Visitor Entry Requirements for Canada: Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs) and eTAs (Electronic Travel Authorizations)
Canada embraces over 35 million temporary residents annually, excluding citizens and permanent residents. Non-Canadian individuals necessitate authorization to enter Canada as visitors, requiring either a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization), except for US Citizens.
Who Needs a TRV or eTA?
Various categories of individuals require either a TRV or an eTA, including tourists, temporary foreign workers, international students, and business visitors. It’s important to note that only one of these authorizations is needed, not both.
TRV or eTA: Which One Do You Need?
Citizens from visa-exempt countries traveling to Canada by air should have an eTA. However, US Citizens are exempt from both TRV and eTA requirements. Nonetheless, Green Card holders in the US need an eTA to enter Canada, irrespective of their nationality.
If you’re not from a visa-exempt country, a TRV is mandatory for entry into Canada.
To ascertain whether you need a TRV or eTA before traveling to Canada, refer to this link.
Understanding eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization):
Effective from March 15, 2016, travelers from visa-exempt countries entering Canada by air must possess an eTA. This authorization, linked electronically to your passport, remains valid for up to five years or until passport expiry, whichever comes first.
Understanding TRV (Temporary Resident Visa) and Its Application:
For those requiring a TRV, understanding the reasons for refusal is crucial. A TRV, issued by a Canadian Immigration Visa Office outside Canada, signifies that the holder meets Canada’s visitor admission criteria. TRVs may be for single or multiple entries, with varying durations for tourists, temporary workers, and international students, subject to case-by-case assessment. Extensions can be sought from within Canada.
However, possessing a valid TRV doesn’t guarantee entry into Canada. At the Port of Entry, visitors must demonstrate their visit’s temporary nature. Entry may be denied based on factors like medical history, criminal records, or insufficient financial support during the stay.
Additional Considerations:
Certain applicants might require a medical examination, especially those planning to stay in Canada or work in specific occupations. Criminal records or medical issues could hinder entry, and visitors must prove their financial capability during their stay. Additionally, citizens of specific countries may need to provide biometric information.
Visa-Required (TRV):
- Afghanistan
- Algeria
- Angola
- Argentina
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Cape Verde
- Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Congo (Republic)
- Costa Rica
- Cote d’Ivoire
- Cuba
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Eswatini
- Ethiopia
- Fiji
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- Korea (North)
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Maldives
- Mali
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar (Burma)
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Solomon Islands
- Somalia
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Visa-Exempt (eTA):
- Andorra
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Australia
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belgium
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Chile
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Mexico
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Saint Helena
- San Marino
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- Vatican City