Many people ask whether they need to make another Canada visa application before travelling to Canada. Holders of a Republic of Korea passport need a valid eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) and passport to fly to Canada or to transit through a Canadian airport. However, you do need to check for yourself which passport that authorization is attached to.
Republic of Korea passport holders need an eTA
Republic of Korea passport holders need an eTA rather than a visitor visa (TRV), and must have a valid eTA and passport in order to board a flight. You apply using an online form, and you will need your passport, a credit or debit card, and an email address. The form cannot be saved partway through, so it is best to have your information ready in advance, and it is set up so that you apply and pay for one person at a time. This is the order in which a Canada visa application proceeds.
Depending on your nationality, you may need a visitor visa (TRV) rather than an eTA. If family members travelling with you hold different nationalities, you need to check separately which Canada visa each person requires.
Do not reapply with the same passport before you receive an approval notice
If you are left unsure when the result will arrive or how it will reach you, and you are still wondering whether the application really went through, you may end up applying a second time with the same passport. Duplicate applications only complicate processing, so it is better not to apply again with the same passport before you receive an approval notice. If you would like to know how your application is progressing, please start with the status check process.
If you are issued a new passport, you need to apply again
An eTA is linked electronically to the passport used to apply. It is valid for up to five years, but if your passport expires before then, it is valid only until that date. So if you are issued a new passport after receiving an authorization, the existing authorization does not carry over to the new passport. Even if it is still valid, you need to obtain a new one with your new passport.
It is not unusual for people to renew a passport while preparing for a trip because too little validity remains. If you have around a year or less left, it is less trouble to renew your passport first and then proceed.
Airlines advise that they scan passports at the check-in counter in the departure airport to confirm that you hold an eTA, and that they will refuse boarding if you do not. This is not a problem that arises once you reach Canada; it stops you before you board your flight in Korea, so it is not something that can be sorted out at the airport. Before you depart, please compare the passport number on your approval with the passport you will actually be carrying.
Whether you need one depends on how you enter
An eTA is required when you enter Canada by air or transit through a Canadian airport. It is not required when you enter by car, bus, train or boat; you simply need identity documents such as your passport. Conversely, if you pass through a Canadian airport, it is required even for a transit, regardless of how long you are there. If you are travelling by air for tourism, you should complete your Canada visa application before departure.
A completed submission is not the same as a decision
In the one Canada visa application we recorded over the course of September 15, 2026, the time it took for the application to be submitted was two seconds. This is a figure from a sample of only one, and more importantly it is the time it took to submit the application, not the time until a decision was issued.
Assessment is an entirely separate matter. According to Government of Canada guidance, most applications are approved within minutes, but some take several days. In those cases, an email telling you the next steps is sent within 72 hours of applying. Some travel information articles reproduce this 72 hours as though it were "how long processing takes", but it means something different: it is the deadline for the guidance email to be sent. You may also be asked for additional documents before approval, and if you do not submit them by the deadline, your application may not be approved.
One more thing: boarding a plane does not guarantee entry. On arrival, a border services officer confirms your identity and nationality and makes a decision, and you may be directed to further examination if necessary. There is also guidance that at Vancouver airport you will be asked relatively specific questions about the purpose of your visit. Even with your documents in order, the examination still remains, so it is safer to avoid a schedule that leaves all your preparation until just before departure. Frequently asked questions are also covered in our FAQ.