Canada eTA — apply online

Key details

Entry type

Multiple entry (valid up to 5 years or passport expiry)

Passport validity

At least 6 months from entry

Blank pages

2 required

Biometric data

Not required

Printed eVisa

Not required — linked electronically to your passport

Israeli stamp

Accepted

Travel insurance

Not required

Yellow fever certificate

Not required

Tips & warnings

• Approval is usually instant, but apply before booking non-refundable travel in case yours needs extra review.
• Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date.
• The eTA is electronically linked to the passport you apply with — travel on that same passport.

Practical notes

Country information

Capital

Ottawa

Currency

Canadian dollar (CAD)

Calling code

+1

Time zone

GMT−3:30 to −8 (6 time zones)

Population

≈40 million

Language

English & French

Best time to visit

Summer (Jun–Sep) brings long daylight, open national parks and the best conditions for Niagara, Banff and Vancouver. Ski season runs Dec–Mar.

Related destinations

How to apply

1. 1

   Confirm you need an eTA and gather your documents

   Check that you are a visa-exempt traveller (or qualify under the eTA-X rules) and that you are flying to or through Canada, then have your valid passport, a valid email address, and a payment card ready before you start.

2. 2

   Complete the online application form

   Fill in the secure online form with your passport and personal details and answer the eligibility and background questions accurately, making sure every detail matches your passport exactly.

3. 3

   Review your information carefully

   Double-check your passport number, name, date of birth, and nationality, because the eTA is electronically linked to the passport you enter and errors can prevent you from boarding.

4. 4

   Submit and pay for your application

   Submit your application and complete the payment, which is shown clearly before you confirm. The amount due is displayed at checkout.

5. 5

   Receive your confirmation and watch your email

   You will get an email confirming submission; most applications are approved within minutes, but some take longer, and you may be asked for more documents, so monitor your inbox and spam folder.

6. 6

   Travel with the linked passport

   Once approved, your eTA is tied to your passport, so travel using that same passport and keep a copy of the approval email with you when you fly.

After you apply & on arrival

• After you submit your eTA application online, most applicants are approved automatically and receive an approval email within minutes (source: canada.ca eTA after-you-apply / IRCC helpcentre qnum 1085).
• Some applications need more time — they can take several days to process — and if yours does, IRCC will email you, normally within 72 hours of applying, to tell you your next steps (source: IRCC helpcentre qnum 1085).
• IRCC may email you to request additional information or documents, or to ask you to attend an in-person interview at a Canadian visa office, before making a decision (source: IRCC helpcentre qnum 1085).
• You will be notified by email when your eTA is approved; once approved, check that the passport number in the approval email matches your passport exactly, and keep your application number in case you need to contact IRCC or check your eTA status later (source: IRCC helpcentre qnum 1065 / canada.ca after-you-apply).
• IRCC will also email you if your application is refused/denied (source: IRCC helpcentre qnum 1065).
• Check your junk/spam folder, because spam filters sometimes block automated IRCC emails (source: IRCC helpcentre qnum 1065 and 1085).
• If you have not received a confirmation email containing an application number within 72 hours of applying, fill out the IRCC web form, selecting 'Electronic Travel Authorization' and 'Case Specific Enquiries'; note it can take IRCC several days to reply (source: IRCC helpcentre qnum 1085).
• Application statuses, in plain terms: APPROVED means your eTA is valid and electronically linked to your passport so you may travel; IN PROGRESS (or a request for documents) means a decision has not yet been made and you may need to send more information; REFUSED/DENIED means you were not authorized to travel on the eTA (source: IRCC helpcentre).
• Do not travel to Canada until a decision has been made on your eTA — the eTA is a mandatory entry requirement and you should not fly before it is approved (source: IRCC helpcentre qnum 1237).
• If you are leaving for Canada soon and your eTA has not been approved, you may need to reschedule your flight; do not travel until you have approval (source: IRCC helpcentre qnum 1237 and 1085).
• You do NOT have to print anything to prove you have an eTA — it is electronically linked to your passport — but you must travel with the exact passport you used to apply, and the airline will scan it at check-in to confirm you have a valid eTA (source: IRCC helpcentre qnum 1066 / canada.ca after-you-apply). Many travellers still keep a copy of the approval email with the application number as a convenience.
• An approved eTA does NOT guarantee entry to Canada — it only authorizes you to board your flight (source: canada.ca eTA facts).
• ON ARRIVAL, a border services officer will ask to see your passport and any other documents, confirm your identity and citizenship, and decide whether you may enter; you must satisfy the officer that you are eligible and admissible (source: CBSA / canada.ca eTA facts).
• The officer makes the FINAL decision on admissibility and on how long you may stay; boarding the plane does not guarantee you can enter Canada (source: CBSA / canada.ca eTA facts).
• For biometrics: visa-exempt travellers using an eTA are generally not required to give fingerprints and a photo for the eTA itself; biometrics may be collected at a port of entry for certain people (for example those eligible to receive a work or study permit on arrival, or seeking asylum), and visa-required travellers normally give biometrics after applying for their visa (source: travel.gc.ca / canada.ca biometrics).
• The officer will set your authorized period of stay; if they require you to leave by a particular date they will write or stamp it in your passport and may give you an additional document (source: IRCC helpcentre qnum 1016).
• Arrive through an official, designated port of entry and present yourself to the border services officer; entering anywhere other than a designated crossing is not permitted (source: CBSA).
• EXIT: Plan to leave Canada on or before the end of your authorized stay (the stamped/written date, or six months from entry if no date was given); to remain longer you must apply for a visitor record from within Canada at least 30 days before your authorized stay ends (source: IRCC helpcentre qnum 1016 / canada.ca extend-your-stay).

Before you apply

What everyone needs

• A valid passport from an eTA-eligible country, which must remain valid for your travel; your eTA will be linked to this passport number.
• A valid email address where you can receive your eTA application status and any requests for further information.
• A credit or debit card to pay for the application at the end of the online process.
• Basic personal information as shown in your passport, including your full name, date of birth, nationality, and passport number.
• Background details to answer the application questions, such as your contact information and questions about your health, travel history, and any criminal or immigration history.
• If you are applying under the eTA-X rules for citizens of certain visa-required countries, details of your valid U.S. non-immigrant visa or evidence that you held a Canadian visitor visa within the past 10 years.
• No photograph and no in-person appointment are required for an eTA application; the entire process is completed online.
• It is recommended to apply for your eTA before you book final travel and well before your flight, because while most approvals arrive within minutes, some applications take several days when extra review or documents are needed.

Detailed information

Frequently asked questions