Determine Your Eligibility
What You Need to Visit Canada as a Tourist
Since August 2015, visa-exempt foreign travelers flying to or transiting through Canada must obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). This requirement does not apply to U.S. citizens and travelers who hold a valid visa. Learn more about these changes and see how they may affect you.
Most travelers need a valid entry document, such as an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) or a visa, to visit Canada. This will depend on your nationality or specific situation.
Basic Requirements
To visit Canada, you must :
- Have a valid travel document, such as a passport;
- Be in good health;
- Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions;
- Convince an immigration officer that you have ties—such as a job, financial assets, or family—that will take you back to your home country;
- Convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit;
- Have enough money for your stay (the amount needed varies depending on circumstances such as the length of your visit and whether you will stay in a hotel or with family or friends).
You may also need :
- To undergo a medical exam;
- A letter of invitation from someone living in Canada.
Entry Documents
In addition to meeting the basic requirements, most visitors need a valid entry document. Determine if you need an ETA or a visa.
Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA)
Since August 2015, travelers with a passport from a country subject to the ETA requirement who will enter Canada by air must obtain an ETA.
The authorization is electronically linked to your passport and is valid for five years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.
The ETA application is a simple and inexpensive online process (€44.90) that takes just a few minutes. Most eligible ETA applicants will receive their authorization within minutes of submitting the online form.
If you need an ETA, you must:
- Obtain it when you plan your trip—do not wait until the last minute to apply (see Travel Documents);
- Travel to Canada with the passport you used to obtain your ETA.
Determine if you need an ETA.
Main Groups Exempt from the ETA Requirement
U.S. citizens do not need an ETA to enter Canada. See the complete list of exemptions.
Visitor Visa
Travelers with a passport from a country or territory that requires a visa must obtain a visitor visa (temporary resident visa) to enter Canada.
A visa is an official document inserted into a passport that allows you to enter Canada.
Visa Conditions
There are two types of visas: single-entry and multiple-entry visas. Both are valid for a specified period and cannot be used after they expire.
A multiple-entry visa allows visitors to enter and leave Canada, generally for up to six months at a time, without having to reapply. It is valid for up to 10 years or until one month before the passport expires, whichever comes first. You must arrive in Canada no later than the visa’s expiration date.
A single-entry visa allows you to enter Canada only once. After leaving Canada, unless you travel to the United States or Saint Pierre and Miquelon, you will need a new visa to return.
Determine if you need a VISA.
Travel Documents
When traveling to Canada, you must always carry proper travel documents and identification for yourself and any children traveling with you.
Transportation companies, such as airlines, will ensure you have the required travel documents. If you do not have the correct documents, you may be delayed or unable to board your flight.
The following documents are not considered reliable. You cannot use them to enter Canada :
- A passport purportedly issued by Somalia;
- A passport issued by the Czech Republic that is not machine-readable;
- A temporary passport issued by South Africa;
- A provisional passport issued by Venezuela.
Permanent Residents of Canada
If you are a permanent resident of Canada, you must present your permanent resident card when returning to Canada on a commercial vehicle, such as an airplane, boat, train, or bus. If you are returning to Canada in a private vehicle, such as your own car, you may present other documents.
If you plan to leave Canada, check the expiry date on your card to ensure it will still be valid when you return. Most cards are valid for five years.
Since August 2015, if you are a permanent resident of Canada and a citizen of a visa-exempt country, you must travel with your permanent resident card (PR card) or a permanent resident travel document when arriving in Canada by air. Otherwise, you may not be allowed to board your flight to Canada. Permanent residents who are citizens of visa-required countries must continue to present their PR card when boarding a flight to Canada.
Inadmissibility
Some people are inadmissible, meaning they are not allowed to enter Canada. A person may be inadmissible for various reasons, including criminal activity, human rights violations, or organized crime.
A person may also be inadmissible for security, health, or financial reasons.