eTA Canada Visa Types

Updated on Dec 23, 2023 | Canada Visa Online

There is more than one type of Canada eTA or Canada Visa Type. The Canada eTA can be used for the following purposes: Transit, Tourism and sightseeing, Business and Medical treatment.

What is the Canada Visa Application?

The Canada visa online or the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) acts as an entry requirement, linked electronically to the traveller’s passport, for nationals travelling from the visa-exempt countries to Canada.

However, entry into Canada cannot be guaranteed by an eTA.

Visiting Canada is simpler than ever since Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced the simplified and streamlined process of obtaining electronic travel authorisation or Online Canada Visa. Online Canada Visa is an travel permit or electronic travel authorization to enter and visit Canada for a period of less than 6 months for tourism or business. International tourists must have a Canada eTA to be able to enter Canada and explore this beautiful country. Foreign citizens can apply for an Online Canada Visa Application in a matter of minutes. Online Canada Visa Application process is automated, simple, and completely online.

Is there more than one Canada etA Type?

Yes, there is more than one type of Canada eTA or Canada Visa Type. The Canada eTA can be used for the following purposes:

  • Transit
  • Tourism and sightseeing
  • Business
  • Medical treatment

What is the use of the Canada Visa Type used for Transit purposes?

Applicants eligible for the Canada eTA and having a layover at the Canadian airport can apply for the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization form (eTA).

Applicants in this category can use their Canada eTA to stay in Canada briefly, waiting for their connecting flight to another country or destination. You can also use the eTA to stay for a few days in any Canadian city while waiting to transit to another flight for a different country. 

What is the use of the Canada Visa Type used for Tourism purposes?

Applicants eligible for the Canada eTA and coming to Canada for tourism purposes can apply for the Canada eTA as a Travel Authorization document to allow them entry into Canada. The purpose of tourism may be as follows:

  • Sightseeing
  • Spending the holidays or vacationing in any Canadian city with your family members.
  • For visiting family or friends in any part of Canada
  • Coming to Canada as a part of your school group on a school trip, or even some other social activities.
  • Attending short courses that do not award any credits.

What is the use of the Canada Visa Type used for Business purposes?

Applicants eligible for the Canada eTA and coming to Canada for business purposes can apply for the Canada eTA as the eTA makes visiting Canada easier and convenient for all business visitors. The purpose of business in Canada may be as follows:

  • Attending business meetings or consultations with business associates
  • Attending educational, scientific or professional conferences and conventions in Canada.
  • Negotiating a contract
  • Hiring people for your business
  • In searching of job vacancies
  • Settling the affairs of an estate
  • Research related activities for the Business visitor’s business

What is the use of the Canada Visa Type used for Medical Treatment purposes?

Applicants eligible for the Canada eTA and coming to Canada for planned medical treatment purposes, can enter Canda by applying for the Canada eTA. 

In this case, the applicants, apart from the general requirements to Canada, would also be required to submit proof of their scheduled medical treatment, any documnet that probes their medical diagnosis and why they need to be treated in Canada which will be treated as an evidence fo their medical treatment in Canada.

Can I get medical assitance in Canada if I visit for a non-medical purpose?

Yes, you can. In case you are visiting Canada for a non-medical purpose like Business or Tourism, and need unplanned medical treatment or medical assistance after arriving in Canada, you will be treated by Canada’s local medical staff and your insurance company will be responsible for covering the health facility cost for the same.

Can I stay in Canada for a few days or hours for my transit?

Yes, you can. Applicants eligible for the Canada eTA and having a layover at the Canadian airport can apply for the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization form (eTA), to stay in Canada briefly, waiting for their connecting flight to another country or destination.

You can also use the eTA to stay for a few days in any Canadian city while waiting to transit to another flight for a different country. 

Can I use my Canada Visa Type to hire people for business purposes?

Yes, you can. Applicants eligible for the Canada eTA and coming to Canada for business purposes, including hiring people for their business can apply for the Canada eTA as the eTA makes visiting Canada easier and convenient for all business visitors. 

Can I use my Canada Visa Type to attend business meetings?

Yes, you can. Applicants eligible for the Canada eTA and coming to Canada for business purposes, including attending business meetings or consultations with business associates, can apply for the Canada eTA as the eTA makes visiting Canada easier and convenient for all business visitors.

Can I come for an interview using my Canada Visa Type?

Yes, you can. Applicants eligible for the Canada eTA and coming to Canada for business purposes, including attending an interview, can apply for the Canada eTA as the eTA makes visiting Canada easier and convenient for all business visitors.

What activities can I perform using my Canada Visa Type for business purposes?

Applicants eligible for the Canada eTA and coming to Canada for business purposes, can perform many activities in Canada, including:

  • Attending business meetings or consultations with business associates
  • Attending educational, scientific or professional conferences and conventions in Canada.
  • Negotiating a contract
  • Hiring people for your business
  • In searching of job vacancies
  • Settling the affairs of an estate
  • Research related activities for the Business visitor’s business

Can I go sightseeing in Canada using my Canada Visa Type?

Yes, you can. Applicants eligible for the Canada eTA and coming to Canada for tourism purposes, including sightseeing can apply for the Canada eTA as a Travel Authorization document to allow them entry into Canada.

READ MORE:
Get answers to the most common questions about the important information, requirements and documents required to travel to Canada. Learn more at Online Canada Visa Frequently Asked Questions.

Can I spend the holidays in Canada with my family using my Canada Visa Type?

Yes, you can. Applicants eligible for the Canada eTA and coming to Canada for tourism purposes, including spending the holidays or vacationing in any Canadian city with their family members, can apply for the Canada eTA as a Travel Authorization document to allow them entry into Canada.

What activities can I perform using my Canada Visa Type for tourism purposes?

Applicants eligible for the Canada eTA and coming to Canada for tourism purposes, can perform many activities in Canada, including:

  • Sightseeing
  • Spending the holidays or vacationing in any Canadian city with your family members.
  • For visiting family or friends in any part of Canada
  • Coming to Canada as a part of your school group on a school trip, or even some other social activities.
  • Attending short courses that do not award any credits.

What information is required in the Canada Visa Application?

The Canada Electronic Travel Authorization form (eTA)  itself is quite straightforward and easy to complete in a couple of minutes. There is the information required from the applicants under the following major categories:

  • Travel document
  • Passport details
  • Personal details
  • Employment information
  • Contact information
  • Residential address
  • Travel information
  • Consent and Declaration
  • Signature of the applicant
  • Payment details
  • Approval confirmation

Please note that you can also apply for the eTA from our website as we also provide translation services to Spanish, German, and Danish, and also file format translation.

When should I complete the Canada Visa Application?

The Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) approval usually takes minutes to be sent to the applicant via email. Hence, it is recommended to get your Canada eTA before booking your flight to Canada.

However, it is still safe to apply a  few days before booking your flight ticket, in case of being asked to submit supporting documents, the application might take several days to process.

What is the processing time for my Canada Visa Application?

The Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) approval usually takes minutes to be sent to the applicant via email. However, in some cases of being asked to submit supporting documents, the application might take several days to process.

How can I complete the Canada Visa Application?

Eligible applicants can obtain a Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) in just a few minutes by following some simple steps given below:

  • Click on this link to apply for the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
  • Fill out all the details asked in the online Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) form, including basic details regarding the type of document to be used, passport details, personal details, Personal details, Employment information, Contact information, Residential address, Travel information, Consent and Declaration, and the Signature of the applicant.
  • The applicant might also be required to answer a few questions.
  • Proceed to make the payment for your eTA using your valid debit or credit card that has been authorised for online payments.

Please make sure to double-check and submit the form at once, as the Canada eTA form cannot be saved. Hence, to avoid filling it up again from the beginning, try to fill up the form at once.

Note: Before submitting the eTA form, the applicants must carefully double-check all the information provided for it to be correct and free of errors, especially the passport number that has been provided.

This is because in case the applicant enters the wrong passport number the eTA might be rejected.

What are the documents required for my Canada Visa Application?

The following are the documents required to apply for the Canada Visa Online or the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA):

  • A valid passport from a visa-exempt country. Please note that lawful permanent residents of the United States are exempt from the eTA requirement.
  • An email address that is valid and working.
  • Any valid Debit card or Credit card.

How long does it take to complete the Canada Visa Application for the Canada Visa Type?

The Canada Visa online or the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) takes around 5-7 minutes to complete before making an online payment. The online application is an easy and fast process. 

If there are any issues in completing the online application, you can contact the Help Desk and Customer Support team on this website using the Contact Us link.

Do children need to obtain any type of Canada Visa?

Yes, they are required to apply for the Canada Visa Types or the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). There is no age exemption for the Canada eTA and, all the eligible eTA-required travellers, regardless of their age, are required to get an eTA for entry into Canada.

The children are required to follow the same rules for entry into Canada, as the adults.

What are the documents required to be submitted for each Canada Visa Type by children/minors?

Canda VIsa (eTA) does not require the submission of documents. New born/minors can apply for their Canada Visa (eTA) without submitting any documents.

Can I apply for the Canada Visa Type as a group?

No, you cannot. The Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a single document and, each family member must apply for a separate eTA. Applying for more than one eTA at a time is not allowed.

Do I need to apply for the Canada Visa Application every time I visit Canada?

No, you need not apply for the Canada Visa Online or the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) every time you enter Canada. Once, the eTA gets approved it will be valid for five years, and you can use it to enter Canada, as many times as required, within the five years validity of your eTA.

What happens after completing the Canada Visa Application?

After completing your Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), you will receive an email related to the eTA approval within minutes. 

However, in some cases of being asked to submit supporting documents, the application might take several days to process. In that case, an email within 72 hours of applying will be sent to the applicant regarding the next steps to be followed to apply and receive the eTA.

Once your eTA has been approved you will receive an email regarding this to the email id provided during your application. The approval email will include your exclusive eTA number.

Make sure to keep this number in case you need any help regarding your eTA.

Does the Canada Visa Application guarantee entry into Canada?

Entry into Canada cannot be guaranteed by an eTA. A border services officer will ask to see your passport and other documents when you arrive, and to successfully enter Canada you must convince the officer that you are eligible for the eTA.

In case you pass the identity check, and health assessment, while meeting all the entry requirements, the border services officer will stamp your passport and will let you know how long you can stay in Canada. 

Please make sure to ask questions if you are not sure about something.

On what ground will the border officers process my Canada Visa Application?

The border officers will not process your Canada eTA if you provide false or incomplete information. You must make sure to convince the officer that:

  • You are eligible for entry into Canada
  • You will leave the country once your approved period of stay ends.

What is the validity period of each Canada Visa Type?

The Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) has a validity of five (5) years. 

Normally, a stay of up to 6 months is allowed. In some cases, however, officers may limit or extend your stay in Canada based on the planned purpose of your visit.

How to change the email address after applying for the Canada Visa Application?

If case you want to change your email address after applying for the Canada eTA, you can do it by  emailing your email address to us or by contacting us from our Contact Us page.

What happens if I provide the wrong passport number for the Canada Visa Application?

In case of providing the wrong passport number, you may not be able to board your flight to Canada. 

You will have to re-apply for the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) with the correct passport number. However, getting an eTA last minute might not be possible, if you are required to submit supporting documents.

What happens after arriving at the airport with my Canada eTA Visa?

The Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) does not guarantee your entry into Canada. A border services officer will ask to see your passport and other documents when you arrive, and to successfully enter Canada you must convince the officer that you are eligible for the eTA.

After arriving at the airport the border services officer will determine if you meet all entry requirements. You will be asked to show your passport and other travel documents to the border services officers. 
They will also check your identity to confirm that the applicant is the same person who was approved to travel to Canada. Furthermore, the office will also ask to see your ArriveCAN receipt, proof of vaccination, and quarantine plan.

Can I use my ETA Canada Visa for staying more than 30 days?

Yes, you can. The Canada eTA has a validity of five (5) years, and normally eligible applicants entering Canada with the Canada eTA are allowed a stay up to six (6) months. 

In some cases, however, officers may limit or extend your stay in Canada based on the planned purpose of your visit.

READ MORE:

Before applying for the Canada Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) you must make sure to have a valid passport from a visa-exempt country, an email address that is valid and working and credit/debit card for online payment. Canada Visa Eligiblity and Requirements


Check your eligibility for Online Canada Visa and apply for eTA Canada Visa 3 days in advance of your flight. British citizens, Italian citizens, Spanish citizens, French citizens, Israeli citizens, South Korean citizens, Portuguese citizens and Chilean citizens can apply online for eTA Canada Visa.