Canada Tourist Visa Changes

[clazman]

Visitors to Canada will now require eTA before entering the country

Starting March 15, 2016, visa-exempt foreign nationals (who fly to or transit through Canada will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Exceptions include U.S. citizens and travellers with a valid visa.

If you travel before March 15, 2016, you do not need an eTA but you can still apply for one. For now, make sure you travel with acceptable travel documents and identification, such as a valid passport.



Please read Visit as a tourist

 

[opusman]

$7, valid for 5 years (or life of passport).

 

[Himeno]

Canada, copying America's bad ideas.

 

[RooFlyer]

Canada, copying America's bad ideas.

Not just copying, it seems. from a notice I received today:

Canada’s eTA program was established as a result of a jointU.S.-Canada border action plan to step up screening of visa-exempt foreign nationals.The Canadian system is similar to the Electronic System for TravelAuthorization (ESTA) used for visa-waived nationals traveling to the U.S. thathas been in place for many years.

 

[Foreigner]

New government has given 6 month grace to travellers from certain countries inc. Australia. Still, documentation will be required on landing.

http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/politics/canada-electronic-travel-authorization-1.3476225

 

[RooFlyer]

Gah. Just went on-line to apply for a Canadian eTA.

Well, actually, the first time I tried to apply was last week. After going through the while tedious thing, I made some sort of error with cc details. It gave me an indecipherable error message (so I had no idea what I had done wrong) and it kicked me out - no second chances!

Tried again tonight. Like last time, the first page after 'proceed' took forever to load. On IE 9 the header loaded, then 15 sec later, the footer. The guts took almost minute to load!! I went over to Chrome, as I thought it was an IE issue, and there, the guts never loaded - just the header. Back to IE.

Info required is sort of straightforward. Haven't applied for a US ESTA recently, so not sure which is the more complex, but the Canadian job is much more involved than ESTAs used to be.

So, this time they took my C$7 OK, and I got an e-mail acknowledgement saying my file was being 'reviewed' . Gee, thanks.

And because I'm travelling on business in mining, I'll still get the third degree interrogation on arrival. :evil:

 

[Pushka]

Yep. I posted this info last year.

 

[Goodonya]

My TA just informed me that I need to get a Canadian eTA (7 CAD) for my travel through Toronto this month (even though leniency period ends Nov 9). How come I don't need the eTA if I am coming in by land or sea? Am I missing something here? :shock:

 

[opusman]

My TA just informed me that I need to get a Canadian eTA (7 CAD) for my travel through Toronto this month (even though leniency period ends Nov 9). How come I don't need the eTA if I am coming in by land or sea? Am I missing something here? :shock:

It's not uncommon for entry formalities to be different at airports vs land/sea borders, particularly in the early days after a new system has been introduced. E.g. the reciprocity fee in Argentina was only payable if entering through EZE.

 

[RooFlyer]

My TA just informed me that I need to get a Canadian eTA (7 CAD) for my travel through Toronto this month (even though leniency period ends Nov 9). How come I don't need the eTA if I am coming in by land or sea? Am I missing something here? :shock:

In addition to what opusman said, I think a reason is that with flying, there is a substantial commitment in travel before you get to the border; so best you be 'approved' to a certain level before you leave. Also, if you get bounced after arriving by air, they have to deal with you etc before they send you back. With land, and to a certain extent entry by sea, if there is a 'problem', bouncing you only means returning you a few metres back the way you came, or back onto the ship. Saves many people from the hassle of getting an eTA.

 

[needtotravel]

Hi there...Does anyone have an answer to my question....I was born in Canada but have lived in Australia for over 40 years. My old Canadian expired a long time ago & have been using my Australian passport whenever I visit Canada. Can I keep using my passport to visit or do I have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a new Canadian passport? To me, it seems like getting a visitor’s visa, making it the most expensive visitor’s visa in the world. Any suggestions or answers to my dilemma? I tried calling Canadian Consulate but was told by automated operator to go to website which doesn't have the answer to my question. Thanks

 

[BacchusMarsh]

Hi there...Does anyone have an answer to my question....I was born in Canada but have lived in Australia for over 40 years. My old Canadian expired a long time ago & have been using my Australian passport whenever I visit Canada. Can I keep using my passport to visit or do I have to spend hundreds of dollars to get a new Canadian passport? To me, it seems like getting a visitor’s visa, making it the most expensive visitor’s visa in the world. Any suggestions or answers to my dilemma? I tried calling Canadian Consulate but was told by automated operator to go to website which doesn't have the answer to my question. Thanks

Dual Canadian citizens need a valid Canadian passport

If you are a dual Canadian citizen used to travelling to or transiting through Canada by air with a non-Canadian passport, you will no longer be able to do so as of November 10, 2016. You will need a valid Canadian passport to board your flight.

 

[Maca44]

I just noticed this, was in Canada three years ago and have not required an ETA previously. However, i am flying into LAX then surface travel up to Seattle before taking the train from Seattle to Vancouver BC.
Will be in BC for 2 plus weeks, then flying out of YVR to NRT. So, not flying into Canada, but flying out...do I need an ETA.
Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[DaveB]

I just noticed this, was in Canada three years ago and have not required an ETA previously. However, i am flying into LAX then surface travel up to Seattle before taking the train from Seattle to Vancouver BC.
Will be in BC for 2 plus weeks, then flying out of YVR to NRT. So, not flying into Canada, but flying out...do I need an ETA.
Thanks in advance for your help.

You don't, but if likely going back soon suggest you do as the C$7 fee will cover you up to 5 years or passport expiry.

We also didn't need it last year entering by sea and nearly forgot to apply for this years trip.

 

[Quickstatus]

This Canada eTA website is not good.

Go all the way to paying and unable because of some error - unable to reach the payment portal.

Tried 3 different computers and 3 different internet connections........

In the end discovered that Safari works reliably (Chrome no good) (MacOSx)

 

[OZDUCK]

This Canada eTA website is not good.

Go all the way to paying and unable because of some error - unable to reach the payment portal.

Tried 3 different computers and 3 different internet connections........

In the end discovered that Safari works reliably (Chrome no good) (MacOSx)

They have just "migrated" to a new webpage for the ETA. (TripAdvisor forums in early December) As usual, they probably didn't do adequate pre-launch testing.

 

[Quickstatus]

I nearly got scammed by the third party ETA sites - looks legit with a gov website address. Wanted $100 per eTA.

The real Canada.ca site was several lines down the google search page. Even the scammer sites use the words “official”. No doubt paying google to be higher up the webpage.

 

[Cynicor]

Had a look, it isn't a gov address but does look like one at a glance. Also it is a paid ad- as indicated by the little "ad" icon that google provides. Shouldn't be allowed, and might be in breach of google guidelines and reportable.

 

[get me outta here]

Edit, the eTA is electronic. Once the application goes through an email is sent to confirm.