Press Release
June 6, 2023, 11:30 a.m.—Winnipeg—Canada has become a preferred destination for individuals seeking to visit, conduct business, or reunite with loved ones. To enhance our immigration programs and services, we are dedicated to making them more efficient and fair for people worldwide.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Honourable Sean Fraser, has announced the inclusion of 13 countries in the electronic travel authorization (eTA) program. Travelers from these countries, who have either held a Canadian visa within the past 10 years or currently possess a valid United States non-immigrant visa, can now apply for an eTA instead of a visa when flying to Canada. Starting today, eligible travelers from these countries can take advantage of this program:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Costa Rica
- Morocco
- Panama
- Philippines
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Seychelles
- Thailand
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uruguay
Introducing visa-free air travel will expedite the process, make it more convenient, and reduce costs for numerous travelers visiting Canada for either business or leisure purposes. Moreover, it will contribute to Canada's economic growth by promoting more travel, tourism, international business, and fostering stronger relationships with these countries, all while ensuring the safety of Canadians.
This decision will also redirect a significant number of applications from Canada's visa workload, allowing us to handle visa applications more efficiently, benefiting all visa applicants.
Individuals with a valid visa can continue to use it for traveling to Canada. Those who are ineligible for an eTA or are traveling to Canada by means other than air (e.g., by car, bus, train, and boat, including cruise ships) will still require a visitor visa. Travelers can visit Canada.ca/eTA to determine their eTA eligibility and learn how to apply for one.
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