The different categories of travellers who can travel to Canada without a visa:
Let's start by looking at the different citizens and residents who can travel to Canada without necessarily applying for a visa or travel authorization:
- Canadian citizens: Canadian citizens, including dual nationals, are not required to have a valid Canadian passport to travel to Canada, nor are they required to have a visa or eTA.
- Permanent residents of Canada: Similarly, permanent residents of Canada need only hold a valid Permanent Resident Card to be able to travel freely to Canada.
- US citizens: To travel to Canada without a visa, US citizens need only present identification such as a valid US passport.
- Permanent residents of the United States: As of April 2022, lawful permanent residents of the United States need only present certain documents to travel to Canada without a visa, including a valid passport issued by their country of nationality and a valid green card.
Travellers who can travel to Canada without a visa, but with an eTA
In addition to the travellers mentioned above, some travellers from certain countries can also travel to Canada without a visa, but with a simple electronic travel authorization (eTA). Remember that this electronic travel authorisation only concerns entry to Canada by air.
The nationalities covered by this eTA are most European nationalities, as well as other nationalities. So, if you are a British or European citizen, you will be able to apply for an eTA for Canada online, without going through a traditional visa application.
This electronic travel authorisation is both simpler and faster to obtain than a visa. The application is made directly online by means of a simple electronic form. The only requirements for travelling to Canada without a visa using the eTA are the following. :
- Staying in Canada for less than 6 consecutive months.
- Have a valid passport.
- Travelling to Canada for tourism, to visit family or for business reasons.
If you wish to obtain an eTA now, please visit our partner's website, which has an application form in English.
Which travellers are exempt from eTA?
It should also be noted that some citizens in the above category can also travel to Canada without an eTA. These include :
- Foreign travellers holding official Canadian documents: valid Canadian visa or valid status in Canada such as visitor, student or worker status and returning to Canada after visiting only the United States or St. Pierre and Miquelon.
- French citizens living in Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon who enter Canada by air directly from this area.
- Travellers to or from the United States whose journey includes a stopover in Canada. They must hold documents required to enter the United States and have been legally aligned in the United States.
- Foreign travellers transiting through a Canadian airport under the Transit Without Visa Program or the Chinese Transit Program.
- Travelling personnel and officials such as crew members, civil aviation inspectors and accident investigators working in Canada during their stay, as well as members of the armed forces and diplomats accredited by the Canadian government.
Which travellers need a visa to travel to Canada?
In general, all travellers who do not fall into the above categories require a visa to travel to Canada. Depending on the purpose of the trip to Canada, it may also be necessary to obtain a visa to travel to Canada.
- If you wish to work or study in Canada, you must obtain a visa to enter the country.
- If you wish to stay in Canada for more than 6 months, you must also apply for a regular visa.
- If you meet the conditions for working or studying in Canada without a permit, you can travel to the country without a visa.
- Finally, if you are a parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada, you may be eligible for what is known as a supervisor visa, which allows you to visit your children or grandchildren for periods of up to five years. This is a multiple-entry visa that is valid for 10 years.
How to benefit from the eTA Visa Waiver Program for Canada?
If you are a British or European national who is eligible for the eTA visa waiver programme for Canada, you can apply online now.
To apply for an eTA, simply access the online eTA application form on our partner website and fill it in carefully. You will need your passport number, your personal details and a valid email address.
As you can see, this procedure will only take a few minutes and will not require much of your time. You do not need to submit any documents and you do not need to go to the embassy or consulate. The answer to your request for an eTA for Canada will be sent to you by email within 72 hours.
Once obtained, this authorization will be electronically attached to your passport and you will not need to print it to present it when travelling to Canada.
Apply for an eTA visa!
