Canada visa types and the eTA — what do you actually need?

The entry document you need for Canada depends on your nationality and how you travel

Not every traveller heading to Canada applies for the same “Canada visa”. The Government of Canada decides whether you need a Visitor Visa or an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) based on your nationality, the type of passport you hold, and how you arrive — by air, by land or by sea. So even if you searched for “Canada visa”, the first thing to confirm before you apply is which travel document actually applies to you.

Travellers who need an eTA

An eTA is an electronic travel authorisation generally required when a foreign national from a visa-exempt country or territory flies into Canada or transits through a Canadian airport. It is linked electronically to your passport and is normally valid for up to 5 years, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. Travellers of eTA-required nationalities arriving by land or by ordinary sea transport generally do not need an eTA, but they must still meet entry requirements such as holding a valid passport.

Travellers who need a Visitor Visa

A Visitor Visa, also known as a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), is the official document that foreign nationals from visa-required countries must obtain before travelling to Canada. Once approved, the visa is affixed to the passport. When you apply, you must show a valid travel document, the purpose of your visit, sufficient funds for your stay, and your intention to leave Canada along with your ties to your home country. Depending on your circumstances, additional documents, an interview, a medical examination, a police certificate or biometrics may also be required.

The eTA exception for certain visa-required nationalities

The Government of Canada allows nationals of some visa-required countries to apply for an eTA instead of a Visitor Visa for air travel, provided they meet certain conditions. Because this scheme is tied to conditions such as having held a Canadian Visitor Visa in the past or holding a valid United States non-immigrant visa, it is wrong to tell travellers that “anyone of this nationality automatically qualifies for an eTA”.

Travel to Canada for Korean passport holders

The Republic of Korea is on the Government of Canada's list of eTA-required countries and territories. So in the usual case of a short visit to Canada or a transit by air on a valid Korean passport, the requirement falls into the eTA category rather than the Visitor Visa category. Different rules may apply, however, to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, to holders of special passports, and to anyone travelling on a passport of another nationality.

Canada travel visa and eTA preparation guide

eTA compared with the Visitor Visa

The eTA is an electronic approval linked to your passport, and the current government fee is CAN$7. A Visitor Visa requires more detailed application information and a documentary assessment, and the government processing fee currently starts at CAN$100 per person. The eTA does not require biometrics, whereas a Visitor Visa may require them depending on the applicant's nationality and circumstances. Neither document guarantees entry into Canada on its own.

How to apply for a Canada visa

A visa is not the same as a permit to stay

An eTA or Visitor Visa for tourism or visiting family is different in purpose and in legal nature from a Study Permit or Work Permit, which allow you to study or work in Canada. If you are planning to study or work there long term, do not rely on “travel visa” guidance alone — check the requirements of the relevant permit separately.

What to check before you apply

• Check the nationality shown on your passport, the country that issued it, and the type of passport.
• Check whether you will enter Canada by air, or by land or sea.
• Identify the real purpose of your visit: tourism, visiting family, business, study or work.
• Check your passport expiry date and your planned travel dates.
• If you have any history of a visa refusal from Canada or another country, or any criminal or immigration history, you must answer the relevant questions truthfully and accurately. What to do about a Canada visa or eTA refusal

FAQ

Do I need both a Canada visa and an eTA?

Normally you need just one of the two, whichever matches your travel circumstances. The Government of Canada determines whether an eTA or a Visitor Visa is required based on your nationality and your method of travel.

Do Korean passport holders need a Canada visa at all?

Korean passport holders making an ordinary short visit by air fall into the eTA-required category. That does not mean “no document at all is needed”.

Does holding a US visa automatically exempt me from a Canada visa?

It depends on your nationality. Nationals of some visa-required countries may qualify for an eTA for air travel if they meet specific requirements, including holding a valid United States non-immigrant visa, but this rule does not apply to every nationality.

If I have an eTA, can I stay in Canada continuously for 5 years?

No. The validity period of an eTA and the length of stay permitted on a single entry are two different things. A typical short stay is usually up to 6 months, but the period you are actually allowed may be decided by the border officer on arrival.

Is an eTA enough for studying or working as well?

No. For study or employment you must separately check the requirements for the applicable Study Permit or Work Permit.

Related pages

• Canada travel visa and eTA preparation guide
• How to apply for a Canada visa
• Check a Canada visa or eTA
• What to do about a Canada visa or eTA refusal