How to Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to Fly to Canada

How do you apply for a Canadian eTA?

You can apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) through the official website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The application is online, costs CAN$7 and usually receives a decision within minutes.

Before applying, confirm that your nationality, passport and travel method make you eligible. Then prepare your passport, email address and payment card.

Use the official Government of Canada eTA application page. IRCC recommends obtaining your eTA before booking your flight because some applications take longer to process.

An eTA is not a visitor visa, work permit or study permit. It authorizes an eligible traveller to board a flight to Canada or transit through a Canadian airport, subject to the applicable entry requirements.

Who needs an eTA to fly to Canada?

Most visa-exempt foreign nationals need an eTA when travelling to Canada by air, including when connecting through a Canadian airport.

However, an eTA is not required for every traveller. The correct document depends on your citizenship, immigration status, passport and method of travel.

Use IRCC's eTA eligibility and exemption guide before paying.

Who does not need an eTA?

Canadian citizens cannot use an eTA. Dual Canadian citizens generally need a valid Canadian passport to fly to Canada. Canadian-American dual citizens may travel with a valid Canadian or U.S. passport under IRCC's specific rules.

Canadian permanent residents do not need an eTA or visitor visa. They generally need a valid permanent resident card or permanent resident travel document for commercial travel to Canada.

United States citizens are exempt from the eTA requirement. Lawful permanent residents of the United States are also exempt and must carry an acceptable travel document together with valid proof of U.S. permanent resident status.

If you are a Canadian permanent resident outside Canada without an acceptable PR card, see how to apply for a permanent resident travel document.

Can someone from a visa-required country apply for an eTA?

Some citizens of visa-required countries can apply for an eTA instead of a Canadian visitor visa when travelling by air.

To qualify under this expanded eligibility route, you must meet all three conditions:

1. Hold a passport from one of the countries included in IRCC's expanded eTA eligibility program.
2. Have held a Canadian visitor visa during the previous 10 years or hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa when applying for the eTA.
3. Travel to Canada for a temporary stay by air, including transit through a Canadian airport.

The U.S. non-immigrant visa must be valid when the eTA application is submitted, but it does not necessarily have to remain valid on the travel date.

IRCC's eligible-country list includes Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Panama, the Philippines, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Seychelles, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.

Important: these expanded eligibility rules apply to air travel. Travellers from these visa-required countries generally still need a visitor visa when arriving by car, bus, train or boat, including a cruise ship.

Indonesia and Malaysia were added to this eligibility arrangement on May 26, 2026. The program does not automatically make every passport holder from these countries eligible.

Read IRCC's expanded eTA eligibility rules for visa-required countries before selecting this route.

If you need a regular visa instead, see how to apply for a Canadian visitor visa.

What do you need before starting the application?

The standard application requires a valid eligible passport, an accessible email address and an accepted payment card.

• Passport: use the exact passport you intend to travel with.
• Email address: use an address you check regularly because IRCC sends application updates and decisions by email.
• Payment card: prepare a supported card for the CAN$7 fee.
• Personal details: be ready to enter the information requested in the application and answer its background questions.
• Additional eligibility information: if applying under expanded eTA eligibility, be prepared to provide information about the qualifying previous Canadian visa or valid U.S. non-immigrant visa.

IRCC accepts several payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, eligible prepaid cards, Visa Debit, Debit Mastercard, UnionPay and JCB.

The official application form is available in English and French. IRCC also provides field-by-field help in other languages.

The application form cannot be saved. Gather your information before starting so you can complete the form in one session.

How to complete the eTA application online

1. Open the official application service. Visit the IRCC eTA application page and follow the application link.
2. Read the instructions. Check the passport and eligibility requirements, including any nationality-specific questions.
3. Enter your passport information. Copy the passport number, nationality, names and other requested details carefully from the passport information page.
4. Complete the personal and background questions. Provide truthful and complete answers to every required field.
5. Review your answers. Pay particular attention to the passport number and the email address.
6. Submit the application and pay. Pay the CAN$7 non-refundable fee using an accepted payment method.
7. Check your email. IRCC will send an approval, another decision or instructions if additional review is necessary.

You can apply for another person, but each traveller needs a separate application and payment. There is no single family eTA that covers multiple travellers.

Why is the passport number so important?

Your eTA is electronically linked to the passport number submitted in the application.

If you enter an incorrect passport number, the airline may not be able to confirm your authorization when you check in. Even an approved eTA may be unusable for travel if its passport number does not match your passport.

IRCC specifically advises travellers to compare the passport number in the approval email with the number printed on the passport information page.

If the numbers do not match, you must apply for a new eTA with the correct passport number. Do not assume the airline can correct the mistake at the airport.

How much does a Canadian eTA cost?

The Government of Canada charges CAN$7 per eTA application. This is a non-refundable processing fee.

You must submit and pay for each traveller separately, including each child who needs an eTA.

There is no higher official fee for a faster eTA decision. Websites charging substantially more may be private intermediaries rather than the Government of Canada's application service.

Use the official IRCC application page to avoid unnecessary third-party charges and misleading promises of guaranteed approval.

How long does an eTA application take?

Most eTA applications are approved within minutes. However, some applications require additional review and may take several days.

If IRCC needs further information or documents, it normally sends an email explaining the next steps within 72 hours of the application.

The 72-hour period is not a guaranteed approval deadline. It refers to communication about applications requiring additional processing.

IRCC recommends applying before booking your flight. Waiting until airport check-in is risky because an application may require further review.

Check the email address you used for the application, including its junk or spam folder.

How can you check your eTA status?

IRCC provides an online eTA status-checking service. It can be used to obtain updates about pending applications and information about an existing authorization.

After approval, keep your eTA number from the confirmation email. It may be useful if you need to contact IRCC or check your authorization.

Use the official IRCC instructions for what happens after applying to access the status-checking service and other follow-up options.

If you have not received an email, first check your spam folder and verify that you are checking the correct email account. Follow IRCC's official contact instructions if you still need assistance.

How long is a Canadian eTA valid?

An approved eTA is valid for up to five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first.

During that period, you can generally use the same eTA for multiple short visits to Canada, provided it remains valid and you continue to meet entry requirements.

Visitors are normally admitted for up to six months at a time, but the final authorized period of stay is determined at the Canadian border.

An eTA does not guarantee entry or authorize someone to remain in Canada for five years. Its validity period and your permitted duration of stay are different things.

Do you need a new eTA after getting a new passport?

Yes. Because the eTA is linked to a specific passport, you must apply for a new eTA when you receive a new passport, even if the previous eTA would otherwise still be valid.

Use the new passport number when submitting the replacement application and pay the standard application fee.

If your passport was lost, stolen, damaged or replaced, do not expect the authorization linked to the old passport to transfer automatically.

What happens after your eTA is approved?

IRCC sends an approval email containing your eTA number. The authorization is linked electronically to your passport.

When checking in for your flight to Canada, present the same passport used for your eTA application. Airline staff scan the passport to confirm that a valid authorization is associated with it.

You do not need to print a separate eTA document. However, keeping the approval email accessible can help you confirm the passport details and authorization number.

If the airline cannot verify a required eTA, you may be unable to board your flight.

Does an eTA guarantee entry into Canada?

No. An eTA allows an eligible traveller to board a flight to Canada, but it does not guarantee admission.

A Canada Border Services Agency officer assesses your admissibility when you arrive. You may need to demonstrate that you meet the entry requirements, have sufficient funds and intend to leave Canada at the end of your authorized stay.

Criminal, immigration-related, security, health or financial issues can affect admissibility.

If you know that you may be inadmissible, an eTA is not a substitute for resolving that issue. Depending on the circumstances, you may need to investigate temporary resident permit eligibility before travelling.

Do children need their own eTA?

Yes. Every traveller who is subject to the eTA requirement needs an individual authorization, regardless of age.

A parent or guardian can complete an application for a child, but each child must have the required travel document and their own application.

Families must submit and pay for applications separately. One adult's approved eTA does not cover their children or other relatives.

When travelling with a child, additional documentation may be requested at the Canadian border, such as a parental consent letter or custody documents, depending on the circumstances.

If a child is travelling without both parents, review the requirements for a child travel consent letter.

Do you need an eTA to transit through Canada?

Generally, yes. If you are a foreign national who requires an eTA, you need it when flying through a Canadian airport, even if Canada is not your final destination.

The rules differ for land and sea travel. Most travellers from eTA-required countries do not need an eTA when arriving by car, bus, train or cruise ship, although they still need the appropriate travel documents and must meet Canada's entry requirements.

For citizens of certain visa-required countries who qualify under the expanded eTA program, the distinction is especially important: their eTA eligibility applies to air travel, while arrival by land or sea generally requires a visitor visa.

Do not assume that an eTA obtained for a connecting flight authorizes every possible route into Canada.

Common mistakes that can delay your trip

• Applying without checking eligibility: some travellers need a visitor visa, while others are exempt from the eTA requirement.
• Entering the wrong passport number: an incorrect number can prevent airline boarding and requires a new application.
• Applying with an old passport: an eTA does not transfer to a replacement passport.
• Waiting until the day of departure: some applications require additional review and take several days.
• Using an incorrect email address: you may miss the approval or requests for additional information.
• Using a third-party website without checking its fees: the official IRCC application costs CAN$7.
• Assuming an eTA permits work or study: separate immigration authorization may be required.
• Assuming an eTA guarantees entry: a border services officer makes the final admissibility decision.

What if your eTA is not approved?

If IRCC needs additional documents or clarification, follow the instructions in its email and respond through the channel it specifies.

If the application is refused, read the decision carefully. A refusal may involve eligibility, admissibility or other circumstances requiring a different immigration process.

Do not repeatedly submit identical applications without addressing the reason for refusal. If your passport number was simply entered incorrectly, IRCC instructs you to submit a new eTA application using the correct passport details.

For other problems, use IRCC's official guidance and contact channels to identify the appropriate next step. There is no general guarantee that a new application will overcome an earlier refusal.

Where to find the official application and instructions

The Government of Canada provides the application, eligibility rules, processing information and follow-up instructions through IRCC.

• Official eTA application and payment
• Eligibility and exemptions
• Expanded eligibility for visa-required countries
• After applying and checking your eTA

Apply early, verify the passport number in your approval email and travel with the same passport used in your application.