In short: if your country is visa-exempt and you are flying to Canada, you generally need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), a $7 CAD online approval tied to your passport. If your country is visa-required, you need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV, also called a visitor visa), a $100 CAD application that places a visa in your passport and is needed no matter how you arrive. US citizens generally need neither. Which one applies to you depends entirely on your citizenship, not where you live. Canada's Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and its Regulations (IRPR) set out which nationals require which document before seeking entry at a Canadian port of entry. This guide explains how each document works, what it costs, how long it lasts, who it applies to, and the common points of confusion around dual nationality, transit, and former Canadian citizens.
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Explore now, it's freeWhat Is an eTA?
An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a pre-entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals flying to Canada. It became mandatory for air travellers in 2016 and is designed to screen travellers before they board a plane to Canada rather than only at the border. What this means in practice: there is no document to stick in your passport and no embassy visit. You fill out a short online form, pay the fee, and in most cases receive an email approval within minutes that is invisibly linked to your passport number. Airlines check it electronically when you fly. Because it is not a stamp, you cannot see it, you simply travel on the same passport you applied with.
Key Facts About the eTA
- ✓ Cost: $7 CAD, paid online at the time of application
- ✓ Linked to your passport: The eTA is electronically tied to your passport number, not stamped in the passport. If you renew your passport, you must apply for a new eTA.
- ✓ Validity: 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first
- ✓ Multiple entries: A single eTA allows multiple trips to Canada
- ✓ Processing: Most approvals arrive within minutes, though IRCC can take longer if additional review is needed
- ✓ Air travel only: Under IRPR s.7.1(1) the eTA is required only when flying to Canada. The single marine exception is a vessel arriving directly from St. Pierre and Miquelon. Arriving by land, or by water in any other case, does not trigger an eTA requirement for anyone, regardless of nationality.
An eTA does not guarantee entry to Canada. CBSA officers at the port of entry retain full authority to determine admissibility under IRPA s.18. An eTA simply permits you to board a flight to Canada.
What Is a TRV (Visitor Visa)?
A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), commonly called a visitor visa, is a document issued to nationals of visa-required countries who wish to visit Canada. Unlike the eTA, the TRV is a physical counterfoil (label) placed in your passport by a Canadian visa office abroad after you submit a full application. What this means in practice: the TRV is a more involved process. You apply online or through a Visa Application Centre (VAC), usually give biometrics (fingerprints and a photo), submit supporting documents, and wait for a decision before you can travel at all. Where IRCC is satisfied with the application, the visa is often issued as multiple-entry and valid for up to 10 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, so you may not need to reapply for every trip.
Key Facts About the TRV
- ✓ Cost: $100 CAD government application fee per person, plus a biometrics fee of $85 CAD per person where required (maximum $170 CAD per family applying together). Verify current fees on canada.ca.
- ✓ Placed in passport: Physical visa counterfoil (label); tied to the passport it was issued in
- ✓ Validity: Often issued as multiple-entry and valid for up to 10 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, at the officer's discretion
- ✓ Required for all methods of entry: Unlike the eTA, visa-required nationals need a TRV whether arriving by air, land, or sea
- ✓ Application process: Submit online or at a VAC; usually includes biometrics, supporting documents, and evidence of funds and ties to your home country
- ✓ Not a guaranteed length of stay: The TRV allows you to seek entry; a CBSA officer decides the actual authorized stay at the port of entry, generally up to 6 months for visitors
A single-entry TRV is consumed upon first entry. A multiple-entry TRV allows repeated entries throughout its validity period. IRCC currently issues multiple-entry TRVs by default where the officer is satisfied with the application.
Visa-Exempt vs Visa-Required Countries
IRPR s.190 sets out who is visa-exempt (its Schedule 1.1 lists the exempt countries, with further exemptions for certain nationalities, documents and purposes of entry); everyone else needs a TRV by default. The distinction is based on your citizenship, not residency. A small number of countries sit in between: Mexico and Costa Rica, for example, are visa-required but carry a partial waiver, where some travellers qualify for an eTA and others need a TRV (see the section below). The lists here are illustrative, not official, so always confirm your own passport on the IRCC tool before you book.
Common Visa-Exempt Countries (need eTA for flights)
- • United States (exempt from eTA too)
- • United Kingdom
- • Australia, New Zealand
- • Most EU member states
- • Japan, South Korea
- • Chile, Israel (Israeli national passport holders)
Common Visa-Required Countries (need TRV)
- • India, China, Pakistan
- • Philippines, Vietnam
- • Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya
- • Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan
- • Mexico (partial visa requirement since Feb 2024; some eligible travellers can get an eTA, check IRCC)
- • Costa Rica (visa-required, with an eTA-X partial waiver for travellers who hold a valid US non-immigrant visa or held a Canadian visa in the past 10 years)
- • Most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East
This list is not exhaustive. Always verify your citizenship against the current IRCC website, as requirements can change by regulation. The distinction is strictly by passport nationality, permanent residency or long-term residence in a visa-exempt country does not change your requirement.
Dual Nationals: Which Passport Do You Use?
If you hold citizenship in two countries, one visa-exempt and one visa-required, you are generally allowed to use your visa-exempt passport to travel to Canada and would need an eTA (if flying) rather than a TRV. IRCC policy is clear on this point: your travel requirement is determined by the passport you use to travel, not all citizenships you hold.
Example: A person with both Indian and UK citizenship who travels on their UK passport needs only an eTA (for air travel), not a TRV. However, if they travel on their Indian passport, they would need a TRV.
Canadian citizens who hold dual nationality with another country must use their Canadian passport to board flights to Canada. IRCC confirmed this policy in 2016. A Canadian citizen, even one who also holds citizenship in a visa-required country, does not need an eTA or TRV; they must travel as Canadians.
Permanent residents of Canada (regardless of nationality) do not need a TRV to return to Canada but must carry a valid PR card (or obtain a Permanent Resident Travel Document if the PR card has expired before flying).
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View Deep Dives → Coming soonTransit eTAs: Connecting Through Canada
If you are flying through a Canadian airport (e.g., Toronto Pearson or Vancouver) on your way to a third country, you may need a transit visa or transit eTA depending on your citizenship.
- ✓Visa-exempt nationals: Need a transit eTA (same $7 eTA, same process) if connecting through a Canadian airport on an international flight. The eTA covers both visits and transits.
- ✓Visa-required nationals: Need either a Canadian TRV or a Transit Visa (C-3 category) to connect through Canada. Some nationalities are exempt from transit visa requirements, check IRCC's current Transit Without Visa (TWOV) policy.
- ✓US visa holders: Certain travellers holding a valid US visa or US permanent resident status may be eligible for transit without a separate Canadian visa. IRCC maintains a specific policy on this, verify before travel.
Important: Even transit passengers who do not leave the international zone of a Canadian airport may need documentation. Always verify requirements with the airline and IRCC before booking connecting flights through Canada.
eTA for Former Canadian Citizens
Former Canadian citizens who lost their citizenship (e.g., through renunciation or through provisions that automatically stripped citizenship before 2009 amendments) and now hold citizenship in a visa-exempt country need an eTA to fly to Canada, they do not travel as Canadian citizens anymore.
However, under Bill C-24 (Citizenship Act amendments) and subsequent changes, some individuals previously considered to have lost Canadian citizenship may be entitled to reclaim it. This is a complex area of citizenship law. Those who regain Canadian citizenship must travel on a Canadian passport.
If you are uncertain about your citizenship status, the matter is governed by the Citizenship Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. C-29. A citizenship determination application can be filed with IRCC. This is separate from the immigration framework and has its own rules and procedures.
Common Points of Confusion
"I live in the UK but I have a [visa-required] passport"
Residency in a visa-exempt country does not grant an eTA exemption. Your requirement is based on your passport nationality, not where you live. You still need a TRV.
"My eTA was approved, does that mean I can enter Canada?"
An eTA approval permits you to board a flight; it does not guarantee entry. CBSA officers at the port of entry make the final admissibility decision under IRPA s.18. An eTA can be cancelled, and you can be found inadmissible despite a valid eTA.
"I have a valid TRV, can I use it with a new passport?"
No. A TRV is a stamp in a specific passport. If you get a new passport, you need a new TRV (or bring both passports when travelling). An eTA, by contrast, must be linked to the new passport, a new application is required.
"I entered by land, do I need an eTA?"
No. The eTA requirement in IRPR s.7.1(1) attaches to flying into Canada, plus the single case of a vessel arriving directly from St. Pierre and Miquelon. It does not turn on nationality, so no visa-exempt traveller needs an eTA to enter by land. US citizens and US permanent residents are eTA-exempt outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I need an eTA or a TRV?+
Check the IRCC website's "Find out if you need a visa" tool, which uses your citizenship to determine your requirement. In law, section 190 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) sets out who is exempt from the temporary resident visa requirement, including citizens of the countries listed in its Schedule 1.1. If no exemption in s.190 applies to you, a TRV is required.
Can I apply for an eTA if my application was previously refused?+
Yes, you can reapply for an eTA. However, if your previous refusal was related to admissibility (such as a criminal record or prior removal order), the same issue will likely affect a new application. An eTA refusal is not the same as a visa refusal, but repeated refusals create a record.
How long does an eTA application take?+
Most eTA applications are approved within minutes of submission. However, some applications require additional review and can take several days. IRCC recommends applying before booking flights to avoid last-minute complications.
Do I need a new eTA if I renew my passport?+
Yes. The eTA is electronically linked to a specific passport number. When you renew your passport, the eTA associated with your old passport is no longer usable for air travel. You must apply for a new eTA and link it to your new passport.
Can a criminal record affect an eTA application?+
Yes. IRCC reviews eTA applications against admissibility grounds under IRPA. A criminal record, particularly one that would constitute an indictable offence equivalent under Canadian law, can result in an eTA refusal based on criminal inadmissibility under IRPA s.36.
Is the eTA requirement waived for US permanent residents?+
US permanent residents (Green Card holders) are exempt from the TRV requirement under IRPR s.190(1)(c), and have also been exempt from the eTA requirement since April 26, 2022 under IRPR s.7.1(3)(b). Flying to Canada, carry a passport from your country of nationality plus a valid Green Card or other acceptable proof of US permanent resident status. Arriving by land or by water directly from the US, the Green Card on its own is the proof of status you show. Confirm the current document list on canada.ca before travelling.
How much does an eTA cost compared to a visitor visa?+
An eTA costs $7 CAD, paid once online. A visitor visa (TRV) costs $100 CAD per person in government fees, and most applicants also pay an $85 CAD biometrics fee (up to a maximum of $170 CAD for a family applying together). The eTA is far cheaper and faster because it is a screening tool for travellers who are already visa-exempt, whereas the TRV is a full visa application. Always confirm the current fees on canada.ca, as they can change.
How long is an eTA or a TRV valid for?+
An eTA is generally valid for up to 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. A TRV is often issued as a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, though an officer can issue a shorter validity or a single-entry visa. Note that validity is separate from how long you may stay: a border services officer decides the actual authorized period each time you enter, generally up to 6 months for visitors.
Do US citizens need an eTA or a visitor visa to enter Canada?+
US citizens generally need neither an eTA nor a TRV to visit Canada; they typically travel with a valid US passport. US permanent residents (Green Card holders) need neither either: they have been exempt from the eTA requirement since April 26, 2022 (IRPR s.7.1(3)(b)) and are visa-exempt under IRPR s.190(1)(c). Flying, they carry a passport from their country of nationality plus a valid Green Card or other acceptable proof of US status. These rules can change, so US travellers should confirm current entry requirements on canada.ca before travel.
Why does Mexico sometimes need an eTA and sometimes a visitor visa?+
Since February 2024, Canada has applied a partial visa requirement to Mexican citizens. Mexicans who hold a valid US non-immigrant visa, or who held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years, and who are flying to or transiting through Canada can generally apply for an eTA. Those who do not meet those conditions, or who arrive by land or sea, generally need a TRV. Because this is a special, evolving policy, Mexican travellers should always check the dedicated IRCC page before booking.
Important: Information is based on publicly available IRPA, IRPR, and IRCC policy. Entry requirements can change, always verify with the official IRCC website before travel. Not legal advice.
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