By If you are flying to Canada and you do not need a visa, there is a good chance you need an eTA — an Electronic Travel Authorization. It is cheap, it is quick, and it is one of the most-scammed travel documents in the world. This guide explains exactly what an eTA is, who needs one, how much it really costs, and how to avoid the copycat websites that charge ten to eighteen times the real price.
Quick Answer: What Is a Canada eTA?
A Canada eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) is an entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals who travel to or transit through Canada by air. It costs CAD $7, is electronically linked to your passport, and is valid for up to 5 years or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. You apply only on the official Government of Canada website (canada.ca). Most applications are approved within minutes. US citizens, Canadian citizens, and Canadian permanent residents do not need an eTA.
It is important to understand what an eTA is not: it is not a visa, and it is not the document you use to move to Canada. If you are settling here — to work, study, or live as a permanent resident — your status comes from a permit or PR card, not an eTA. More on that distinction below.
Summary: An eTA is a small, passport-linked travel authorization for visa-exempt air travellers. CAD $7, up to 5 years validity, official site only.
Who Needs an eTA (and Who Does Not)
The eTA requirement is narrow and specific. It comes down to two questions: which passport you hold, and how you are entering Canada.
You need an eTA if:
- You are a visa-exempt foreign national (a citizen of a country whose nationals do not require a visitor visa for Canada — for example most EU countries, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, South Korea), and
- You are flying to Canada or transiting through a Canadian airport.
That is the core rule. The eTA was designed to pre-screen air passengers from countries Canada considers low-risk enough to skip the full visa process.
You do NOT need an eTA if:
- You are a US citizen. US citizens are exempt; you simply carry valid identification such as a US passport.
- You are a lawful US permanent resident (green-card holder). Since April 26, 2022, lawful US PRs do not need an eTA to fly to or transit through Canada — but you must show your valid passport and proof of your valid US PR status (your green card).
- You are a Canadian citizen. Citizens travel on a Canadian passport. (Dual Canadian citizens must enter on a valid Canadian passport.)
- You are a Canadian permanent resident. PRs use a valid Permanent Resident (PR) Card or a Permanent Resident Travel Document — not an eTA.
- You are entering by land, sea, or rail. The eTA applies to air travel only. If you drive across the US–Canada border, arrive by bus or train, or come in on a cruise ship, you do not need an eTA. (You may, however, still need a visitor visa — see the visa section below.)
Summary: eTA = visa-exempt passport + arriving by air. US citizens, US green-card holders, Canadian citizens, and Canadian PRs are all exempt. Land, sea, and rail entries do not require an eTA.
How Much Does an eTA Cost?
An eTA costs CAD $7. That is the entire, total, official government fee. There are no add-ons, no "express" tiers, and no separate "service charges" on the real application.
This price matters because the eTA is a magnet for fraud. Scam websites buy ads that appear above the official site in search results, copy the government's look and feel, and then charge "processing fees" that run far above the real cost. Reported cases include travellers paying USD $107 — and victims have paid up to roughly 18 times the actual price. If a site is asking you for $50, $75, or $100+ to "process" an eTA, you are on a copycat site. Close the tab.
The official application asks for payment by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and certain others) or eligible Visa Debit and prepaid cards. The name on the card does not have to match the name on the application — useful if a family member or employer is paying.
Summary: The real eTA fee is CAD $7. Any higher price means you are on a scam site. Pay only on canada.ca.
How to Apply for an eTA
Applying is genuinely simple — that is partly why the scam ecosystem exists, because the real process is easy enough that paying a "service" anything is pointless.
Step 1 — Go to the official site only. Start at the Government of Canada eTA page on canada.ca. The official application is hosted on a government domain (look for canada.ca and .gc.ca). Do not click sponsored search ads; type the address or use the official link in the References below.
Step 2 — Have three things ready:
- A valid passport from a visa-exempt country.
- A credit, Visa Debit, or prepaid card to pay the CAD $7.
- A working email address (this is how IRCC contacts you).
Step 3 — Complete the online form. You enter your passport details, basic personal information, and answer a short set of background questions. Enter your passport number carefully — the eTA is electronically tied to that exact passport.
Step 4 — Pay the CAD $7 at the end of the form.
Step 5 — Wait for the email. Most applicants get approval within minutes. If yours is not approved right away, do not panic and do not re-apply on another site: IRCC will email you, generally within 72 hours, telling you the next steps (which may include sending documents).
Because the eTA is linked to your passport electronically, there is nothing to print and nothing to glue into your passport. When you check in for your flight, the airline's system verifies that a valid eTA exists for your passport.
Summary: Apply only on canada.ca with your passport, a card, and an email. Approval is usually instant; if not, IRCC emails you within about 72 hours.
How Long Is an eTA Valid?
An eTA is valid for up to 5 years, or until your passport expires — whichever comes first. During that window you can use it for multiple trips to Canada; it is a multiple-entry authorization tied to that passport.
The passport link is the catch most people miss. If your passport expires in two years, your eTA effectively expires in two years too, even though the maximum is five. When you renew your passport, you must apply for a new eTA — the old one is dead because it was tied to the old passport number. There is no way to "transfer" an eTA to a new passport.
Summary: Valid up to 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. New passport = new eTA.
eTA vs. Visitor Visa: What's the Difference?
This is the single most confusing point for travellers, so here it is plainly.
| eTA | Visitor visa (TRV) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it's for | Visa-exempt foreign nationals | Visa-required foreign nationals |
| When required | Arriving/transiting by air | Any mode of entry (air, land, sea) |
| Cost | CAD $7 | Higher government fee + possible biometrics |
| Processing | Usually minutes | Weeks (varies by country and volume) |
| Linked to | Your passport, electronically | A counterfoil placed in your passport |
The deciding factor is your nationality. If your country is on Canada's visa-exempt list, you (usually) need an eTA to fly in. If your country is visa-required, an eTA is not an option — you must apply for a visitor visa (Temporary Resident Visa) instead, regardless of whether you arrive by air or land.
There is one bridge between the two worlds: citizens of some visa-required countries can apply for an eTA instead of a visa if they are flying to Canada and they either held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years or currently hold a valid US nonimmigrant visa. Even then, if they arrive by car, bus, train, or boat rather than by air, they still need a visitor visa. If this might be you, confirm your eligibility on the official IRCC entry-requirements tool before booking.
Summary: eTA is for visa-exempt air travellers; a visitor visa is for visa-required nationals (any mode of entry). Nationality decides which one applies to you.
Important: An eTA Is for Visiting, Not Settling
If you are reading this as a newcomer planning to live in Canada, the eTA is mostly a footnote in your journey, not the main event. An eTA (or visitor visa) lets you enter as a temporary visitor. It does not give you the right to work, study long-term, or stay permanently.
The documents that let you settle are different:
- Coming to work? Your authorization is a work permit, not an eTA. (When you receive a positive decision on certain applications from outside Canada, an eTA may be issued automatically alongside it so you can fly in — but the permit is what gives you status.) See our work permit guide.
- Becoming a permanent resident? Your path is through programs like Express Entry, and once you land you travel on a PR card — no eTA needed.
- Visiting parents or grandparents long-term? That is the Super Visa, a multi-year visitor visa with its own requirements — distinct from a standard eTA visit.
Once you are actually in Canada and setting up your life, your first tasks are administrative, not immigration-related — getting a SIN number and working through a first-week checklist. The eTA's job ends the moment you clear the airport.
Summary: An eTA only lets you visit by air. To work, study, or settle, you need a permit or PR status — the eTA is not a substitute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the eTA really only CAD $7?
Yes. CAD $7 is the complete, official Government of Canada fee, paid on the application form. Any website charging more is a third-party copycat, not the government. Reported scam sites have charged USD $100+ for the same authorization.
How long does an eTA take to get approved?
Most applications are approved within minutes of submitting and paying. Some take longer if extra review is needed — in those cases IRCC emails you (generally within 72 hours) with next steps. Apply well before you book or fly, just in case yours is not instant.
Do US citizens need an eTA to fly to Canada?
No. US citizens are exempt and travel with valid identification such as a US passport. Lawful US permanent residents (green-card holders) are also exempt from the eTA but must show a valid passport plus proof of their valid US PR status.
Do I need an eTA if I'm driving from the US into Canada?
No. The eTA applies only to air travel. If you arrive by land (car, bus, train) or sea (cruise/ferry), no eTA is required. Note that visa-required nationals still need a valid visitor visa even for land entry.
My passport is expiring soon — what happens to my eTA?
Your eTA is tied to a specific passport and is valid only until that passport expires (up to a 5-year maximum). When you get a new passport, your old eTA stops working and you must apply for a brand-new eTA with the new passport details.
What if I'm a permanent resident of Canada — do I need an eTA?
No. Canadian permanent residents travel using a valid PR Card or a Permanent Resident Travel Document, not an eTA. Canadian citizens travel on a Canadian passport.
References
- Electronic travel authorization (eTA) — Canada.ca
- Find out about electronic travel authorization (eTA): Facts — Canada.ca
- Electronic travel authorization (eTA): Who can apply — Canada.ca
- Electronic travel authorization (eTA): How to apply — Canada.ca
- Electronic travel authorization (eTA): About the process — Canada.ca
- Find out what you need to travel to Canada (entry requirements by country) — Canada.ca
- eTA: Citizens from some visa-required countries — Canada.ca
- How do I apply for an eTA for travel to Canada? — IRCC Help Centre
This article is general information, not immigration advice. Eligibility rules and exemptions change; always confirm your specific situation on the official Government of Canada website before booking travel or applying.