The visa policy of Canada requires that any foreign national wishing to enter Canada must obtain a temporary resident visa from one of the Canadian diplomatic missions unless they hold a passport issued by one of the 54 eligible visa exempt countries and territories or proof of permanent residence in the United States.
All visa-exempt travellers to Canada (except United States citizens and permanent residents) have been required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) when arriving in Canada by air since 10 November 2016. Travellers were able to apply early as of 1 August 2015.
Applications of visitor visas, work permits, study permits and certain types of permanent residency can be submitted online. However, such applicants must provide their biometrics (photograph and fingerprints) as a part of their application process. Depending on the country by which the passport was issued, a visa application may have to be submitted at a visa application centre at a Canadian diplomatic mission.
Visa policy map
Visa exemptions
Holders of passports issued by the following 54 countries and territories are able to visit Canada without obtaining a visa for a period of up to 6 months. They are required to obtain an eTA if they arrive by air, except for U.S. nationals and citizens of France residing in Saint Pierre and Miquelon arriving directly from the territory, who are exempt from the eTA requirement and are barred from applying for an eTA. Nationals of certain countries must arrive by air when not holding a Canadian visa.
Visitors are eligible if they are in good health, can convince an immigration officer that they have ties (job, home, financial assets or family) that will take them back to their home country and have enough money for their stay. In some cases a medical exam or a letter of invitation may be required. Immigration officials have the discretion to limit the duration that visitors may enter the country as well as impose additional conditions.
Allowed stay
On entry, Canada Border Services Officers (BSO) stamp passports or travel documents and visitors are granted a stay of 6 months from the date of entry. If a specific date was written on the stamp, however, the visitor must leave Canada before that date. Visitors wishing to extend their status date must apply 30 days before it expires.
Inclusion criteria
In order to be added to the visa waiver list a country has to fulfil about 40 conditions, grouped into seven categories: socio-economic conditions immigration issues travel document integrity safety and security issues border management human rights issues bilateral considerations.
The decision is made by analyzing all of the criteria in an overall review instead of a checklist so there is a certain level of flexibility.
Electronic Travel Authorization
In December 2013, the Canadian government announced intention to introduce a system named Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), similar to the U.S. Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), as part of an action plan to establish a common approach to screening visa-exempt foreign nationals. The Privacy Commissioner of Canada expressed concern over the plan. Travellers were able to apply as early as August 1, 2015 and the scheme went into full effect on 10 November 2016.
Visitors can apply through the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and are required to pay a cost recovery fee of . Visitors have to provide biographic details, passport and background information which includes additional citizenship, available funds, employment information and contact details. Applicants also have to answer questions about their health, immigration history and on any convictions they may have. Unlike a visa application, there are fewer questions in general and no question on their detailed travel plan. Following a risk assessment of the applicant, an eTA valid for multiple entries to Canada over a period of up to five years or until the passport's expiration date, whichever is shorter, should be issued.
Visa-exempt nationals
An eTA is mandatory for all visa-exempt nationals when arriving by air (except for U.S. citizens and permanent residents). However, an eTA is not necessary for overland entry via one of the land border crossings with the U.S. or entry by sea. Following arrival at a port of entry, admission into Canada is given at the discretion of the Canada Border Services Agency.