Canada eTA: who needs it and how to apply on the official site
Independent site, not a government service: you apply only on the Government of Canada website, canada.ca.
Enter your passport: the checker applies the Canadian regulations and tells you whether you need an eTA, an eTA under conditions or a visa.
Official total, 1 traveller
€0.00
Nothing to pay for these destinations
Canada–
No authorisation needed
US citizens need no eTA.
Euro amounts: our conversion at the ECB reference rate of October 23, 2026; you pay in the official currency.
The Canadian electronic travel authorization (eTA) is required from citizens of visa-exempt countries who fly to or through a Canadian airport, under section 7.01 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. It covers 53 nationalities, including the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Australia and Japan. It is not needed by land or sea: a European driving in from the United States needs only a passport. US citizens need neither an eTA nor a visa, and US lawful permanent residents have been exempt since April 26, 2022. Citizens of 17 other countries, such as Brazil, Mexico, Morocco, Thailand and the Philippines, can use an eTA by air only if they held a Canadian visa in the last ten years or hold a valid US non-immigrant visa; otherwise they need a visitor visa. The eTA costs CAD 7, is applied for only on canada.ca, and is usually approved within minutes. It lasts up to 5 years or until the passport expires.
Checked by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Who needs an eTA
Section 7.01 of the Canadian regulations lists the countries whose citizens are exempt from a visa but need an eTA to come by air. Among the 53 of them: United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Japan. The checker reads that list, current to September 30, 2026 on the Justice Laws website.
Countries eligible under conditions
For 17 countries, the regulations allow an eTA by air only if the traveller held a Canadian visitor visa at any time in the ten years before applying, or holds a valid US non-immigrant visa on the day of the application. Indonesia and Malaysia were added on May 26, 2026. Everyone else from these countries needs a visitor visa at CAD 100.
Who does not need an eTA
US citizens; US lawful permanent residents with their green card (see the green card page); Canadian citizens and permanent residents; travellers who already hold a valid Canadian visa; and anyone arriving by land or sea.
How to apply
The only official form is on canada.ca. You need a valid passport, an email address and a payment card for the CAD 7, which is not refundable. The form is in English and French; canada.ca offers explanations of each field in other languages, German and Dutch included. It cannot be saved, so have your passport and travel details ready.
When to apply
Most applications are approved by email within minutes. Some need several days, and the government then sends an email within 72 hours asking for documents. Enter your flight date below for the last comfortable day to apply.
When should I apply?
Apply at the latest on
November 11, 2026
18 days left
Canada: most approved within minutes; if documents are asked for, an email within 72 hours.
Our margin: calendar days covering the longest official delay, weekends included.
Apply only at canada.ca
After approval
The eTA is linked to the passport used: the airline scans it at check-in, and nothing needs printing. Check that the passport number in the approval email matches exactly; if not, apply again. The eTA lasts up to 5 years or until the passport expires, and does not guarantee entry: a border services officer decides on arrival. The cost page gives the total for a family.