Tourist Visa for Canada

Updated on Jan 01, 2023 | Canada Visa Online

The Online Canada Visa or Canada eTA is a government-issued travel document that enables foreign nationals to travel to Canada for leisurely activities such as weekend getaways or vacations in virtually any Canadian city, sightseeing, visiting relatives or friends, or traveling as a field trip with a university group.

Are you arranging a trip to Canada for leisure or sightseeing? Before traveling to Canada, it is essential that you have the proper identification and travel documents. Your kids will need their own IDs and travel documents if you're bringing them along.

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.

What is Online Canada Visa or Canada eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization)?

The Online Canada Visa or Canada eTA is a government-issued travel document that enables foreign nationals to travel to Canada for leisurely activities such as weekend getaways or vacations in virtually any Canadian city, sightseeing, visiting relatives or friends, or traveling as a field trip with a university group.

Foreign nationals who are exempt from needing a visa can visit Canada without applying for one at a Canadian embassy or consulate according to the Canada eTA.

Since the Canada eTA is electronically linked to your passport, it is good for five (5) years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first.

READ MORE:
In nearly the middle of the province, Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, is located along both sides of the North Saskatchewan River. It is assumed that the city has a long-standing rivalry with Calgary, which is located just over two hours south and says Edmonton is a dull government town. Learn more at Tourist Guide to Must Visit Places in Edmonton, Canada.

What is the Eligibility Requirement to Get A Canada Tourist Visa?

For tourists coming to Canada for less than six (6) months on business, for transportation, or for pleasure, an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is now required.

The new eTA entrance requirement applies to foreign nationals without visas who wish to travel by air to Canada. The authorization is electronically linked to your passport and is good for five (5) years.

A minimum of three (3) days before the intended arrival date, applicants from eligible countries or territories must apply.

Citizens of the United States are exempt from the requirement for electronic travel authorization for Canada. To travel to Canada, US residents do not require a visa or an eTA.

The following countries have citizens who can apply for an Canada eTA or Canada Tourist Visa:

Andorra

Anguilla

Australia

Austria

Bahamas

Barbados

Belgium

Br. Virgin Is.

Brunei

Bulgaria

Cayman Islands

Chile

Hong Kong

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

South Korea

Latvia

Liechtenstein

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Mexico

Monaco

Montserrat

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Papua New Guinea

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Samoa

San Marino

Singapore

Slovakia

Slovenia

Solomon Islands

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Taiwan

British overseas

United Kingdom

Vatican City State

 

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. Learn more at Canada Visa Eligibility and Requirements.

Does a visitor to Canada need to have a Canada eTA or a Canada tourist visa?

You can travel to Canada on either a conventional Canada Tourist Visa or a Canada eTA, depending on your place of residence. 

You do not need to apply for a Canada Tourist Visa at a Canadian embassy or consulate; instead, you can apply for a Canada eTA online if your passport citizenship is one of the nations listed below that are exempt from the requirement for a visa.

You must adhere to the following requirements to be qualified for a Canada Tourist Visa or an eTA:

  • If you are a citizen of one of the nations listed below, you do not need to obtain a visa - Citizen of any of these visa-exempt countries:
  • Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holy See (holders of a passport or travel document issued by the Holy See), Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel (holders of national Israeli passport), Italy, Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania (holders of a biometric passport/e-passport issued by Lithuania), Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Poland (holders of a biometric passport/e-passport issued by Poland), Portugal, Samoa, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan (holders of the ordinary passport issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Taiwan that includes their personal identification number).
  • A British citizen or British overseas citizen. British overseas territories include Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn, St. Helena, or the Turks and Caicos Islands.
  • United States citizen or legal permanent resident with a Green Card or equivalent proof of permanent residency.

READ MORE:
Many of the activities to do in Halifax, from its wild entertainment scene, laced with maritime music, to its museums and tourist attractions, relate in some way to its strong association with the sea. The port and the city's maritime history still have an impact on Halifax's daily life. Learn more at Tourist Guide to Must Visit Places in Halifax, Canada.

What types of activities can travelers on a tourist visa visiting Canada engage in?

Any of the following are permitted uses for the eTA Canada Tourist Visa:

  • Spending time on vacation or over the holidays in any Canadian city.
  • Sightseeing.
  • Visiting family or friends.
  • Getting there as a class on a field trip or for another social occasion.
  • Taking part in a short study session during which no credits are given.

How long may I stay as a guest if I have a Canada Tourist Visa?

Most travelers are allowed to stay in Canada for six (6) months after their arrival. The decision of how long you may stay in Canada ultimately rests with the immigration officer at the Canadian port of entry (POE). If the Border Services Officer only approves a shorter time, such as three (3) months, your passport will state the date by which you must depart Canada.

READ MORE:
Whitehorse, which is home to 25,000 people, or more than half of Yukon's entire population, has developed recently into a significant hub for the arts and culture. With this list of the top tourist attractions in Whitehorse, you can discover the greatest things to do in this small but intriguing city. Learn more at Tourist Guide to Whitehorse, Canada.

What are the requirements for obtaining an eTA or Canada Tourist Visa?

The following documents are required when applying for the Canada eTA online:

  • Your passport, contact details, employment, and travel information
  • You'll need a debit or credit card to pay the fees associated with the eTA application (or a PayPal account).

The most important of these documents is your passport, which you must carry with you while entering Canada and on which border officials will stamp the duration of your stay.

What kind of information might be required for the Canada Tourist Visa?

When completing the online Canada eTA Application Form, applicants must submit the following details:

●       Personal information such as name, birthplace, and date of birth, as well as passport number, issuance date, and expiration date

●       Address and email are examples of contact information.

●       Information about the position

Travelers who want to apply for Canada eTA online must meet the following requirements:

A valid passport -

●       The applicant's passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the departure date, which is the day on which you will exit Canada.

●       A blank page should also be included in the passport so that the Customs Officer can stamp it.

If granted, your eTA for Canada will be connected to your valid Passport, thus you must also have a valid Passport, which can be an Ordinary Passport, an Official, Diplomatic, or Service Passport, all of which are issued by qualifying nations.

A working email address

Because Canada eTA will be sent to the applicant through email, a valid email address is necessary. Visitors planning to visit Canada can fill out the form by clicking here eTA Canada Visa Application form.

Payment Methods

A valid credit or debit card or PayPal account is essential because the eTA Canada Via application form is only available online and does not have a paper counterpart.

READ MORE:
Online Canada Visa, or Canada eTA, is a mandatory travel documents for citizens of visa-exempt countries. If you are a citizen of a Canada eTA eligible country, or if you are a legal resident of the United States, you will need eTA Canada Visa for layover or transit, or for tourism and sightseeing, or for business purposes, or for medical treatment. Learn more at Online Canada Visa Application Process.

What may prevent me from traveling to Canada a tourist?

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has the right to deny you entry at the border even if your Canada eTA is valid.

Some of the most common causes for inadmissibility include - 

  • You don't have all of your documents in order, including your passport, which border officials will verify. 
  • You pose any health or financial risks.
  • You don't have all your paperwork in order, including your passport. These are some of the most frequent reasons for inadmissibility.
  • Criminal and terrorist history.
  • Abuses of human rights.
  • Past immigration difficulties involvement with organized crime.
  • Financial grounds, such as a lack of confirmation of financial resources to sustain oneself.

Please submit your application for a Canada eTA 72 hours before your travel.

What are the crucial details of Canadian Tourist Visas?

There are a few things that all tourists should be aware of before applying for a tourist visa to Canada:

  • This visa cannot be converted or extended.
  • There is a yearly cap of two e-Visa applications per person.
  • The applicants must be financially independent for their entire stay in Canada.
  • Travelers must always have a copy of their permitted e-Visa Canada authorization with them while they are in the country.
  • Travelers should have a return or onward ticket when requesting an e-Tourist visa.
  • All candidates, regardless of age, must possess their own passports.
  • Children cannot be added by parents to the online Canada visa application.
  • The e-Tourist visa is not valid for visiting protected or restricted Cantonment zones and cannot be utilized.
  • The applicant's passport has to be valid for at least 6 months after arriving in Canada. Entry and departure stamps must be placed on at least 2 blank pages in the passport by customs and border control officials.
  • An e-Tourist visa for Canada is not available to holders of International Travel Documents or Diplomatic Passports.

How long will it take me to receive my Online Canada Visa or Canada eTA?

Applying online is the quickest way to obtain a tourist visa for Canada. Visitors should apply at least four (4) working days in advance to allow for processing time, even though many travelers receive their approved Canada eTA in less than 24 hours.

If candidates have the necessary information and paperwork on hand, the form can be prepared and submitted in a matter of minutes. After the application has been approved, the visa is sent directly to the applicant through email.

Given that the entire application procedure may be completed online without having to physically visit a consulate or embassy, the e-tourist visa is the fastest way to gain entry to Canada for tourism.

What are the Different Types of Canada eTAs?

The Canada eTA is divided into four categories, and you can apply for one of them by filling out the Canada Visa application if your travel to the nation is for one of the following reasons -

●       When you must stop at a Canadian airport or city for a short length of time before taking your next aircraft to your final destination, this is known as transit or layover.

●       Tourist Visa for Canada for tourism, sightseeing, visiting family or friends, traveling to Canada on a school trip, or enrolling in a non-credit short term of study.

●       For business objectives, such as business meetings, professional, scientific, or educational conferences or conventions, or to settle an estate's affairs.

●       For medical treatment in a Canadian hospital, which has been arranged.

How Do I Submit a Canada eTA Application?

Foreign nationals who meet the requirements and want to visit Canada must digitally apply for an eTA for Canada. From submitting the Tourist Visa for Canada Application to making payment to learning the status of the application, the complete process is done online. 

The applicant must complete the Canada eTA request form with all necessary details, including contact information, travel history, passport details, and additional background knowledge, such as a criminal and health history.

All travelers to Canada, regardless of age, must fill out the Tourist Visa for Canada form. The applicant must first complete the application, pay for it using a credit or debit card, and then submit it. The majority of judgments are made within 24 hours, and the applicant is contacted by email, however certain instances may take several days or weeks to complete.

It is important to apply for an eTA for Canada once your travel arrangements are finalized, but no less than 72 hours prior to your planned arrival in Canada. You would be communicated via email with the ultimate decision, and if your request is denied, you can seek a physical Tourist Visa for Canada.

How Long Would It Take to Complete A Tourist Visa For Canada Or eTA Application?

It is recommended that you apply for a Tourist Visa for Canada or Canada eTA at least 72 hours before your intended entry date.


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. Should you need any help or require any clarifications you should contact our helpdesk for support and guidance.