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Information about the eTA

  • What is an eTA Canada?

    The abbreviation eTA stands for "electronic Travel Authorization". An eTA is an electronic authorisation that business travellers and tourists need in order to fly to Canada without a visa. In French, it is known as the "Autorisation de Voyage Électronique", or AVE Canada.

    An eTA is not a visa, but does resemble one. Whether a visa or eTA is required for Canada depends on the nationality of the traveller and the way of travelling. The Canadian government has agreements in place for visa-free travel with all countries that are part of the European Union. This means that UK and EU citizens can cross the land border between the United States and Canada without a visa or eTA. This also applies to arrivals by boat or cruise ship, but not for an arrival by plane. These agreements are expected to remain in place after Brexit. In order to limit security risks, the Canadian government has decided to carry out an extra pre-departure check on all travellers arriving by plane, even if they do not need a visa because of their nationality. This check is carried out by applying for an eTA Canada.

    Applying for an eTA Canada has been made mandatory since November 2016 for every flight with a destination or transfer in Canada. Checking in is only possible after the application has been approved. The eTA application can be submitted online via this website and is approved by Canadian Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

    An eTA Canada is not a document, but a digital authorisation. Have you received confirmation that your eTA has been granted? If so, your passport number is now included in the database of the Canadian immigration service. When you travel, your airline will be able to tell from your passport number that your eTA application has been approved.

  • Do I need an eTA Canada

    Are you flying to Canada? Then you need to apply for an eTA Canada before departure, even if you are only transferring in Canada. Children also need their own eTA.

    Applying for an eTA is not necessary in the following situations:
    • You are travelling with a Canadian or American passport
    • You are travelling with a Canadian Permanent Resident Card (PR card)
    • You are travelling with a Canadian Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD)
    • You are travelling with a Canadian Confirmation of Permanent Residence Document (CoPR)
    • You are travelling with a Canadian Refugee Travel Document
    • You are travelling with a Canadian visa (Temporary Resident Permit)
    • You are a diplomat accredited by the Canadian government
    • You are an aviation inspector or part of cabin crew staff
    • You are a member of the non-civil component of a force under the Visiting Forces Act and you are travelling in that function

    Apply for an eTA Canada now

    Instead of an eTA, you can also apply for a visa for your trip to Canada. However, this is more expensive, complicated and time-consuming than applying for an eTA. The immigration service therefore recommends that you only apply for a visa if you do not meet the requirements of the eTA, or if you want to stay in Canada for more than six months.

    Are you travelling to Canada by train, bus, car, boat or cruise ship? Then you do not need to apply for eTA Canada. However, you must meet the same requirements as travellers with an eTA. No eTA is required for domestic flights in Canada.

    Does your aircraft stop in Canada just to refuel? Then it is not a transfer, but a transit. An eTA is not required for a transit flight if you are flying to or from the United States of America, do not leave the aircraft in between, have the necessary documents to enter the USA and have never violated a visa-related law.

    Do you have a Canadian work permit or a Canadian study permit? Then you will also need an eTA. You automatically receive one with your study permit or work permit. If that eTA is still valid, you do not need to apply for a new one. However, sometimes the eTA expires earlier than the permit and you still need to apply for an eTA if you want to travel to Canada again.

    Do you live in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and are you travelling with a French passport? Then you do not need an eTA to travel between Saint-Pierre and Miquelon and Canada. Are you travelling to Canada from a country other than Saint-Pierre and Miquelon? Or are you not travelling with a French passport? Then you will need an eTA or visa to travel to Canada.

  • How long does my eTA Canada last?

    An eTA Canada is valid for up to five years for an unlimited number of trips
    Your eTA is valid for five years from the moment your application is approved. An eTA is always linked to the passport with which it was applied for. The validity of your eTA Canada therefore expires as soon as you start using a new passport. Your eTA only needs to be valid upon arrival in Canada, not during your entire stay in Canada. However, the passport with which the eTA was applied for must be valid during the entire stay in Canada.

    An eTA Canada allows you to stay in Canada for up to six months per trip
    During the five-year validity period, an unlimited number of trips to Canada can be made using the same eTA. On each arrival in Canada, the maximum length of stay in Canada will be stamped on the passport, which is normally six months. In rare cases, an employee of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) may stamp a shorter maximum stay in the passport. For example, if you cannot prove that you have sufficient financial means for a six-month stay. Or if it is suspected that you have only left Canada for a short period of time in order to circumvent the maximum stay of six months, which is not allowed.

    Do you want to stay in Canada for longer than six consecutive months?
    Then you need to travel to Canada with a visa instead of an eTA. Have you already travelled to Canada with an eTA and would you like to stay longer than the exit date stamped on your passport upon arrival in Canada? Then you can apply for an extension online, which is known as a Visitor Record. You can apply for a Visitor Record up to 30 days before the date you are expected to leave Canada without an extension.

    The validity of your eTA expires if you pose a risk to safety or health
    The eTA Canada application form asks several security questions. They are designed to assess whether you pose a risk to the safety or health of Canada and its citizens. The page with the requirements of the eTA Canada lists the risks involved. Are you deemed a possible risk after the eTA has already been granted? Then the validity of your eTA will expire immediately.

    Would you like to know more about this? Read the page about the validity of the eTA Canada.

  • What requirements do I have to meet?

    Passport requirements
    Applying for an eTA is only possible with a passport issued by the United Kingdom, Ireland or another visa exempt country, which includes all countries in the European Union. You may only travel to Canada with the same passport with which you are applying for the eTA. The eTA only needs to be valid upon arrival. The passport, however, must be valid throughout your stay in Canada.

    Travellers with UK or EU nationality may also apply for an eTA with an emergency passport or diplomatic passport. Travellers with German nationality can also apply for an eTA with a Vorläufiger Reisepass or a Kinderreisepass. Take note: a laissez-passer is not the same as an emergency passport. An eTA cannot be applied for with a laissez-passer or a travel document for foreign nationals or refugees. However, applying for a Canadian visa is possible with these documents.

    The purpose of your trip to Canada
    An eTA Canada suffices for the following travel purposes, and no visa or permit is required:
    • A tourist trip, such as a holiday or a visit to friends or family
    Studying, if the entire study or exchange programme does not last longer than six months
    • A business trip, such as visiting a business partner, meeting, fair or conference
    • A transfer, during which the airport may be left in between

    Journalists, film crews, judges, arbitrators, athletes, coaches and performers with their vital supporters can also make use of an eTA when travelling in function. This also applies to academics who evaluate or examine research projects. You may also attend training courses if you travel with an eTA. You may also give them, but only to your employerʼs Canadian branch. This employer must be located outside of Canada. Guest speakers at events may only travel with an eTA if the event lasts a maximum of five days.

    Other business trips to Canada are only permitted with an eTA if no manual labour is performed. Providing after-sales services is permitted, as is the purchase or sale of products or services, or organising a trade show. But not if it requires manual labour, such as setting up a trade fair stand.

    If the work is highly qualified, more is permitted. In these cases, the work must be at management or university level. Manual labour may be carried out, but no more than 15 consecutive days per six months or 30 consecutive days per year.

    Would you like to carry out activities other than those mentioned above, such as carrying out orders for Canadian organisations, or entering the Canadian labour market? Then you need a work permit.

    Check on arrival in Canada
    On arrival in Canada, travellers with an eTA are interviewed on a random basis. If this happens, you must be able to convince an official of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA):
    • That you are leaving Canada within six months, for example because of your job, family or home outside Canada
    • That you have income outside Canada (job or benefits) to support yourself and your family members
    • That you have sufficient financial resources to pay for your stay and return journey
    • That you have never violated any visa-related law and do not intend to do so

    Travelling to Canada for business? Then you may be asked for a letter of invitation from a (potential) Canadian business partner on arrival. Your business partner must be available 24/7 to answer any questions from the CBSA. A written confirmation from your employer of the purpose of the business trip to Canada may also be requested. This applies to both travellers with an eTA and travellers with a visa.

    Risk to safety or public health in Canada
    Do you pose a possible risk to safety or public health in Canada? If so, you may not travel to Canada with an eTA. Sections 33 to 43 of the Immigration & Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) details when this applies. In the following situations, among others, an eTA Canada will not suffice and you will need to apply for a visa:
    • If you are expected to place an above-average burden on the security or health services in Canada
    • If you have active tuberculosis or active syphilis, or have been in close contact with someone who has it
    • If you are dealing with sudden (physical or mental) incapacity
    • If you exhibit unexpected or aggressive behaviour
    • If you have ever violated a visa-related law of Canada or any other country
    • If you are being prosecuted for an offence, even if no ruling has been made yet
    • If you have a criminal record, or have ever committed a crime, such as reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, theft, assault, maltreatment, identity fraud, trafficking in or illegal possession of drugs or other controlled substances
    • If you are associated with espionage, terrorism, a coup dʼétat, war crimes, human rights abuses, human trafficking, laundering money, or are part of a group in which these activities take place or ever took place
    • If one of your family members is inadmissible based on one of the reasons above

    I meet the requirements and want to apply for an eTA
    I do not meet the requirements and want to apply for a visa

    More information about this subject can be found on the pages about the requirements of eTA Canada and the validity of the eTA.

  • I lived in Canada at some point, what now?

    Many people who once lived in Canada are still registered in the Canadian civil registry as residents or citizens of Canada, often without even knowing it. This is because the status of Canadian resident or citizen never expires by itself. Not even if all the Canadian documents expired years ago.

    Have you ever held the status of resident, permanent resident, landed immigrant, immigrant reçu or citizen of Canada? Or have you ever had a Canadian Permanent Resident Card (PR card) or a Canadian passport? In all of these cases, applying for an eTA is only possible if you have officially cancelled your status in Canada. This is a time-consuming process. You may also lose accrued rights in Canada, such as a pension that you receive from Canada.

    Citizens and residents of Canada can only travel to Canada in the following ways:
    • With a Canadian (emergency) passport - which can be applied for at a Canadian embassy or consulate
    • With a new PR card - only available if you are in Canada
    • With a PRTD - only if you have been in Canada for at least two of the past five years
    • With an eTA or visa - only if you have officially cancelled your status in Canada
    • With an exception - which can be applied for at the IRCC only for urgent situations
    • With an ESTA - only if you fly to the USA first and then travel to Canada by car, train, bus or boat

    Read more about this on the page about travelling to Canada if you have ever lived there.

  • I have a criminal record or traffic fine, what now?

    There are two types of criminal offences: misdemeanours and crimes. Misdemeanours do not usually pose a problem when applying for an eTA Canada, but crimes do.

    Have you ever driven a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other narcotics? The Canadian government considers that a crime and not a misdemeanour. It is therefore not possible to apply for an eTA in this case

    Have you been fined or committed another minor offence?
    Then you can apply for an eTA as normal. You only need a visa if it concerns a violation of a visa-related law or driving under the influence of alcohol.
    Apply for an eTA Canada now

    Do you have a criminal record or have you ever committed a crime?
    Or have you been arrested, prosecuted or convicted of a crime such as driving under the influence of alcohol, violence, assault, fraud or other criminal activities? In all these cases, you may not apply for eTA. However, you can always apply for a visa for Canada.
    Read more about applying for a Canada visa

  • Do I need to go anywhere for my application?

    No, applying for an eTA Canada can be easily done online via this website. There is no need to go to a consulate, embassy or other desk.
    Apply for an eTA now

    Do you need help? On this page with frequently asked questions, you will find the answers to almost every question about eTA Canada. You will also find extensive explanations in the application form by clicking on an entry field or pressing the question mark icon. More information can be found on the page explaining the eTA Canada application form.

  • Do I still need to take the coronavirus into account?

    The coronavirus measures have been changed a lot over time. That is why it is highly recommended to check the page with recent coronavirus measures in Canada well before departure, and right before departure.
    Check what coronavirus rules you need to keep in mind

The online application procedure

  • How can I apply for an eTA Canada?

    Applying for an eTA Canada is easily done online. Open the digital application form on your computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Keep your passport at hand. You do not need any other documents. Filling out the form usually takes no more than ten minutes.
    Open the eTA application form

    Once you have completed the application form, you can immediately pay for the eTA cost. You can do this safely and easily with Mastercard, Visa, American Express or PayPal. As soon as your payment has been received, your application will be processed. You will also receive a confirmation by e-mail.

    You will generally receive a confirmation within 3 days after payment has been made, stating that your application has been approved. In case of an urgent application, often even within 45 minutes. From that moment on, your eTA is linked to your passport, allowing you to check in immediately.

  • Do I need to have already booked my trip?

    No, it is not necessary to have already booked a plane ticket or an overnight stay before applying for an eTA. Even the arrival date does not have to be known yet. You do have to fill in an estimate of the date of arrival in the application form, but you can change your travel plans without problems at a later date.

    The Canadian immigration service recommends that you apply for your eTA as soon as you decide to travel to Canada. Most eTA applications are approved within 3 days. In case of an urgent application, the average time for an eTA application can be as short as 45 minutes. However, in exceptional cases, it may take longer to approve an application, even for urgent applications. For example, if a random background check is carried out.

    An eTA is valid for five years and can be used for an unlimited number of trips to Canada. Once the application has been approved, it is no longer necessary to provide additional or changed arrival dates.

  • Can I apply for an eTA for someone else?

    Yes, you can apply for an eTA Canada for someone else. However, you will need to ask permission from the person in question. You will also need to read out the form to this person after you have completed it. If the traveller confirms that all questions have been answered completely and correctly, you can make the payment, after which the application will be processed.

    Are you travelling to Canada with your family or another travel group? Then you can also submit a group application. To do so, open the same eTA Canada application form. Fill in the contact details of one of the travellers in the upper part, then fill in the travel details, including the date of arrival. Next, fill in the personal details of one of the travellers. Click on “Add a traveller” at the bottom of the form. The form will then be expanded, allowing you to add one or more travellers to your group application. This way, you do not have to fill in the contact and travel details again each time and you do not have to make multiple separate payments.

    The cost of the eTA Canada remains the same, regardless of if you submit a group applications or multiple individual applications.

  • What information and documents do I need?

    When applying for the eTA Canada you only need the online application form, and the passport details of yourself or another traveller for whom you want to apply for an eTA.

    When you arrive in Canada, all you need to do is hand over your passport. Random background checks may be carried out. In this case, you will need to convince a member of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) that you meet the requirements of the eTA Canada.

    Travelling to Canada on business? If so, a written confirmation of your travel plans by your employer may be requested upon arrival. Also bring an invitation letter, written by a (potential) business partner in Canada. This way, you can easily prove that your travel plans meet the requirements of the eTA. An invitation letter should contain at least the following information:

    • Your first names, last name and date of birth
    • Your address and telephone numbers (both business and private)
    • Your job description and the name of your employer

    • The name and address of the head office of the Canadian organisation you are visiting
    • The addresses of other locations of the Canadian organisation to be visited
    • The website, date of founding and a brief description of the Canadian organisation
    • The name, address, e-mail address and job description of the person you are visiting
    • A phone number where the person you are visiting can be reached 24/7
    • Your accommodation address in Canada and an agreement on the distribution of the cost of the trip

    • The relationship between your employer and the Canadian organisation you are visiting
    • The relationship between yourself and the person you are going to visit in Canada
    • The purpose of the business trip and the length of stay in Canada required to achieve this goal

    Is an underage child travelling without both parents? Then you need to carry documents proving that the child has not been abducted. You can read which documents are required at the question "I am travelling with children, what do I need to keep in mind?". Do not forget that children also need their own passports and an eTA Canada.

  • What does an eTA cost and how can I pay?

    The cost of applying for an eTA Canada is € 29,95 per person. In case of a group application, the price per person remains the same. It is possible to opt for an urgent delivery, for which a surcharge of € 17,50 per person applies. All amounts on this website include the consular costs charged by the immigration service, the service costs of e-Visa.ie and the necessary taxes.

    If you wish, you can also opt for voluntary CO2 compensation and/or optional registration of your trip with the embassy. The costs of these non-obligatory matters depend on your nationality and the country you are travelling from. You can check these extras in the application form, which also states the exact costs. All further information on the possiblity of compensating your CO2 via e-Visa.ie, can be found in this article.

    The costs of the eTA Canada can be paid easily with iDeal, Bancontact, Mastercard, Visa, American Express (AMEX) or PayPal.

    You can download a receipt from your personal status page right after you make the payment. After your application has been fully processed, you can also download the invoice there.

  • When will my eTA application be approved?

    eTA applications are approved on average within 3 days. If you opt for an urgent delivery in the application form, approval takes as little as 45 minutes on average. Applications are processed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including nights, weekends and public holidays.

    Despite the usually fast processing times, the Canadian immigration service (IRCC) recommends that you only book airline tickets after your eTA application has been approved.

    The stated delivery times are expressly not maximum delivery times, but averages. In many cases, processing will take place sooner. But processing can also take longer. This may be due to planned or unplanned maintenance of technical systems that are part of e-Visa.ie or the IRCC. It can also be the result of a manual background check by the immigration service. In very rare cases, a background check may even take several weeks, and additional documents or data may have to be provided. The delivery time of an eTA Canada can therefore never be guaranteed, even if an urgent delivery has been selected. e-Visa.ie can in no way influence the speed with which applications are processed by the IRCC. However, it is guaranteed that the average delivery times as stated on this website will be achieved.

    The difference between “normal” applications and urgent applications is that e-Visa.ie processes urgent applications faster; always within 24 hours, but usually within 10 minutes. Applications are always first checked for frequently made mistakes. Your application is then forwarded to the IRCC in Canada, where they check whether you pose a safety risk. If no reason for disapproval is found, the eTA will be granted an average of 45 minutes after your payment has been made. You will receive confirmation by e-mail and text message.

    The Canadian immigration service handles all eTA applications individually. So not per group, but per person, even if you filled in several travellers in a single application form. Sometimes, there can be a lot of time between the first and the last approval within a group application. This is normal. For example, the immigration service can carry out a (short) background check for an individual traveller in a group application. An application that remains pending for a longer period of time has no greater chance of being rejected.

  • Does my passport number have an 0 or an O in it?

    Sometimes, it is not clear whether a passport number contains the digit 0 or the letter O. British passport numbers only contain digits. This means that the letter O can never appear on a British passport number.

    Are you submitting your application for an eTA Canada via e-Visa.ie? If so, we will always check whether you have not swapped the number 0 for the letter O. If this error is noticed, it will always be corrected for you immediately. This way, you can still travel without any problems.

    Have you submitted an eTA application via another website? If so, in most cases this error will not be corrected and your eTA may be invalid. It is not possible to change a passport number; you will then have to apply for a completely new eTA.

  • Am I still considered a national of my country of birth?

    It is important to know if you have a second nationality, as you will need to fill it in on the eTA Canada application form. Did you not fill it in, even though you have a second nationality? In that case, your application will probably take a very long time to process and will eventually be rejected.

    Is your current passport from a country other than the one you were born in? Then it might be possible that your country of birth is considered your second nationality. Even if you have not lived in that country for a long time. Depending on the country, you may or may not lose your nationality if you obtain a new passport from the country of current residence. With some countries, you lose your nationality the moment you obtain another passport from a different country and with some other countries, you will always be considered a national regardless of a second passport.

    Check with the countryʼs consulate or high commission in the UK to find out about that countryʼs laws on dual nationality.

After submitting the application

  • How do I receive my eTA and do I print it?

    It is not necessary to print the confirmation of approval of the eTA Canada. Your airline will be able to tell from your passport number that your eTA application has been approved.

    Once your eTA Canada application has been approved, you will receive a confirmation by e-mail and text message. You will then be able to check in for your flight to Canada. The e-mail will contain a link to open your personal status page. On that page you can download a PDF document, which officially confirms that your eTA application has been approved. In this document you will find your eTA number, the expiry date of your eTA, your full name and your passport number.

    Make sure that your name and passport number are listed completely and correctly in the PDF document. Is that not the case? Then your eTA is invalid and you need to submit a new application, which automatically overwrites the previous one. It is not possible to correct this data in any other way.

    Make a note of the expiry date of your eTA in your calendar so that you do not forget to apply for a new eTA if you want to travel to Canada again after that date. Also write down your eTA number somewhere where you can find it in a few years time.

  • I did not receive an eTA or an e-mail yet, what now?

    After you have paid, you will immediately receive an e-mail. This states that your payment has been received, with a link to your personal status page. On that page you can check the status of your application at any time.

    Has your eTA not been granted within the expected timeframe? Check on the status page whether it is wise to contact us about this and how you can do so. This website mentions average delivery times, never maximum delivery times. There can never be any guarantee that an application will be approved within a certain period of time. For example, the immigration service may carry out a background check which delays the application. An application that remains pending for a longer period of time does not have a greater chance of being rejected.

    Sometimes, there can be a lot of time between the first and last approval within a group application. This is normal, and is due to the fact that applications are always assessed per person.

    Did you not receive an e-mail? Check your e-mail programmeʼs junk folder or spam folder. Unable to find an e-mail with the subject “eTA application Canada received” there either? Then you can check the status of your application via the website.

  • Do I need to pass on changes or corrections, and how do I do that?

    Your eTA application will be processed right after you make the payment. From that moment on, it is no longer possible to pass on any changes or corrections. However, this is often not necessary.

    In the following situations your eTA Canada will remain valid and you do not have to pass on anything:
    • Your arrival date in Canada has changed
    • Your employer or educational institution has changed
    • Your address information is not correct (anymore), but the country of residence is still correct
    • You applied for an eTA for a previous trip and you want to use it again
    • You applied for an eTA for a transfer and you want to stay in Canada, or vice versa
    • You applied for an eTA for a business trip and you want to travel as a tourist, or vice versa

    In the following situations you will need to apply and pay for a completely new eTA Canada:
    • Your passport details were not filled in 100% correctly on the application form
    • Your country of birth or (second) nationality was not filled in correctly in the eTA form
    • Your name and/or passport number is incomplete or incorrect on your eTA
    • You are arriving more than five years after the granting of your eTA
    • You have acquired a new passport
    • You have moved to another country
    Apply for a new eTA here

  • My name is spelled incorrectly on the eTA, what now?

    Does the error have something to do with an accent or punctuation mark in your name?
    Such as an ü, ä, ö, ç, é, è, ê, ñ or ß? Then this is probably the result of an automatic correction. Special characters in names, such as umlauts and trema, are not accepted by the system of the Canadian immigration service. The name has therefore been converted as it appears in the machine-readable part of the passport. These are the two lines that contain the "<<<" symbols, at the very bottom of the information page in your passport. The top of these two lines contains your name (directly after the country code). Is your name spelled here as it appears on your eTA? Then everything is in order and you can travel without any problems.

    Is the spelling error unrelated to a punctuation mark?
    Then there may be a mistake on your part. If this is the case, then the eTA Canada is invalid. Is someone elseʼs name listed on the eTA, or is part of your name missing? This may be due to the automatic completion function of your browser. It is the responsibility of the person filling in the application form to check the control page just before payment to ensure that the details are filled in correctly.

  • I cannot check in, what now?

    If you want to check in at an airport desk immediately after approval of the eTA Canada, your eTA may not be found by the airline right away. In that case, state or provide your eTA number. This always starts with a “J”, and can be found on your personal status page and in the e-mail and pdf document confirming that your application has been approved.

    Does the above not offer a solution? If so, check if your full name and passport number appear correctly on the PDF document confirming that your application has been approved. British passport numbers never contain the letter "o", but can contain the number "0".

    Do your passport details appear correctly on the eTA Canada? Then they are probably not properly linked to your flight ticket. Contact your airline directly to provide the correct passport number so that you can still check in.

    Are your passport details not listed correctly on the eTA Canada? Then you will need to apply for a completely new eTA. This application will also have to be paid for again. It is not possible to pass on corrections in any other way.

    Are you certain that your passport details are correct on the eTA and have also been correctly passed on to the airline? Then the cause of the problem probably lies with the passport details of a fellow passenger who is trying to check in at the same time. If a passenger is unable to check in due to problems with an eTA, sometimes the other passengers cannot check in either.

  • Additional information is required, what now?

    Normally, you can provide all the information the immigration service needs to assess whether you are allowed to travel to Canada via the application form. In exceptional situations, the immigration service may ask for additional information or documents. This usually only happens if you have lived in Canada in the past, if you made a mistake when filling in the application form, if the immigration service suspects you are not observing the rules, or if you have had (minor) problems with the immigration service before.

    If the immigration service requires more information or documents from you, you will be notified by e-mail. The e-mail will contain instructions on how to provide them. More information can be found on the page on providing additional information for an eTA Canada application.

  • My application was rejected, what now?

    In the rare case an application is rejected, the immigration service generally does not reveal the reason. The most common reasons why applications can be rejected:

    • You filled in the eTA Canada application form incorrectly or incompletely
    • You forgot to fill in your second nationality in the eTA form
    • You lived in Canada at some point and are still listed in the Canadian civil registry
    • You violated a visa-related law of Canada or another country in the past
    • You have had problems with the immigration service during a previous trip to Canada
    • You may pose a risk to the health or safety of residents of Canada
    • If it is believed that you may cause an excessive demand on health or safety services
    • You have committed or are suspected of having committed a crime such as driving under the influence
    • You are associated with espionage, terrorism, a coup dʼétat, war crimes, human rights abuses, human trafficking, money laundering or membership of a group in which these activities take place or took place
    • You do not meet the other requirements for travelling with an eTA Canada
    • One of your family members is inadmissible due to one of the above reasons

    What you can do if your application is rejected
    First, check that you have filled in the application form correctly. In the e-mail you received as confirmation of receipt of your application, you will find most of what you had filled in. Did you find an error, for example in your passport number or in the spelling of your name? Then you need to submit a completely new eTA application. Did you not find any errors? If so, there probably an underlying reason, and most likely a new application would also be rejected.

    Do you know the reason for the rejection? Then you can try to solve the underlying problem and then apply for an eTA again.

    Do you not know the reason for the rejection? Then it is best to apply for a visa for your trip to Canada. It is possible that the application will be approved immediately, but there is a good chance that you will have to submit additional documents first.

    Has your eTA application been rejected? If so, the full cost of the eTA Canada will be refunded to you. This does not apply to travellers for whom an eTA application has previously been rejected. e-Visa.ie cannot be held responsible for any damages resulting from an application that was granted or rejected too late. You can read more about this in the general terms and conditions.

  • My eTA is about to expire, how can I extend it?

    If you are currently in Canada
    Your eTA contains an expiry date. This is the last day on which you may arrive in Canada with your eTA. Once you are in Canada, you no longer need to take the eTA expiry date into account. However, you will always have to take into account the maximum length of stay in Canada. Usually, the passport will be stamped on your arrival in Canada, stating when you need to leave the country again. If you did not receive a stamp with a date, then you can stay in Canada for a maximum of six months.

    Would you like to stay in Canada longer? Then you can apply for an extension. This can be done up to 30 days before the day you would have to leave Canada without an extension. This extension is called a Visitor Record. You can apply for your Visitor Record online at the immigration service (IRCC). This may require the submission of a few documents. For example, to explain why you want to stay in Canada for a longer period of time, or to provide proof that you are not looking for a job or will not permanently stay in Canada.

    If you are not currently in Canada
    Your eTA expires as soon as you start using a new passport, or otherwise five years after your application has been approved. If your eTA is about to expire, you will not be able to apply for an extension. However, you can always apply for a new eTA, even if the previous eTA has not yet expired. A new eTA always overwrites all previously granted eTA travel authorisations.
    Apply for a new eTA

    Are you planning to stay in Canada for longer than six consecutive months? Apply for a visa instead of an eTA. This way, you can be certain you will be able to stay in Canada for more than six months, for however long your stay may last.

  • Can I cancel my eTA application?

    It is possible to cancel your eTA application and receive a refund of the costs paid by you, up until your application has been processed by the Canadian immigration service (IRCC). This is usually within ten minutes after your payment has been received.

    Most travellers want to receive their eTA Canada as soon as possible. That is why we do not wait until a certain cooling-off period or withdrawal period has passed. This is also stated in the general terms and conditions, which must be agreed to before applying in the first place.

    Has your application already been processed by the immigration service and have you not yet received an approval? If so, you can still withdraw your application, but in that case it will no longer be possible to receive a refund. You can inform us of this request to cancel by replying to the e-mail stating that your application has been received. Would you like to submit a new application because you made an error with a previous application? Then you do not have to cancel or withdraw your previous application. A new application overwrites all previously submitted applications and granted eTAs.

    Has your application for an eTA Canada already been approved? If so, you will no longer be able to cancel or withdraw it, not even if you do not plan to use your eTA, regardless of the reason.

Other frequently asked questions

  • I am travelling with children, what do I need to keep in mind?

    Children always need their own passports and eTA Canada, regardless of their age. All information on this frequently asked questions page also applies to babies and children under 18 years of age as well as adults.

    Is a child under 18 years of age travelling without both parents?
    Then you need to carry a birth certificate and a letter of consent in English or French. The letter of consent must be signed by all persons who have legal custody of the child and who are not travelling with the child, such as the parents or guardians. A copy of an identification document must also be taken from all these persons, and their addresses and telephone numbers must be listed in the consent letter. If both parents do not have legal custody of the child, an official document must also be carried showing who does or does not have legal custody. You can find more information about this on the website childlawadvice.org.uk.

  • Is an issued eTA a guarantee that I can enter Canada?

    No. You may only enter Canada if you comply with Section 34-37 of the Immigration & Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). This states, among other things, that you cannot pose a risk to the health and safety of Canadaʼs residents and citizens.

    You are checked for compliance with the rules, both when you apply for your eTA and when you arrive in Canada. If on arrival in Canada, it becomes apparent that you do not meet the requirements of the eTA, you can be deported from the country immediately.

    In addition, you may be subjected to a random background check upon arrival. Even if you have a valid eTA, you still have to be able to convince an employee of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) that you plan to:
    • leave Canada within six months
    • have a source of income outside Canada
    • have a connection with another country and will return there again
    • have sufficient financial resources to pay for your stay and return journey
    • have a valid reason for your business trip, if you are travelling for business purposes

  • Do I need vaccinations for my trip to Canada?

    In most cases, full vaccination against the coronavirus is required. You can read more about that on the page about the coronavirus rules in Canada. When travelling, it is always wise to check whether you need vaccinations. Which vaccinations are compulsory or recommended for a holiday or business trip to Canada can be checked with your family doctor. The information on this website has not been written by a physician.

  • Can I carry medicines into Canada?

    Certain medicines cannot be carried into Canada, or only if you have a special permit to do so. Which medicines can be carried without a licence and how to get a licence can be found on the government website.

  • Is my personal data handled with care?

    This website processes sensitive and special personal data. These include passport numbers, citizen service numbers and passport photographs. You expect this to be handled with care.

    e-Visa.ie guarantees that your data will be protected in accordance with the current privacy regulations (GDPR). Both technical and organisational precautions have been taken for this purpose. Your data will only be processed and stored encrypted through secure connections. Your data will also be deleted as soon as its storage is no longer necessary. e-Visa.ie has designed and tested its privacy policy in collaboration with Taylor Wessing, an internationally renowned law firm.

    In order to be able to carry out an order for the application service relating to an eTA Canada, e-Visa.ie passes on the data filled out in the eTA form to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which determines whether the traveller(s) are permitted to travel to Canadian territory. IRCC, in turn, may transfer the information to other Canadian government agencies such as, but not limited to, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), provincial and territorial governments, and foreign governments, in accordance with Section 8.2 of the Privacy Act of Canada. Data may also be transferred to (or validated by) foreign law enforcement agencies and immigration enforcement detention authorities to the extent that it does not endanger the traveller(s) concerned or their families. Data may also be systematically validated by other Canadian government agencies for the purpose of validating the status and identity of the traveller(s). The data filled out in the eTA form may be stored in one or more Personal Information Banks (PIB) of the Canadian government in accordance with Section 10.1 of the Privacy Act of Canada.

    Your personal data will only be processed in the execution of your order for an eTA Canada. Your data will not be sold or used for other commercial purposes. However, the processing of personal data always involves risks. Even if all precautions are taken. e-Visa.ie, for example, cannot influence the above mentioned government authorities and what they do with your personal data. You can read more about this in the privacy policy.

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e-Visa.ie is a commercial and professional visa agency, and supports travellers in obtaining, among others, the eTA Canada. e-Visa.ie is an official partner of the International Air Transport Association, IATA, with membership number 57231226, acts as an intermediary, is no law firm, nor does it employ lawyers, does not provide legal advice, and is in no way part of any government. You can also apply for a eTA directly with the immigration service (7 CAD per eTA, via onlineservices-servicesenligne.cic.gc.ca). However, not with our level of support. If you submit your application via e-Visa.ie, our support centre is available to you 24/7. We also check your application before submitting it to the immigration authorities on your behalf. If we suspect any errors or omissions while doing so, we will personally contact you to ensure that your application can still be processed quickly and correctly. To use our services, you pay us 7 CAD in consular fees, which we pay to the immigration service on your behalf, as well as € 25,25 in service fees as compensation for our services, including VAT. Our services have saved many travellers from major problems during their trip. Should an application be rejected despite our support and verification, we will refund the full purchase price (unless an application for a previous Canada eTA was rejected for the same traveller). Read more about our services here.