Canada eTA 2026: Who Needs One, Cost & How to Apply

Key Summary: An electronic travel authorization (eTA) is an entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to Canada or transit through a Canadian airport ^[1]. The eTA is electronically linked to the passport used to apply, and it is valid for up to 5 years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first ^[1]. The fee is CAD $7 per person, and you should apply only on the official Government of Canada website whose URL ends in canada.ca ^[3][1]. No eTA is needed when arriving by car, bus, train, or boat (including a cruise ship), and having an eTA does not guarantee entry (a border services officer decides admissibility on arrival) ^[1].

What an eTA Is

An electronic travel authorization (eTA) is an entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals travelling to Canada by air ^[1]. It is not a separate card or sticker; it is a digital authorization that is electronically linked to the passport you used to apply ^[1].

• Validity: up to 5 years, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. If you get a new passport, you must apply for a new eTA ^[1].
• Multiple entries and length of stay: with a valid eTA you can travel to Canada as often as you want for short stays, normally for up to six months at a time. No eTA is needed for travel within Canada ^[1].
• Not a guarantee of entry: an eTA does not guarantee entry. A border services officer decides admissibility on arrival ^[1].

Who Needs an eTA: The 4 Traveller Categories

Canada.ca groups travellers into the following 4 categories ^[1].

1. Travellers who need an eTA

Visa-exempt foreign nationals need an eTA to fly to, or transit through, a Canadian airport. They do not need an eTA when arriving by car, bus, train, or boat (including a cruise ship) ^[1].

2. Travellers who may be eligible to apply for an eTA instead of a visa

Citizens of some visa-required countries may be eligible to apply for an eTA (instead of a visitor visa) to travel to Canada by air (the so-called "eTA-X" expansion) ^[1]. However, these travellers still need a visitor visa when arriving by car, bus, train, or boat (including a cruise ship) ^[1].

3. Travellers who cannot apply for an eTA

There is a category of travellers who cannot apply for an eTA and must carry other identification documents ^[1]. Use the official checker below to find out which group applies to you.

4. Travellers who are exempt from the eTA requirement

Some travellers are exempt from the eTA requirement (see the "Exempt travellers" section below) ^[1].

Whether your nationality is visa-exempt or visa-required, and whether you need an eTA, varies by country, and the lists change often. Do not rely on memorizing a country list; always check the official «Find out if you need a visa or an eTA» checker and the entry requirements by country/territory page ^[4][5].

Exempt Travellers: U.S. Citizens and U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders)

• U.S. citizens are exempt from the eTA requirement. They must, however, carry proper identification such as a valid U.S. passport ^[1].
• U.S. lawful permanent residents (LPRs / green card holders) who hold valid U.S. status are, per the current official source, exempt from the eTA requirement. In that case they must carry both of the following ^[1]:
  • official proof of status (for example, a valid Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551, green card) or one of the other documents that Canada.ca accepts), and
  • a valid passport from their country of nationality (or an equivalent travel document).
• Examples of proof-of-status documents that Canada.ca accepts include: a valid PR card (I-551); a foreign passport with an unexpired temporary I-551 (ADIT) stamp; a foreign passport with a temporary I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa endorsed with a CBP admission stamp; an expired I-551 with Form I-797 showing a pending I-751 or I-829; an expired I-551 with Form I-797 showing a pending I-90; a valid re-entry permit (Form I-327); and a Form I-94 with an unexpired temporary I-551 (ADIT) stamp and a passport-style photo ^[1].

Accuracy note: The current official Canada.ca page states that U.S. lawful permanent residents (LPRs) are exempt from the eTA requirement and may travel carrying their green card together with their passport ^[1]. However, this rule has changed historically, so before you travel you should re-confirm the latest wording on the official checker and the eTA facts page ^[4][1].

Canadian Citizens (Including Dual Citizens) and Canadian Permanent Residents (PRs)

• Canadian citizens (including dual citizens) cannot use an eTA. To fly to or through Canada they must travel with a valid Canadian passport ^[6].
  • Exception: dual Canadian-American citizens may fly to Canada with either a valid Canadian or U.S. passport (carrying both is recommended) ^[6].
• Canadian permanent residents (PRs) do not use an eTA. To board a flight to Canada, they must carry a valid PR card or a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) ^[7][8].

A common confusion: "Do Canadian PRs or dual citizens need an eTA?" The answer is no. PRs use a PR card or a PRTD; Canadian citizens use a Canadian passport. For more detail, see the PR card renewal guide ^[6][7][8].

Air vs. Transit vs. Land vs. Sea Rules

For visa-exempt foreign nationals, whether an eTA is required by mode of entry is as follows ^[1].

Mode of entry	eTA required?
Air (fly to a Canadian airport)	Required
Transit (through a Canadian airport)	Required (same as air)
Land (car, bus, train)	Not required
Sea (boat, including cruise ship)	Not required

The key point is that an eTA is required if you arrive by air or transit through a Canadian airport, and an eTA is not required if you arrive by land or sea ^[1]. Note, however, that citizens of visa-required countries may need a visitor visa for land or sea entry, so check the visitor visa types and the official checker together ^[1][4].

Official Site vs. Third-Party / Scam Sites

• Apply for an eTA only on the official Government of Canada website. Canada.ca explicitly states: "Only apply for an eTA on this official Government of Canada website." ^[1]
  • Official application entry point (IRCC): the eTA application page ^[3].
• Many third-party websites advertise eTA application services and charge extra fees above the official price. Some are misleading or scam sites ^[1].
• Safety-check tips:
  • Confirm that the URL in the address bar ends in canada.ca ^[1].
  • The official fee is CAD $7 per person. Any site that charges more than that is not the official site ^[1].

How to Apply, What You Need, the Fee, and Processing Time

What you need to apply

To complete the online form you need a passport, a credit card, and an email address, and you must answer a few questions ^[1].

Fee

• CAD $7 per person ^[1].
• You can only apply and pay for one person at a time ^[1].

Processing time

• The application is done online and usually takes a few minutes ^[1].
• Most applicants receive approval by email within minutes. Some applications are asked to submit supporting documents and can take several days ^[1].
• Recommendation: get your eTA before you book your flight ^[1].
• A common mistake is entering the wrong passport number. To enter your passport number correctly, refer to the eTA help guide (PDF) ^[9][1].

After Approval: Passport Link and Check-In Confirmation

• The eTA is linked to the passport used to apply. At check-in you must present that same passport ^[1].
• Airline staff scan the passport to confirm you have a valid eTA; without one you cannot board ^[1].
• After approval, confirm that the passport number in the approval email matches your passport. If they do not match, you must apply for a new eTA ^[1].

If Your eTA Is Refused or the Approval Email Does Not Arrive

When the approval email does not arrive after a few days

• Most approval emails arrive within minutes, but some applications can take several days ^[11].
• First, check your junk/spam folder. Automated IRCC emails can be filtered there ^[11].
• If you have not received a confirmation email with an application number (starting with V) within 72 hours of applying, contact IRCC through the Web form (eTA case-specific enquiry); a reply can take several days ^[11][12].
• If you did receive a confirmation email, you can use the eTA Check Status tool to follow your application's progress (you need the V application number and your passport details) ^[11].
• Do not travel to Canada before a decision is made. If you try to board while the application is being assessed, you will be prevented from boarding ^[12].
• If you entered the wrong email address or passport number, you must apply again with the correct information ^[12].

When your eTA is refused

• If your eTA is refused, do not travel to Canada. You will be prevented from boarding with a refused eTA ^[12].
• It is best to reapply only after addressing the reasons for the refusal ^[12].
• To challenge the decision, you can ask the Federal Court of Canada for a judicial review, which must be filed through a lawyer ^[12].
• Common problems and refusal reasons include entering a P.O. box address, not submitting requested documents, and false or incomplete information ^[12].

Distinguishing eTA vs. ESTA (U.S.) vs. K-ETA (Korea)

All three are electronic pre-travel authorization systems, but they are separate programs run by different governments and cannot be substituted for one another.

System	Operated by	Use
Canada eTA (electronic travel authorization)	Canada	For air travel to Canada. Official fee CAD $7 [1][3]
U.S. ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization)	United States	For the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Not valid for entry to Canada
K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization)	South Korea	For entry to South Korea. Unrelated to Canada

Searches such as "Canada ETA", "Canada electronic travel authorization", "difference from ESTA", and "is it different from K-ETA" are often confused, but these three are different government systems. You cannot use one in place of another, so for travel to Canada you must apply for the Canada eTA ^[1][3].

Key Takeaways

• An eTA is an entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to Canada or transit through a Canadian airport. It is not required for entry by land or sea ^[1].
• The eTA is linked to your passport and is valid for up to 5 years or until the passport expires; if you get a new passport, you must apply again ^[1].
• The fee is CAD $7 per person, and you should apply only on the official site whose URL ends in canada.ca. Watch out for third-party sites that charge extra fees ^[1][3].
• U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are, per the current official source, exempt from the eTA, but because this rule has changed before, re-confirm with the official checker ^[1][4].
• Canadian citizens use a Canadian passport and Canadian PRs use a PR card or PRTD; neither uses an eTA ^[6][7][8].
• The eTA, ESTA, and K-ETA are separate programs of different countries and cannot be substituted for one another ^[1].

FAQ

Q: Do Canadian PRs or dual citizens need an eTA?

A: No. Canadian permanent residents (PRs) do not use an eTA; to board a flight to Canada they carry a valid PR card or a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD). Canadian citizens (including dual citizens) use a valid Canadian passport to fly to Canada. Dual Canadian-American citizens may fly with either a Canadian or a U.S. passport (carrying both is recommended) ^[6][7][8].

Q: Do I need an eTA if I enter by land?

A: No. An eTA is not required for land entry by car, bus, or train. It is also not required for sea entry by boat (including a cruise ship). An eTA is only required when a visa-exempt foreign national flies to a Canadian airport or transits through one. However, citizens of visa-required countries may need a visitor visa for land or sea entry, so check the official checker ^[1][4].

Q: Are an eTA and an ESTA the same thing?

A: No. The eTA is Canada's electronic travel authorization for air travel to Canada, and its official fee is CAD $7. The ESTA is a separate U.S. system for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and is not valid for entry to Canada. Korea's K-ETA is also a Korea-only system unrelated to Canada. The three programs cannot be substituted for one another, so for travel to Canada you must apply for the Canada eTA ^[1][3].

Q: How much is the fee and where do I apply?

A: The fee is CAD $7 per person, and you can only apply and pay for one person at a time. Apply only on the official Government of Canada website whose URL ends in canada.ca. Many third-party sites charge extra fees above the official price, and some are misleading or scam sites. Any site that charges more than CAD $7 is not the official site ^[1][3].

Q: How long does processing take?

A: The application is online and usually takes a few minutes, and most applicants receive approval by email within minutes. However, if you are asked to submit supporting documents, some applications can take several days. It is recommended that you get your eTA before booking your flight ^[1].

Q: My eTA approval email has not arrived after several days. What should I do?

A: First, check your junk/spam folder. Most applications are approved within minutes, but some take several days. If you have not received a confirmation email with an application number (starting with V) within 72 hours of applying, contact IRCC through the Web form (eTA case-specific enquiry); if you did get a confirmation email, use the eTA Check Status tool to follow your progress. Do not travel to Canada before a decision is made, and if you entered the wrong email or passport number, apply again with the correct information ^[11][12].

Q: What happens if my eTA is refused?

A: You cannot board a flight to Canada with a refused eTA, so do not travel. It is best to reapply only after addressing the reasons for the refusal, and to challenge the decision you can ask the Federal Court of Canada for a judicial review, which must be filed through a lawyer. Common refusal reasons include entering a P.O. box address, not submitting requested documents, and false or incomplete information ^[12].

Q: What happens if I get a new passport?

A: The eTA is linked to the passport used to apply, and it is valid for up to 5 years or until that passport expires, whichever comes first. So if you get a new passport, you must apply for a new eTA. Also, at check-in you must present the passport the eTA is linked to, and if the passport number in the approval email differs from your actual passport, you must apply for a new eTA ^[1].

Q: Do U.S. citizens or green card holders need an eTA?

A: Per the current official Canada.ca source, U.S. citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents (LPRs / green card holders) are exempt from the eTA requirement. U.S. citizens must carry proper identification such as a valid U.S. passport, and U.S. LPRs must carry official proof of status (for example, a valid green card) together with a valid passport from their country of nationality. Because this rule has changed historically, re-confirm with the official checker before you travel ^[1][4].

Q: Does having an eTA guarantee entry to Canada?

A: No. An eTA does not guarantee entry. Admissibility is decided by a border services officer on arrival. With a valid eTA you can enter as often as you want for short stays and normally stay up to six months at a time, but that is only an authorization; the final entry decision is made at the border ^[1].

Q: How do I check whether I need an eTA?

A: Whether you need an eTA, a visitor visa, or other identification depends on your nationality and mode of entry, and the country lists change often. Do not rely on memorizing a country list; check your own situation using the IRCC official «Find out if you need a visa or an eTA» checker and the entry requirements by country/territory page ^[4][5].