Expansion of Canada’s Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) Program to Include 13 more Countries

Today, June 6, 2023, Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced the expansion of Canada’s Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) program during a press conference held at Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport. This significant development aims to streamline travel procedures and alleviate the backlog of visa applications in Canada’s processing departments.

The 13 countries newly added to the Canadian eTA program, effective immediately, are as follows:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Argentina
• Costa Rica
• Morocco
• Panama
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Seychelles
• Thailand
• The Philippines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Uruguay

To be eligible for the Canadian Visitor Visa Waiver and apply for an eTA online, travelers from these countries must either have obtained a Canadian visa within the past 10 years or possess a valid non-immigrant US visa, such as a visitor visa (B-1, B-2) or a student visa (F, M).

What is an eTA for Canada and who is eligible?

The Canadian Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a travel requirement for visa-exempt foreign travelers visiting Canada by air. It is valid for up to five years, provided the holder’s passport remains valid during that period. With an eTA, travelers can enter Canada multiple times without a visa, for stays of up to six months per visit.

The application fee for a Canadian eTA is $7 CAD, and in most cases, the processing time is only a few minutes.

There are several countries whose citizens need to apply for an eTA before traveling to Canada by air, including European Union countries, UK, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and South Korea. Travelers from these countries are eligible for a Canadian eTA without additional conditions.

However, there are certain countries whose citizens cannot obtain an eTA unless they have a valid US visa or have obtained a Canadian visa within the last 10 years. This group includes Brazil in addition to the thirteen countries recently added to the eTA program.

“The expanded eTA program opens doors to a diverse array of global visitors, fostering cultural exchange and promoting tourism like never before,” commented Terry Duguid, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South. He further stated, “With this expansion, we can look forward to welcoming more visitors from around the world.”

“This exciting development will make it efficient and affordable for countless individuals from around the world to visit our great nation. By eliminating visa requirements, we welcome tourists and enable families to reunite and visit their loved ones in Canada more easily,” expressed Rechie Valdez, Member of Parliament for Mississauga, Ontario. Valdez, as a proud Filipino-Canadian, added, “I am thrilled by the expanded eTA eligibility to include the Philippines. With this new announcement, we uplift the Filipino community, foster closer ties, embrace diversity, and unlock new horizons of future growth and collaboration.”

Minister Sean Fraser expressed his aspiration for further expansions of the eTA program to include additional countries in the future.