An eTA application is a short online procedure, and that is exactly why people rush it, mistype one character of a passport number or spell a name differently from the passport. Most airport problems with an approved eTA begin with an input error like that. Preparing properly and getting it right the first time is the fastest route.
What to have beside you before you start
Keep the physical passport next to you. The passport number, issue date, expiry date, name, date of birth, gender and nationality must be entered exactly as printed on the data page. A photo of the data page is also useful later, when you compare it with the approval email.
The email address must be one you actually read. Approval notices and any requests for further information arrive by email, so an unchecked address can leave the application stalled for days. Have your current home address and contact number ready, and if you have ever applied for a Canadian visa or permit before, the details of that application as well.
If you are about to renew your passport, change the order
An eTA is linked to the passport used in the application. If a new passport is due before your trip, apply after it arrives. An approval obtained on the old passport cannot be used with the new number, and you would have to apply again.
The most common input errors
- Confusing the digit 0 with the letter O, or the digit 1 with the letter I, in the passport number
- Changing the spacing of the name or leaving out a middle name shown in the passport
- Swapping the issue and expiry dates, or using dates from a previous passport
- A typo in the email address, especially the domain part
- Mixing up nationality and the country that issued the passport
Errors in the passport number or name are the most dangerous because the application can still be approved. Do not relax when the approval email arrives; compare the passport number and name in it with the actual passport, character by character.
If you notice an error after submitting
A submitted application cannot be edited. If the details are wrong, submit a new application with the correct information. The incorrect one is simply never used because it does not match the passport you carry. When you apply again, enter the details while looking at the passport photo so the same mistake is not repeated.
When the approval email does not come straight away
Most applications are processed quickly, but some are sent for additional review and can take several days. A delay is not a refusal. A notice that the application is under review often arrives first, and if an email asks for documents, reply within the stated deadline so processing continues. Approval emails sometimes end up in the spam folder, so check there if nothing appears in the inbox.
Applying when you book the flight, rather than just before departure, leaves room for additional review. Confirm accommodation and local plans only after the approval arrives.