fly to or transit through a Canadian airport they need an eTA instead.
You only ever need one of the two, not both. The simplest way to find out which applies to you is to check by passport. ClearToEnter's Visa Check tool lets you enter your nationality and see whether you would typically need a visa or an eTA, and the official Government of Canada entry-requirements page lists the status for each country and territory. Both should agree; if anything is unclear, the official IRCC page is the authority.
Two important caveats. First, the lists change: Canada has both added and removed countries from the visa-exempt category in recent years, so confirm the current status close to your travel date. Second, your document is only permission to travel to a port of entry. A border services officer makes the final decision on whether you may enter and for how long, regardless of which document you hold.
What an eTA is, who needs it, and how much it costs
An electronic travel authorization (eTA) is an entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals who travel to Canada by air. It is electronically linked to your passport, costs CAD $7, and is valid for up to 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. With a valid eTA you can travel to Canada as often as you like for short stays, normally up to six months per visit. You apply online and most applicants are approved within minutes, though some applications take longer.
The eTA requirement is tied to flying. Visa-exempt travellers need an eTA to fly to or transit through a Canadian airport, but they generally do not need one when arriving by car, bus, train, or boat, including a cruise ship. So a visa-exempt visitor driving across the land border typically needs no eTA, while the same person flying in does. To apply you need a valid passport from a visa-exempt country, a credit or debit card, and an email address.
What this means for you: if you are visa-exempt and flying, budget the small fee and apply well before you book non-refundable travel, because while most approvals are instant, a minority are not. Apply only through the official Government of Canada website to avoid third-party sites that charge extra for the same service.
US citizens and US permanent residents
US citizens are in a category of their own: they need neither a visitor visa nor an eTA to visit Canada. They do, however, need acceptable travel documents to prove citizenship and identity, such as a valid US passport. The exact documents accepted can depend on how you travel and your age, so confirm the current document rules with the Canada Border Services Agency before you go.
US lawful permanent residents (green-card holders) are treated differently from US citizens. They no longer need an eTA, but to fly to or transit through Canada they must carry a valid passport from their country of nationality (or an equivalent acceptable travel document) together with valid proof of their US status, such as a valid permanent resident card (Form I-551). For all methods of travel, a US permanent resident must be able to show both their passport and their proof of status; by land or water arriving directly from the US, an officer may accept the green card itself on arrival.
What this means for you: a US green-card holder who is also a citizen of a visa-required country should not assume the green card alone is enough to fly. Carry both your home-country passport and your valid green card, and check the official rules for your exact situation, because requirements differ by nationality and mode of travel.
Visa-required nationals who may still qualify for an eTA (eTA-X)
Being a citizen of a visa-required country does not always mean you must get a full visitor visa. Under an expanded eligibility stream sometimes called eTA-X, citizens of select visa-required countries may apply for an eTA instead of a visa to fly to Canada if they meet specific conditions. As published by IRCC, you may be eligible if you have held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years, or you currently hold a valid US non-immigrant visa. The US visa must be valid on the day you apply for the eTA, though it does not need to be valid on the day you travel.
This stream applies only to citizens of countries IRCC has added to it, and only when flying. The eligible list has grown over time: for example, Indonesia and Malaysia were added effective May 26, 2026, joining countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and several others. Separately, Canada has moved some countries fully out of the visa-required category, such as Qatar, which became visa-exempt with eTA eligibility. Because the list changes, confirm your country's current treatment on the official IRCC page.
Two limits matter. First, eTA-X is for air travel only: if you are a visa-required national arriving by car, bus, train, or boat, you still need a visitor visa even if you would qualify for an eTA by air. Second, eligibility does not guarantee entry; an officer still decides at the border. If the official tool tells you that you are eligible for an eTA but your application is refused or you are directed to apply for a visa, follow the instructions IRCC gives you.
How to determine your status step by step
Start with your passport, not your residence. Your entry requirement is driven by the citizenship on the passport you will travel on, so a person living in one country but holding another country's passport should check against the passport. If you hold more than one passport, check each one, because one nationality may be visa-exempt while another is visa-required.
Next, factor in how you will arrive. Air travel triggers the eTA requirement for visa-exempt travellers and is also the only way the eTA-X stream applies to certain visa-required nationals. Arriving by land or sea generally removes the eTA requirement for visa-exempt travellers, but it does not remove the visa requirement for visa-required nationals. Then check whether any special category applies to you, such as being a US citizen, a US permanent resident, or someone with a recent Canadian visa or a valid US visa.
Finally, confirm with two sources. Use ClearToEnter's Visa Check tool for a quick read on your nationality, then verify against the official Government of Canada entry-requirements page, which is the authoritative source and is updated when rules change. This guide is educational and not immigration advice; for a complex situation, such as past refusals, inadmissibility concerns, or dual nationality, consider speaking with a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer or a regulated CICC consultant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a visa or an eTA to visit Canada?
It depends on your citizenship. Visa-required nationals need a visitor visa (TRV). Visa-exempt nationals who fly to or transit through a Canadian airport need an electronic travel authorization (eTA). You only need one or the other, not both. US citizens need neither. Check your nationality with ClearToEnter's Visa Check tool and confirm on the official IRCC entry-requirements page.
How much does an eTA cost and how long is it valid?
An eTA costs CAD $7 and is normally valid for up to 5 years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. With a valid eTA you can visit Canada for short stays, normally up to six months at a time. Apply only through the official Government of Canada website.
Do US citizens need a visa or an eTA to enter Canada?
No. US citizens need neither a visitor visa nor an eTA. They do need acceptable travel documents to prove citizenship and identity, such as a valid US passport. Confirm the current document requirements with the Canada Border Services Agency, since accepted documents can depend on how you travel and your age.
I have a US green card. What do I need to fly to Canada?
US lawful permanent residents no longer need an eTA. To fly to or transit through Canada you must carry a valid passport from your country of nationality (or an equivalent acceptable travel document) and valid proof of your US status, such as a valid permanent resident card (Form I-551). Carry both documents and check the official rules for your situation.
Do I need an eTA if I drive into Canada?
Generally no. The eTA requirement applies to visa-exempt travellers who fly to or transit through a Canadian airport. Arriving by car, bus, train, or boat, including a cruise ship, generally does not require an eTA. Visa-required nationals still need a visitor visa regardless of how they arrive, with limited exceptions for some air travellers.
My country needs a visa. Can I ever use an eTA instead?
Possibly, for air travel only. Under the eTA-X stream, citizens of select visa-required countries may apply for an eTA instead of a visa if they have held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years or currently hold a valid US non-immigrant visa. Indonesia and Malaysia were added to this stream on May 26, 2026. Arriving by land or sea still requires a visitor visa. Confirm your country's status on the official IRCC page.
Which countries are visa-exempt for Canada?
The visa-exempt list changes over time as Canada adds and removes countries, so a static list can quickly go out of date. Rather than memorize a list, check your specific passport with ClearToEnter's Visa Check tool and confirm on the official Government of Canada entry-requirements page, which is updated when the rules change.
Does having a visa or eTA guarantee I can enter Canada?
No. A visa or eTA is permission to travel to a Canadian port of entry, not a guarantee of admission. A border services officer makes the final decision on whether you may enter and for how long. This is true regardless of your nationality or which document you hold, so carry supporting documents and be ready to answer questions about your visit.
Guides
Official sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.